Wild Fire Grows and Feud Halts Farm Bill

Wild Fire Grows and Feud Halts Farm Bill. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

A couple of wild fires in Washington’s Grant county have been growing but so far have mostly been confined to sage brush and cheat grass. Firefighters managed to contain and quell a second fire that began on Wednesday afternoon. Motorists are urged to avoid the area along SR 26 between Othello and Royal City.

The farm bill has hit a major stumbling block in the Senate as the two parties feud over what amendments to take up. Ag Chair Stabenow is downplaying the fight - but concedes it’s impeding the bill for now. Getting a farm bill done this month in the Senate just got a lot tougher. GOP Leader Mitch McConnell wants his side to be able to offer its amendments to limit agency rule-making that impacts agriculture and some unrelated amendments. Majority Leader Harry Reid says no and has shut down an open amendment process after the GOP withheld unanimous consent to move forward. Ag Chair Stabenow.

STABENOW: Unfortunately the Senate that we’re in rather than moving forward amendment by amendment and debating and having votes which is our strong preference, we are in a spot where those who want to obstruct or don’t support what we’re doing have the ability to throw some sand in the gears.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange report.

(Grange)

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