10/12/06 Wash ag value tops 6-billion $ in 05

Washington Ag October 12, 2006 The value of Washington's 2005 agricultural production reached a record 6.41 billion dollars, nine percent above the previous year's record of 5.89 billion. That data was compiled by the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service whose Joe Parsons says several commodities had record high values in 2005. Parsons: "There were record highs of value of production recorded for apples, cattle and calves, cherries and pears. Among smaller crops the value of silage corn, mushrooms, blueberries, mink pelts, sheep and lamb also recorded new records for the state of Washington." Parsons says you also need to put these value of production records in context. Parsons: "There also expenses certainly dramatically increased with the increased cost of fuel and other inputs." As for the top five commodities in Washington in terms of value, apples continue in number one representing 19 percent of the total agricultural value produced. Milk is number two. Cattle and calves number three. Potatoes number four and wheat number five. More details are contained in the annual statistical bulletin which is now available on line at the Washington Ag Statistics website. http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp I'm Bob Hoff.