Governor reports on ag mission to D.C.

Washington Ag Today June 8, 2009 Governor Chris Gregoire spoke by teleconference to reporters Friday from Washington D.C. where she was leading an agricultural mission from the state. State Ag Director Dan Newhouse and six representatives of Washington’s ag industry were on the mission. Gregoire highlighted some of the issues that were addressed by the delegation, one being agriculture and water.

Gregoire: “The problems associated the flooding that we have on the west side and drought we have on the east side of the state. Climate change and its implication to agriculture and how agriculture can be a big part of the solution if it is done right and to make sure that voice is heard here in Washington D.C. The challenges with regard to labor because the nature of the crops we have when they are ready to be harvested they are ready, they are not ready two days from now but at this moment in time. Then they have to be shipped around the globe. And with the new TSA screening that is going to go on at Sea-Tac we can‘t have some big hindrance because if we do the quality of what we are shipping will be reduced dramatically and our reputation goes with that.”

Also addressed was the dispute with Mexico over trucking and the resulting Mexican tariffs imposed on U.S. imports like frozen potato products and pears.

The governor invited cabinet secretaries to visit Washington and she says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood plans to come in July. Gregoire says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack put Washington on his short list of visits to make.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.