Washington meetings

A snow storm has belted Washington D.C. and shut down the government for at least a couple of hours. United's government relations council is in town look at policy, sounding off on the board's call for strong federal oversight and possibly meeting with Ag Secretary Johanns this afternoon. The produce title of the farm bill - the subject of meetings yesterday by the specialty crop farm bill alliance - is expected to be introduced in the House by Cardoza and Putnam, possibly by early March.

Meanwhile, a study was released yesterday by United that speaks of the economic impact to fruit and vegetable growers from dropping the farm bill's planting restriction on program acres. Sources said the study shows the industry would take about a $3 billion hit.

Developing....