Washington farm numbers steady; a stupid bill award
Washington Ag Today February 16, 2011 The number of farms in Washington in 2010 was estimated at 39,500. The Washington Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service says that is unchanged from 2009. The average size of a farm in the state was also unchanged at 375 acres. The number of farms with less than 100-thousand dollars in sales last year was 33,400 and the number of farms with 100-thousand dollars or more in sales was 61-hundred. Washington state legislators are dealing with a serious budget situation. But every year there are bills introduced that could be considered frivolous, particularly in tough economic times. Farmer and Republican State Senator Mark Schoesler describes his choice for the number one time wasting bill this session. Schoesler: “Well it is absolutely Senator Chase‘s Charity Carwash bill. Senator Chase‘s bill basically would ban the charity carwash that goes on in the parking lot of a bank or supermarket raising money for the cheerleaders, the YMCA, the Rainbow Girls, the Cub Scouts, everybody that has ever had a charity carwash. It would place fairly onerous regulations on them requiring them to use someone‘s lawn for a carwash, or their alley, and require storm water collection systems for charity carwashes. For crying out loud, it is charity carwashes, it is not commercial industry.” Senator Maralyn Chase represents parts of King and Snohomish counties. Her bill has not had a hearing. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
