Address Ag Challenges Now

From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Challenges for farmers across the country are at a peak these days, from the soaring cost of doing business to trade negotiations.

U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says it’s up to Congress to do what they can to address the inflationary pressures from a federal level, but …

NEWHOUSE … “There’s a lot of pressure in the state of Washington itself. You know, we now have the dubious honor of being number one in the country when it comes to fuel prices, which, as you know, no wheel turns on the farm without fuel and that certainly impacts the cost structure that we’re facing.”

And Newhouse says that’s just one of today’s many pitfalls …

NEWHOUSE … “There’s a tremendous amount of challenges out there and I’m sure you see it in people’s faces the same way I do. A lot of people are very concerned about what’s around the corner.”

So as a farmer himself, Newhouse understands the problems and takes them seriously …

NEWHOUSE … “I carry that with me back here to Washington D.C. to make sure my colleagues understand the dire nature that agriculture is facing, the situation they’re facing right now. And the things that we do here absolutely have an impact on producers, not just in Central Washington, but around the country and we have to be very very careful about what we do here and avoid negative impacts.”

Newhouse says in these challenging times we will all need to work together to solve our problems.