Newhouse comments on Mexican trucking plan; the gov and Ag Sec on immigration reform

WSDA comments On Mexican truck plan; Ag Secretary and governor on immigration reform. I’m Bob Hoff. Washington Ag Today is next.

Washington Ag Today May 16, 2011 Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse has submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration strongly supporting the Administration’s proposed “Pilot Program on NAFTA Long-Haul Trucking Provisions.”

In a letter Newhouse wrote that Mexico is Washington’s eighth largest agricultural export market. He cited losses suffered by the state’s potato and fruit industries when Mexico was allowed to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports when the U.S. closed a pilot trucking program. Newhouse wrote that adoption of the Administration proposal will immediately lower the Mexican tariffs and allow Washington growers to resume competing in the Mexican market.

Governor Chris Gregoire has commended President Obama’s call on Congress to elevate the debate on immigration reform. In a statement the governor said “With Washington’s 35 billion dollar agriculture industry at stake, Washington growers need a federal guest-worker program that is responsive, efficient and affordable.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also made some comments.

Vilsack: “The President has asked all of us to have a constructive and civil debate on this issue so that we can move forward responsibly to end illegal immigration and provide a stable labor force to our farmers, ranches and small business owners throughout the country. Today our broken immigration system offers little hope for producers trying to do right and make a living. It is time to fix our immigration system so that America‘s farmers, ranchers and farm workers can continue to put affordable food on all of our tables.”

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.