Airing It Out & Blasting Squirrels

Airing It Out & Blasting Squirrels plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

28 groups for and against USDA's controversial National Animal Identification System aired their views to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday morning. R-CALF USA - which opposes a mandatory animal ID system - was represented at the meeting by CEO Bill Bullard.

BULLARD: After 6 years this is really encouraging that at least the Secretary is willing to set down with us and discuss the very legitimate concerns that we’ve raised about this program.

Bullard adds that he hopes Secretary Vilsack will keep R-CALF’s views in mind as the decision-making process plays out.

Whether you think ground squirrels are cute or a pest, the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department has jumped out of the frying pan into the fire with their decision to use propane & oxygen to blast the critters. Squirrels have quickly over-populated some areas and the department chose this method to eliminate the infestation. Meanwhile the Spokane Humane Society is trying to stop the Department saying it is only a temporary solution. Maybe someone should call Bill Murray and ask his opinion.

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

Lookout Europe, you are in danger of losing your long time first place standing in not only wine production but wine consumption. A while back I reported that some American wines were winning rave reviews and wine competitions around the globe. Now it appears that we here in the “New World” are also becoming a country of serious wine drinkers. For the first time the United States has actually exceeded Italy in total wine consumption, and European vineyards reportedly produced under half of the world’s grape production. I may be prejudiced, but I personally feel that the wine growers here in the Pacific Northwest produce some of the finest wines to be had anywhere; and their numbers are growing by leaps and bounds. While the global economic crisis has seen the sales of European wines slowly receding, the sales of U.S. wines are anything but, with sales rising nearly thirty percent. So cheers America, I raise my glass to you; and that would be of course a glass of very fine American wine.

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