What's In Store Agriculture

We have just passed the new year and you may still be struggling with writing 2016 on things. This new year, as with each new year, holds a lot of promise but when it comes to agriculture there are a lot outstanding issues that may affect this industry this year. Congressman Dan Newhouse has a bit of an inside track when it comes to life on the farm since he's a long time hop producer and former Washington State Department of Ag director. I asked Dan what he thought 2016 held for agriculture.

NEWHOUSE: I'm optimistic, we see snow in the mountains and so certainly if we can have an adequate water supply that is a great start to a successful growing season. But things like the transpacific partnership offering our producers the ability to increase access to to increased markets around the world is a good thing so that we have those opportunities to sell our crops.

He does admit that there are some challenges.

NEWHOUSE: Whether they're right here at home with some of the potential regulations that we are facing from the federal government or state government, you mentioned the EPA and the Waters of the United States. That's certainly one that would have a big impact on producers and then just some of the news that we're seeing coming out of Asia with the Chinese stock market and the impact that that could have on our ability to export to that country and others in the Pacific Rim so there's some real challenges there. Then you look at places like Mexico, our number one apple customer imposing retaliatory actions against us for dumping apples and that's a big challenge and a real one.

And that's Washington Ag Today. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.