07/11/06 Hail Damage & Unemployment Change

Pears & apples take a beating. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Last weeks hail storm has given the pear & apple crops a beating. Both associations are currently accessing damage and should have updates available shortly. Both the Washington State Farm Bureau and the Governor's offices have been notified regarding the storm and potential damage. Kevin Moffat of USA Pears says a new pear crop estimate will be coming out within the week. A new service piloted by the Employment Security Department will help lower agricultural employer's unemployment insurance taxes and get claimants back to work quicker. Agricultural employers benefit by potentially gaining access to workers who already know the job, identifying individuals they are interested in hiring and knowing the workers can provide legal residency. Agricultural workers who claim U/I can risk losing their unemployment benefits by not accepting the job referral. Currently, the program is a pilot project in the Yakima area for the next 10 months. If the program is successful, it will be made available statewide to all businesses. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.