Late blight shows up; Cantwell on South Korean FTA
Washington Ag Today June 30, 2010 Potato late blight has been found and confirmed in the south Columbia Basin and Washington State University plant pathologist Dennis Johnson says more confirmations of the disease are expected this week. He says the disease was found in two locations. Johnson: “One is on the Horse Heaven Hills by Kennewick and the other is by Burbank.” Here is the recommendation on the Potato Late Blight Hotline. Johnson: “Fields at or past row closure should be treated with a protectant late blight fungicide and then treated on a seven-day schedule through July.” More information is available on the Late Blight Hotline at 1-800-984-7400. President Obama has announced a new initiative to resolve outstanding aspects of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement by the G-20’s next meeting in November. In a statement released following the President’s announcement Washington Senator Maria Cantwell said South Korea is Washington state’s fifth largest export market making the U.S.-South Korea FTA crucial to future job and economic growth. The Senator said passage of the trade agreement would have enormous benefits by making many U.S. food products duty-free, including wheat, cherries, wine and potatoes. Senator Cantwell also stated that as the agreement moves forward it is important to ensure both tariff and non-tariff barriers are reduced. She pointed out that one non-tariff barrier in particular that needs to be addressed are policies that prevent full market access for American beef in South Korea. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ?
