03/17/06 Senator Murray to get ag input

Farm and Ranch March 17, 2006 As the long anticipated Produce Rail Car Pool program approaches realization, one of the foremost backers of the effort will visit Moses Lake this coming Monday, March 20th. And that is U.S. Senator Patty Murray who will hold a press conference at the ATEC Conference Center at Big Bend Community College at 12:30 p.m. That will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the Farm Bill and agricultural issues with the Senator. Senator Murray has secured two million dollars for the rail car program the past two years and Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says Monday's event is an opportunity to thank the Senator for her efforts on behalf of perishable shippers. Voigt: "And we would like a good turn out not only to recognize the Senator for her hard work and helping us with some of our transportation needs, but also this is a chance for us to talk to her about what are some of the needs of the potato industry or really all of irrigated agriculture in the Columbia Basin on the next Farm Bill." The Produce Rail Car Pool bill of 2003 and start up funding for the program were shepherded through the Washington State Legislature by Senators Joyce Mulliken and Mary Margaret Haugen and Representatives Ed Murray and Shirley Hankins. Again the public is invited to Monday's event starting at 12:30 p.m. at the ATEC Center at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. 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.