03/29/07 Focusing on research

Getting lawmakers to listen sometimes means getting face to face. The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers recently did just that. SCHARLEAU: We meet with our entire Washington State delegation to the degree we can and talk to them about what's important to Washington State. Executive Director, Vicky Scharleau says that the wine industry in the Northwest is concerned about the upcoming Farm Bill and is pushing for more research dollars. SCHARLEAU: This year nationally, the number one issue for the grape and wine industry is research. Research funds, expended research funds and prioritization of those research monies coming out of USDA, ARS and CSREES. She says it's important for lawmakers to realize that many of the specialty crops need to be seen in a different light since those specialty crops are really becoming more mainstream. The Wine Grape Growers are supporting the new Eat Healthy America Act. SCHARLEAU: We're part of an alliance, a specialty crop farm bill alliance and they introduced the bill called Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act which is Eat Healthy America. And we're really trying to communicate the priorities of specialty crops; our need to be competitive  nationally, internationally  and the kinds of programs that can help us be competitive. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.