06/16/06 Potato`s interest in farm bill

06/16/06 Potato`s interest in farm bill

Farm and Ranch June 16, 2006 When it held a field hearing on farm policy in Yakima last weekend, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee heard about the significance of the potato industry in Washington state. The testimony came from grower Kraig Knutzen of Burlington, Washington, representing the Washington State Potato Commission. Knutzen: "A study of economic of the Washington state potato industry shows that potato farming and related processing contributes over three-billion annually to Washington's economy. This translates to over 27-thousand jobs." But Knutzen told the Ag Committee there is a disparity in the current farm bill that needs correction. Knutzen: "Ninety-two percent of the commodity spending was paid on five crops representing only a third of the growers in the United States. The majority, the other two-thirds of growers, many specialty crop growers like myself, receive very little support from the current farm bill. Potato growers do not want traditional programs with direct payments but need assistance in areas." Knutzen's list of what potato growers would like in a new farm bill included nutritional promotional programs to improve diets with fruits and vegetables, an expansion of state block grants for specialty crops and significant new investment in research for specialty crops as well as strong support for the Market Access Program and dedicated EQIP program funding for specialty crops. 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.
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