State budgets an issue for region's grain growers in 2010
Farm and Ranch December 28, 2009 A major issue new leaders of state wheat and grain organization in the Pacific Northwest see for 2010 is state budgets. Brett Blankenship is the new president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. Blankenship: “Very similar to last year, huge budget shortfalls for the state budget. So we will be in damage control trying to keep taxes low and trying to help our legislators try to come to terms with this revenue shortfall.” Darren Padget, the new president of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, says budget cuts and potential fee increases are issues for his producers as well. Padget: “The research, all that stuff, is a big, big target. That really concerns us because that is probably the number one or two priority behind legislation is to keep our research going. That is absolutely critical and it very much is going to be threatened.” Nationally, the region’s grain organization leaders point to cap and trade as a significant issue. Scott Brown is the new Idaho Grain Producers Association president. Brown: “Both our national organizations have policy positions that we as an industry would be supportive of climate change legislation, if there is a net economic benefit to growers. I think that net economic benefit is key.” Northwest grain grower organizations also want to see the full implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. They are still waiting for the new permanent disaster program called SURE, to get up and running. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ? ? ?
