Gregoire, Ag Director Newhouse headed to D.C. on trade mission

Today, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse are in the other Washington with a group of Washington agriculturists for a whirlwind round of discussions with policymakers there.

Newhouse said the mission is critical: “Producers are looking ahead toward harvest with more than a little concern about commodity prices and international demand for our farm products. The policy issues we’re tackling this week will help support the long-term viability of agriculture in the state of Washington. We know this economy will turn around, and when it does, we want our farmers to be well-positioned for success.”

On the agenda are meetings with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. They’ll discuss federal stimulus, bioenergy research, the farm bill and the “Market Access Program.” With Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, they’ll talk about labor issues, port inspections and cherry exports. With Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, they’ll talk about water storage. With Ray LaHood, transportation secretary, they’ll talk — what else — transportation. Then on to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for discussion of labor industries in agriculture. With Washington’s own Gary Lock, Commerce Secretary, they’ll talk about trade agreements, port inspection and Homeland Security’s impact on trade. Then with Jim Miller, undersecretary of Ag, they’ll talk about overseas marketing. Finally, they’ll discuss chemicals with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.

For a lot more on Newhouse’s perspective on these issues, read this post and listen to the KUOW interview linked there.

Gregoire and Newhouse are traveling with company: Supervalu International President Charles Witzleben, Sakuma Brothers President and Co-Owner Steve Sakuma, Washington Grain Alliance Chief Executive Officer Tom Mick, Northwest Horticulture Council President Christian Schlect, Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voight, and Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association Executive Director Keith Mathews.

Tags: Agriculture