03/13/06 Cattlemen had good legislative session

Washington Ag March 13, 2006 The Washington Cattlemen's Association says the recently concluded legislative session was a successful one. WCA executive vice president Jack Field says they had expectations of maybe getting two or three bills through the off-year session but actually got nine bills of interest passed. The crown jewel of those for cattlemen was House Bill 2651. Field: "That bill exempts livestock producers' information that they would submit to participate in a national or a state animal identification program, that exempts that information from public disclosure here in Washington state." Field says that bill also protects voluntarily submitted animal disease testing information on non-reportable diseases. He says that will allow the State Veterinarian's Office to practice preventative medicine. Another measure related to animal ID was House Bill 3033 which calls for development of an advisory board that will look at the existing infrastructure in the state to accommodate a national animal identification system and report back to the Governor on the costs to transition to such a program. Of course there was the on farm diesel tax exemption already signed into law but there are several other bills providing producers tax breaks, which if signed, Field says will mean more money staying in producers' pockets. I'm Bob Hoff.