03/11/05 Potato Commission bill clears Wa House

Farm and Ranch March 11, 2005 The House of Representatives this week approved a measure securing the role of the Washington State Potato Commission, including the right of producers to elect nine of its 15 commissioners. The vote was 95 to two. Co-sponsored by Representative Janea Holmquist, a Republican from Moses Lake, Substitute House Bill 1608 would reestablish the Washington State Potato Commission in a new section of law and specifies its duties. Holmquist who spoke from the House floor, said that since her home is Grant County, the number one potato producing county in the nation, she was proud to stand up for the legislation and the Potato Commission. Holmquist: "It is funded by fees driven solely by those growers and these same growers would like to continue having the ability to elect the majority of their commissioners. And this bill will allow them to continue on with that." Holmquist added that recent court decisions have put into doubt the roles of commodity commissions but the legislation clarifies the role of the Potato Commission and protects its ability to serve growers. Commission duties specified in the bill include prevention or elimination of unfair trade and regulatory barriers and practices, research studies, information on production, irrigation, processing, export and use of potatoes. An assessment of 4-cents per hundredweight would still be collected from growers. However, the new law would exclude the authority to engage in generic advertising programs. The measure has been sent to the Senate for further consideration. 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.