11/02/05 USDA Farm Bill Forum tomorrow

Washington Ag November 2, 2005 Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns is scheduled to be on hand tomorrow for a USDA Farm Bill Forum at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Johanns hasn't been able to attend all the forums the USDA has held but James Fitzgerald who heads the Washington State Farm Service Agency office, thinks there are several reasons why the Secretary wants to be in Washington. Fitzgerald: "Number one we are the third most diverse in commodities in the nation. So that is important. We have a lot of different commodities that we produce and use domestically as well as export. Our physical location is poised to export towards the Asian countries. We are just naturally located in the right area." Fitzgerald we are also a border state and have issues with Canada. BSE for example. Tomorrow's forum runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at Showalter Hall Auditorium at EWU in Cheney. People attending are encouraged to park at the Red Barn parking lot 18 and take a free shuttle to the auditorium. The Washington State Sheep Producers' is holding its annual convention this Friday and Saturday at the Ag & Trade Center in Colville. The agenda includes reports from Washington State University and the University of Idaho, the American Lamb Council and the American Sheep Industry Association. The meeting also features the Make It Yourself with Wool state competition. I'm Bob Hoff.