Conservation Stewardship Renewal & Tart Cherry Decline

Conservation Stewardship Renewal & Tart Cherry Decline plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The first participants of the Conservation Stewardship Program with contracts approved in fiscal year 2010, have from July 11 until Sept. 12 to file an application to renew their contracts and make decisions on additional conservation activities that will benefit priority natural resource issues. CSP is offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and is the Farm Bill program that helps farmers and ranchers take conservation investments to the next level. About 20,000 CSP contracts nationwide are reaching the end of their initial five-year contract period and may be renewed for an additional five years where participants agree to take additional conservation measures.

The Northwest sweet cherry crop looks to be a good one this year but the nation's leading tart cherry producing state will have a significant drop this year due to a harsh winter according to Lance Honig of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

HONING: The vast majority of that crop comes out of Michigan. 264-million pound produced, 182-million of those are in Michigan so what happens in Michigan really drives the tart cherry crop. Some freeze damage in some cases, some winter kill but nonetheless just results of a hard, hard winter.

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

It would be difficult to guesstimate how many hamburgers and hot dogs were consumed over the 4th of July weekend. I'm sure that the number was astronomical. The 4th is the major kickoff to the barbecue season and how appropriate that July is National Hot Dog month. I love a good hot dog. I can still remember verbatim the Armour hot dog song from when I was a kid. You know the one - hot dogs, Armour hot dogs, the dogs kids love to bite. I better stop or I'll break into song right here and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Hot dogs have definitely changed over the years. Now you can find low fat, fat free, low sodium, and even veggie dogs! There are those who refuse to eat hot dogs for fear of what might be in them. Remember the old saying about everything but the squeal? But because of today's regulations on food product labeling, if the squeal is in there, they have to say so right on the package. So, if you're dying for a hot dog but haven't been able to get past the fear of what might be in one, have no fear - just read the label. If you don't like the ingredients listed, keep checking labels till you find a dog you like.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.