McMorris-Rodgers: Perdue Visit Great Opportunity For Northwest Agriculture

Speaking of Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue’s recent trip through the Inland Northwest, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers said the visit was a great opportunity for local growers to tell their story and have their concerns heard.  The Eastern Washington Republican toured with Perdue in Spokane, Colfax and Pullman.  McMorris Rodgers said the Spokane leg focused on timber and forest health.

She said Forest Service lands were set aside to be managed, noting these lands are not parks.

“Unfortunately right now in the forest service, one out of every three acres is estimated to be diseased, dying, timber that comes out to about 90 million out of 200 million acres that the Forest Service owns.”

McMorris Rodgers added the tour was an opportunity to remind Perdue the importance of crop insurance, especially for Northwest wheat growers.  She said crop insurance must be included in the new Farm Bill, especially since wheat growers gave up direct payments in the 2014 Farm Bill.

“Having that crop insurance and that safety net, they need that because for the years that they don’t get what they expect for their crop, they need to have that crop insurance and the Secretary understands that and he’s a strong advocate within the Administration.”

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