Inslee's Apple Maggot Gift and CFAP Round 2

Inslee's Apple Maggot Gift and CFAP Round 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.

**Timber, grazing and ranch lands appear to have borne the brunt of the agricultural impact so far from California's destructive wildfires.

A Cal Fire information officer says damage-assessment teams have begun their work, and county ag commissioner’s say a full accounting of the losses could take weeks or months.

Smoke from the fires also threatens wine grapes, which can absorb chemicals that produce an off-taste in wine.

**To console eastern Washington communities devasted by wildfires, Governor Jay Inslee offered apples picked from his own yard.

Now reports indicate he exposed eastern Washington’s already-fragile agricultural industry to the apple maggot.

Senator Judy Warnick says produce from western Washington must undergo stringent safety measures to prevent maggot infestations.

The Moses Lake Republican says it’s a nice gesture, but not well thought out. Inslee should have followed the law to keep our state’s agriculture safe.

**On Friday, President Trump and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced up to an additional $14 billion dollars for ag producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.

Perdue says we listened to feedback from farmers, ranchers and ag organizations about the impact of the pandemic and developed a program to better meet the needs of those affected.

Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program part 2 begins today and runs through December 11th.

Go to farmers.gov/cfap for more information.

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