Washington state legislative budget proposals and agriculture

Washington Ag April 3, 2009 Something not in the state House and Senate Democrat’s biennial budget proposals unveiled this week is good news for agriculture. There is no mention of removing the B&O tax exemption from farmers and ranchers. Still, Pat Connor of the Washington State Farm Bureau says you can never say never during a legislative session. Connor: “Who knows what they may come up with at the end so Farm Bureau is going to continue have our members make calls to their legislators to remind them that increasing taxes on farmers and increasing the cost of food on peoples‘ plates is the wrong way to go especially in the difficult economic climate we find ourselves in today.” Connor says the Farm Bureau does have some concerns about budget reductions in programs of interest to its members. Connor: “Especially the water rights application processing at the Department of Ecology. Assistance to local governments for Growth Management issues at the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. Especially frustrating to see those important programs cut when dollars are being added for climate change. Not sure how they are going to accomplish climate change if they can‘t do some of the other activities those departments are already geared up to do.” Connor says it looks like the Conservation Commission would take a funding cut of over a million dollars over two years including the elimination of the Pioneers in Conservation Program, which provides grants to farmers and ranchers who want to improve habitat for fish and wildlife. Agriculture could also be impacted by cutbacks at Washington State University where House Democrats propose cuts of up to 29 percent. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.