Industry Update
Industry Update. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.
The tariff issue continues to plaque the fruit industry in the Northwest but there are several other items on the burner according to Bruce Grim, Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association and manager of the Marketing Association.
GRIM: I think the biggest thing we have our eye on here at WSHA of course with the legislature in session, I think as everybody is aware there’s about $9-billion in programs are going to have to be pared in order to get to a balanced budget in the next biennium. This is going to be a significant challenge.
That budget has quickly gotten out of hand.
GRIM: We certainly see revenue generation in the state continuing to go up, unfortunately spending has been going up much, much more rapidly. I think in the last 4 years the state spending has increased by a third and I think that would be a good place to start with cutting some programs.
Of course there was the generation of the rainy day fund but that pales in comparison.
GRIM: And I think the reality is that number is only going to continue to grow from month to month probably into the 4th quarter of this year before I think most economists expect there will be much of a turnaround so that’s the big prize right now in Olympia is what programs are going to be scuttled as we move forward. We’re already hearing that higher ed is inline for some significant cuts, perhaps as much as 12 to 18% and that’s not a place you really want to be cutting I don’t think.
That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
