Concerns Over GM Wheat & Farm Jobs

Concerns Over GM Wheat & Farm Jobs plus New Farmer Survey. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

As the USDA-APHIS investigation continues into the genetically modified wheat found in Oregon, a lot of questions are being asked of farmers in the surrounding area where the wheat was found. The farmer has not been identified. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack gives us an update.

VILSACK: First of all let’s put this situation into context. This was “A” finding of a very small number of plants on 123 acres of land. There’s no indication that this particular circumstances found its way into the stream of commerce in terms of wheat or flour that’s being sold. In fact, we have numerous tests in adjoining fields, numerous test from some of our trading partners, it has been limited at this point in time to that particular field.

A news item posted on the internet talks about 5 jobs that are slowly fading into history. Things like file clerks are being taken over by technology. But number 5 on the list are “Farmers, Ranchers, or Other Agricultural Managers.” Tim Ragan, owner of Career Coaching International says the ag industry today is getting a bit stagnant in terms of job opportunities. News to us...and oh...number 2 on the list are reporters and news correspondents. Hmmmm.

Now farmers are being asked to respond to a new survey. Gary Crawford has the details.

(USDA Report)

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