11/18/05 Spud groups get RMA grant again

Farm and Ranch November 18, 2005 The Washington State Potato Commission and other commodity partners have secured over 135-thousand dollars for risk management education programs for growers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The funds are part of over two-point-three million dollars the USDA Risk Management Agency has awarded throughout the Pacific Northwest. Karen Bonaudi, Assistant Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says they partnered with several groups to get the grant. Bonaudi: "The "The Washington Growers Clearing House Association, Potato Growers of Washington, The Oregon Potato Commission, the Idaho Potato Commission and the United Potato Growers of Idaho." The grant will help fund a series of seminars for growers on crop insurance products, on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act or PACA, and on international dispute resolution. Additionally, Bonaudi says there is 50-thousand dollars to cover expenses for keynote addresses for annual potato conferences in Washington, Oregon and Idaho and the Washington Growers Clearing House annual meeting. That speaker will be Dr. Lowell Catlett and economist from New Mexico State University. Bonaudi: "He is really an exciting presenter. He is going to speaking on the eight things you should know if you are going to continue farming into the future. We have heard from people who have seen him before and really rave about him." 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.