Conservation Commission move to WSDA likely a no-go
Conservation Commission merger with WSDA likely to fail. I’m Bob Hoff. Washington Ag Today is next. Washington Ag Today February 14, 2011 A workshop held last week by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee found no support for the governor’s proposal to move the Conservation Commission into the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Plenty of speakers opposed the idea but no one spoke in favor of the move. That prompted this comment from committee chair Brian Hatfield. Hatfield: “I don’t know how the overall bill is going to do but I have a feeling this piece is not going to do well at all.” The governor’s proposal was aimed at saving money. John Larsen, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts told the committee workshop. Larsen: “I have made this testimony before. We are willing and able and ready to have discussions about budget. But don‘t dismantle the system by which we get conservation on the ground in doing it.” The proposal to move the Conservation Commission is in Senate Bill 5669, which includes other proposed mergers of state natural resource agencies. The chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Water Committee gave the Ag Committee jurisdiction over that portion of Bill 5669 dealing with the Conservation Commission. USDA’s Risk Management Agency reminds Pacific Northwest producers of the March 15th deadline to obtain or make changes to their 2011 crop year spring Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Coverage. Corn growers have new revenue and yield protection options when selecting coverage under the improved Common Crop Insurance, Basic and Corn Crop Provisions. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
