09/27/05 U.S. House Ag Chair at Ritzville ag forum

Washington Ag September 27, 2005 Congresswoman Cathy McMorris and the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Bob Goodlatte, are holding an agriculture forum this Saturday in Ritzville to discuss issues facing the future of agriculture and farmers in eastern Washington. The forum will be held at the Ritzville American Legion from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday. McMorris says she understands there are many concerns about such issues as county loan rates, transportation, fuel and fertilizer costs and the upcoming farm bill and she encourages people to take this opportunity to share their thoughts with the House Ag Committee Chairman. This forum is in addition to the joint legislative hearing on energy and ag being held Friday in Pasco. A reminder that this Friday, September 30th, is the crop insurance sales closing date for 2006 crop year wheat. Dave Paul of the regional Risk Management Agency office recaps the price elections available to wheat producers. Paul: "Our established price for wheat under our standard APH products was set at $3.15. The Crop Revenue policy was set at $4.13 for all fall wheat in the Pacific Northwest. " Also carryover nursery producers have until this Friday to make contract changes to their existing policies. New insureds have until May 1st of 2006. I'm Bob Hoff.