07/31/06 Sign up for free pesticide collections

Washington Ag July 31, 2006 The Washington State Department of Agriculture is collecting old or unwanted pesticides in late August in Whatcom and Snohomish counties but today, July 31st, is the deadline to sign up for the free collection. You can do that by calling 360-902-2056 or e-mail wastepesticide@agr.wa.gov The collections will be held near Lynden on August 29th and Snohomish on August 30th. The WSDA will also hold a collection at three eastern Washington sites in mid-September, near Othello September 12th, Walla Walla on September 13th and Prosser on September 14th. The deadline to sign up for those is August 9th. When he talked with reporters Friday about his planned retirement next June, Washington State University President Lane Rawlins said this coming year is about as important as any that WSU has ever faced. One reason; a major biennial funding request to the state legislature. That's expected to include a major request for the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resources. At a field day this summer CAHNERS Dean Dan Bernardo recalled running the numbers by Rawlins and his staff. Bernardo; "His assistants all laughed and President Rawlins just sat there with a straight face and he said you know if we are going to try and really do something and help this industry, we are going to do it on a dime." I'm Bob Hoff.