12/11/06 Spud Commission planning; direct seed mtg

Washington Ag December 11, 2006 The Washington State Potato Commission holds a long range planning session tomorrow and Wednesday at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel. Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt says it's part of the Commission's 50th anniversary as it looks to the future and the sessions are open to anyone with an interest in the potato industry. Voigt: "We wanted to make it available to everybody to have input into what should be the focus for not only the Commission but the industry as a whole and how we can proceed into the future. Again it is open to anyone with an interest in the potato industry." Tuesday's session at the Pasco Red Lion begins at 8:30 am. The North Palouse Direct Seed Discussion Group meets Tuesday December 12th at the Harvester Restaurant in Spangle from 8 am to 10 am. The workshop is free and several growers who hosted a field tour last June will begin by discussing how their crops performed in the filed and at harvest. There will be no-host breakfast available. On Wednesday in Davenport producers are invited to a workshop and discussion of conservation farming. That will be held at the Davenport Memorial Hall from 8 am to 10 am and there will be a hosted breakfast but RSVP no later than today to the Lincoln County Conservation District. Dale Landreth from Reardan and Jim Hirst of Harrington will be discussing direct seeding systems on their farms. I'm Bob Hoff.