Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 19, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke asks lawmakers to help growers and workers hit by June storm

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today introduced legislation that would provide financial aid to growers and their workers suffering from a late June rain, hail and wind storm that walloped crops in 13 of the state's counties.

"This storm makes a tough year even tougher for our growers. It is very appropriate that we don't just ask the federal government for help, but do something at the state level for the victims of this storm," Locke said.

Locke proposed a package that would provide:

• Up to $7 million in immediate relief to growers hit by crop damage. The amount of aid available to individual growers would be based on extent of a grower's crop losses, and determined by the Department of Agriculture.
  
  
• A property tax exemption to qualified growers. Growers who qualify for federal disaster loans would be eligible for an exemption from their real property taxes for two years. Tax relief totals at least $2.5 million, and up to $7.5 million over two years.
  
  
• Up to eight weeks of unemployment benefits for agriculture employees not working due to the disaster. Benefits would be from $106 to $496 per week. Total expenditures from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund estimated at $3.5 million.
  
  
• $1.5 million in additional funding for community action agencies and food banks to help citizens affected by crop losses receive emergency food, shelter and transportation

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The counties in which serious storm damage occurred include Adams, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Klickitat, Walla Walla and Yakima in Eastern Washington, and Clark, King and Pierce in Western Washington.

A wide variety of crops were damaged, ranging from cherries and apples to onions, corn, lettuce, strawberries, barley, hops and grass seed.

The governor and his staff hammered out the relief package after he toured the devastation in early July.

At the same time, he asked the federal government to declare disasters in the 13 counties, making affected growers eligible for low-interest federal loans.

"We have a transportation crisis in this state, but we also have a crisis that needs attention right here," the governor said after touring damaged orchards in Yakima.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Farm Service Agency
- U.S. Department of Agriculture

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