05/31/07 Combined grain organization raises building concerns

Washington Ag May 31, 2007 On July 1st the Washington Wheat Commission, Barley Commission and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers begin their joint management and administration while keeping separate boards of directors. Currently the Wheat and Barley Commissions are housed together in Spokane with the wheat growers association located in Ritzville. The Ritzville Public Development Authority has expressed concern about the Wheat Growers Association being moved from Ritzville. Randy Suess, Wheat Commission chairman and chair of the Washington Grain Alliance committee, the group that planned the consolidation, says don't worry about buildings right now. Suess: "In the entire process we have been trying to take one small step at a time and having the building change from where it is, is not even on the discussion table right now. Let's do a year down the road and see where we are at and see what is best for the entire industry. Is it best to be h housed under one roof and where is that location going to be? But it is not on the discussion table right now." In the Wheat Commission budget for this next fiscal year, which Suess as chairman drew up and which was approved by fellow commissioners, there is 400-thousand dollars set aside to start a building fund for the future. Suess says growers will soon be getting a letter explaining the Grain Alliance and why its was done and the benefits for producers from have the merged operation. I'm Bob Hoff.