02/17/06 Decision time on spud research funding

Farm and Ranch February 17, 2006 It is the time of year when the Washington State Potato Commission makes its research funding decisions. In fact, Andy Jensen who heads up research for the potato commission, says the potato research review got underway yesterday in Pullman at the Holiday Inn Express and continues through this afternoon. Jensen: "We listen to research proposals and progress reports and make decisions on funding of research for Washington state. The Potato Commission funds more than half a million dollars of research and this the time of year that research money is divvied up." Jensen says the Potato Commission has a research council. Jensen: "Which is composed of 20 people most of whom are growers or in allied industry; pesticide distributors, processors or various kinds of growing entities. They contribute to the ranking of proposals. Other commissioners can join those meetings . They are also announced to all of our growers through newsletters and they are welcome to attend meetings where projects are discussed." Research proposals will be ranked and prioritized this afternoon but Jensen says the final decisions on research for the upcoming season won't be made by commissioners until the Potato Commission Quarterly meeting March 8th in Moses Lake at the Commission office. 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.