Mathison Award & Rounded Up

Mathison Award & Rounded Up

Mathison Award & Rounded Up plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

West Mathison has been honored as one of Vance Publishings 40 under 40. Mathison is the President and CEO for Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, Washington and was nominated by his employees according to Stemilt's marketing director, Roger Pepperl.

PEPPERL: He's a strong leader. His attachment to agriculture is obvious, he's been in it since he's been in diapers. His passion for the consumer and for the future of the orchard business in the northwest whether it's apples, pears, cherries or soft fruit he's passionate about all of them, about improvements, it doesn't matter what it is West is involved in it.

It was fun while it lasted but those two cows we mentioned last week that escaped from a Pocatello meat-processing business have been rounded up. A number of cattle had been intentionally released by person or persons unknown and all but these last two had been caught over the weekend. Anderson Custom Pack called in the local constabulary to help locate the cattle. A holding pen gate had been opened allowing the cattle to take the holiday walkabout.

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

There is a lot of "white noise" surrounding the term Big Data being pushed mainly by fear, which is one of the strongest motivators out there. But how do we sift through all the white noise and base our understanding of Big Data on fact instead of fiction? How can Big Data be made to work in the average Joe's favor? First off fear is generated by the unknown, so learn all you can about Big Data, how it's collected and what that information is being used for. Most producers are well aware of the benefits that can be gleaned from big data; they are also well aware of the privacy issues surrounding such data; thus they should ask questions - find out how data is being collected, by whom, and who has rights to it. Talk to the experts, ag leaders, university extension people. Last month a coalition of farm organizations and ag technology providers announced an agreement on principles governing the use of data collected from farms - definitely a step in the right direction. It's all too easy to let fear and emotion take over when it comes to dealing with Big Data. It's okay to be cautious, but temper that with knowledge.

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

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