Washington Potato Commission comments on natural resource agency reform

Farm and Ranch October 30, 2009 A public comment period ended earlier this week on natural resource agency reform ideas that were presented to the governor. A study of how to improve service delivery and reduce costs was required by the legislature.

Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says the group submitted its comments, which focused on keeping the Washington State Department of Agriculture a separate entity. One idea in the report was to merge the department with other natural resource agencies.

Voigt: “If you look at all the other states Rhode Island is actually the only state that combines their department of ag within other agencies. So that was one of the messages we sent to the governor office is agriculture is very unique. Let‘s keep it separate from other natural resource agencies.”

Voigt says commission comments also addressed agency collaboration.

Voigt: “We think it is important for example, if Ecology comes up with a new rule they run it by the Department of Agriculture first to determine what kind of impact that could cause. Right now we feel like there is a disconnect between a lot of the agencies. If we have collaboration that will benefit all of us.”

Voigt thinks that given the state’s budget situation, if the governor puts forth some ways to save in the natural resource agencies, the legislature will adopt them.

That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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