01/11/06 Agreement on brand inspection fee hike

Washington Ag January 11, 2006 The cow-calf, cattle feeding and dairy industries have agreed to support an increase in fees to help Washington's financially troubled Brand Inspection Program. Jack Field, executive vice president of the Washington Cattlemen's Association detailed what industry groups agreed upon at a Senate committee workshop in Olympia Tuesday. Field: "What we put together would increase the fee for identified livestock to go from 85-cents to $1.10 per head and non-identified livestock would go from 85-cents to a $1.60." Field said a half rate is proposed on cow-calf pairs that move out of state on a pasture permit and health certificate on a brand registered in Washington where there is no change of ownership. Ed Field representing the Washington Cattle Feeders Association said times have changed and the feeders will support the fee certified feedlots pay increasing from 17 cents to 25 cents a head. Field: "We are willing to step up and help support the Brand Program so that we have a program in place to merge with a national ID program. " Jay Gordon of the Washington State Dairy Federation said they are on board but had this admonition for the state Department of Agriculture which administers the Brand Inspection Program. Gordon: "And they better not come back next year and ask for more money." I'm Bob Hoff.