In its earliest endorsements ever, the Washington Farm Bureau Political Action Committee has endorsed Republican Dino Rossi for governor and U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., over Democratic incumbent Sen. Patty Murray for the U.S. Senate.

Endorsements are based on the recommendations of Candidate Evaluation Committees at the county Farm Bureau level. Twenty-two of Washington Farm Bureau’s 23 county Farm Bureaus are participating in the PAC process this year.

The Farm Bureau PAC also endorsed President George W. Bush for reelection, along with Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, and state Supreme Court Justice Richard B. Sanders.

Not every race was considered for early endorsement. The Farm Bureau PAC will issue a second round of endorsements before the primary election in September.