10/05/05 State help wanted on farm policy

10/05/05 State help wanted on farm policy

Washington Ag October 5, 2005 State lawmakers were told at a joint legislative hearing in Pasco last week of actions they can take to help agricultural producers deal with rising fuel and fertilizer costs. But legislator support was also requested to help change some federal policies. Farmer and banker Mark Grant called on lawmakers to support a change in the federal loan program for soft white wheat, the predominate wheat produced in the state. Grant: "And in Walla Walla county the loan rate for white wheat is $2.74. The loan rate for hard red winter wheat is $3.24. That 50 cents is making a lot of difference. If we could have a floor at $3.24 instead of $2.74 it is making a lot of difference because we have been under the floor. And its arbitrary. It is a large disparity." Wheat industry leaders are also concerned that farmers will plant hard red wheat just to get the higher loan which could lead to some poor quality wheat being put on the market. Another federal program mentioned by Grant and others including producer Lee Hemmer was CSP, the Conservation Security Program. Hemmer: "The federal government decided they don't need to fully fund the program. It would be advantageous if we could get the state to go behind it and try and get them to fully fund the program." Also requested was help to do away with the Jones Act which limits shipping of U.S. products among the states to U.S. flagged ships. I'm Bob Hoff.
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