10/25/05 Production ag and rural economies

Washington Ag October 25, 2005 Agriculture needs to do a better job of making the case for why the use of land for agriculture deserves priority. That is the view of economic consultant Doctor Desmond O'Rourke who was a speaker this week at an economic outlook forum held at Central Washington University. In an interview prior to his presentation, O'Rourke said the trend of less land in Washington being to devoted to agricultural production is already underway and that will only continue as the burden of government regulation makes ag production and processing in the state less competitive. O'Rourke believes part of the solution lies with governmental officials, state and federal, realizing that agriculture is one of the keys to employment, incomes, schools and infrastructure in rural areas. O'Rourke: "Agriculture is still is the major supporter of most of the rural areas in the Washington state and in fact in the whole U.S. And you really cannot talk about rural development or about keeping the young kids at home unless you face the fact that in m any cases it is government policies that are weakening agriculture's ability to survive." O'Rourke's presentation also addressed the emergence of strong competition for many northwest commodities from China, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Poland and India. I'm Bob Hoff.