10/24/07 Record Washington Year

Record Washington Year. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. The pace of agriculture in Washington State has once again set a record. LOVELAND: We're doing really well. I'm so happy for everybody that's out there farming and ranching. (It's the) second year that we've broke some records so we're doing quite well. That's Valoria Loveland, Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture talking about the release of last years ag figures. LOVELAND: Our overall farm gate production was up about 6%. It was about 5% last year and we've had some really good prices which has helped. If the farmer can get in the field he knows how to grow the stuff, it's just whether you can get a price or not and this year we did quite well on prices. Our markets are good; of course the quality of what we grow is excellent so when you have decent prices you can really  as they say - make hay when the sun shines so we've done quite well. In general, overall, the economics for agriculture were excellent this year. Loveland said that not everyone did well across the state and there were some weather related issues. And while the farmers and ranchers we're doing well, the consumer benefited as well. LOVELAND: It's good news too. A lot of things haven't changed much as far as our access to markets is concerned, we still are exporting about a third of everything we grow outside of the state and the country and I think if you go to the supermarkets and the farmers markets these days you'll see a lot more locally grown product and the prices are still really good because they're not paying a great deal of transportation when they're selling it locally  and I'm obviously a shopper and consumer, I haven't seen large increases in my grocery bill. Overall Washington usually comes in third behind California and Florida when it comes to ag numbers. But Loveland says that Washington ag producers face the same downsides as other states. LOVELAND: I think we have the same concerns that everyone else does, fuel prices, fertilizer prices. Of course we are concerned about weather and always issues around water. But we had adequate supplies of water this year and with the better prices it helped offset the increased fertilizer and fuel costs so I haven't talked to anybody that I am representing that doesn't feel this is a good year. Loveland is also the Director of the National Department of Ag's and says that all the states are looking forward to seeing a new Farm Bill by the end of this year. LOVELAND: All the states have stayed very involved. We believe that they will have the Farm Bill completed and passed through both Houses and to the President by the end of the year. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.