04.26.02

Washington state Apple Growers to Benefit from Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - House and Senate negotiators today agreed on a framework for a final farm bill conference report, subject to CBO scoring, that will benefit apple growers and other farmers in Washington state.

The bill will include a provision by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to provide $94 million in emergency payments to apple growers.

"This agreement means that help is on the way for our state's apple growers," Cantwell said. "They have been hard hit by natural disasters and softening agriculture markets and this farm bill is important step in supporting their efforts to produce the food we need to help feed the nation."

"Securing assistance for Washington state apple growers was one of my top priorities in the Farm Bill," said Murray. "This is the single best short-term step we can take to help rural communities in central Washington. I want to thank Senator Daschle and Senator Harkin for making our apple assistance a priority in conference."

Nationwide, the apple industry has lost an estimated $1.5 billion since 1995. The $94 million in assistance for apple growers comes on top of $75 million approved last year. About 40 percent of the emergency payments would go to Washington state growers. Growers who harvested crops in 2000 and do not receive other federal crop assistance would be eligible. Growers could qualify for support for up to five million pounds of apples.