06/29/07 Washington potatoes joins farmily farm alliance in federal meetings

Farm and Ranch June 29, 2007 Earlier this month Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt and grower Mike Pink joined other members of the Family Farm Alliance in Washington D.C. for an intense two days of meetings with Congressional staff and administration officials. Water was the topic of many of the meetings. At the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service the focus was on the impacts of rapid urban development on agricultural lands and how challenges to agricultural water supplies are now amplified as a result of energy production and climate change issues. The recent focus the House Natural Resources Committee has placed on sustainability, water supply and reuse and conservation was discussed with House Water and Power Subcommittee staff. Chris Voigt says it is clear that the 'other Washington' is becoming very sensitive to any perception that suggests political leaders do not care about Western farmers. At the Office of Management and Budget and the White House Council on Environmental Quality the emphasis was on regulatory streamlining for water storage projects. And the group felt positive about a lengthy discussion with senior Bureau of Reclamation executives, focusing primarily on aging infrastructure, loan guarantees and partnership activities to educate government agencies and elected officials on the challenges farmers face. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.