When Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Dan Newhouse director of the state Agriculture Department earlier this year, the general feeling among local growers I spoke with was that the new job would give him a bigger platform to push the priorities of Central Washington farmers.

Well, how’s Washington, D.C., for bigger?

Newhouse flew there today with Gregoire and a half-dozen ag industry bigwigs to meet with leaders from the Obama administration.

“The policy issues we’re tackling this week will help support the long-term viability of agriculture in the state of Washington,” Newhouse said in a news release about the trip.

He and Gregoire will meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke — Gregoire’s predecessor as Washington governor — among other high-ranking federal officials.

They’ll also meet with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss things like labor issues — presumably as they apply to immigration across borders — port inspection requirements and “automated export system requirements for cherries.”

Among those joining Newhouse and Gregoire are two others from the Yakima Valley: Christian Schlect, president of the Yakima-based Northwest Horticulture Council, and Keith Matthews, executive director of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association.

-- Pat Muir