Task Force & Farmer's Market Season

Task Force & Farmer’s Market Season plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Washington State is taking a proactive approach to the looming labor issues. According to Dan Fazio with the Washington Farm Labor Association a new task force is being put together.

FAZIO: The governor is announcing an agriculture labor task force. I had requested this last October when we had that labor shortage. The task force is schedule to meet 3 times in the upcoming months and the purpose is to make recommendations regarding a long term solution to the agriculture labor shortage. The solution is as any farmer will tell you is that we’ve got to do something about this immigration issue. We’ve got to do something to adjust the status of the workers who are here now but the long term solution is a workable and affordable program to bring people up here to do the jobs American’s don’t want to do.

It won’t be long until your local farmer’s market is once again up and running and there are a lot of plans being made across the northwest. Folks in the Magic Valley will have a new choice this year with the opening of the Farmers Market at the Crossroads Point near Jerome, Idaho. The new Saturday only market plans to be a fun, family-friendly environment with activities for kids, such as painting birdhouses. Hand-pulled wagons will be available for hauling produce and children.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

When it comes to cooking some people can just start throwing things together and end up with a delicious meal, never once having to measure anything or follow a recipe. I have been told that I tend to be this way. But I have found out when it comes to gardening things aren’t quite that simple. Sometimes I have fantastic luck in the garden, sometimes not so. One thing I haven’t tried in the past as I prepare to plant the garden, and probably should have, is to have the soil in the garden tested. As most Master Gardeners will tell you a soil test can be extremely beneficial for your garden crop. Your local extension agent should be able to help connect you with a soil testing facility. You’ll then find out whether your garden soil needs phosphorus or potassium. Plus, you can ask for micronutrients because the pH levels of the soil is very important when it comes to a garden’s success. The testing agency will be able to make recommendations for your garden that will save you a lot of guess work over the long growing season. So before you get started planting, find out whether your garden soil is sweet, sour, or bitter. If you don’t, you may just be passing up the chance to have the healthiest and most productive garden on the block.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.