Are land fees at WSU research farms next?

Washington Ag March 20, 2009 The Washington Wheat Commission may fund nearly two million dollars in research at Washington State University for 2009-2010. Some of that research is conducted on WSU research farms like the Spillman Agronomy Farm near Pullman. Because of its budget situation Wheat Commission Chairman Hal Johnson says WSU has asked the Commission how it would feel about paying a fee for the research plots. Johnson: “We will consider it. We have a similar program in the greenhouse. There are greenhouse fees. Back in the good old days it was said we will never charge you a fee because you helped us get this greenhouse. Well, times change. So we will have to continue to look at what the commission through the growers can do to help out. Like everything else we are sure going to have to continue to consider a lot of these things.” There was discussion at a Wheat Commission meeting this week that if you agree to pay fees on one research farm you will probably see them for other locations as well. And once in place, the fees are not likely to go away. The preliminary WSU proposal for Spillman at $180 an acre would cost the Wheat Commission about 22-thousand dollars annually. Meanwhile, Washington State University’s search to fill two vacant wheat breeder positions continues to move along. It was reported at this week’s Washington Wheat Commission meeting that there have been 50 applicants, many applying for both the position of winter and spring wheat breeder. The applicants were described as highly qualified. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.