05/07/07 Some tax breaks for ag; an online organic course from WSU

Washington Ag May 7, 2007 Some legislation Governor Chris Gregoire was to take action on last Friday included some tax breaks for farmers and ranchers. John Stuhlmiller of the Washington State Farm Bureau says they deal with equipment repair and custom farming. Stuhlmiller: "Growers will be able to not pay sales and use tax on repairs to farm equipment. That is an extension of last year' provision that said your parts could be purchased sales tax-exempt. Then also if you are a custom farmer, if you cut for neighbors etc, that will not be subject to B&O just like if you are doing it on your own place it is not subject to B&O. So we were able to get the B&O exemption to apply to custom cutters." This week the governor is expected to take action on the legislation providing a time-out for agriculture from new Critical Area Ordinances. Washington State University, home of the nation's first major in Organic Agriculture Systems, today began an expansion of its offerings. This is the first day of a class available online called Organic Gardening and Farming. I'm Bob Hoff.