Crop Insurance Deadline & HSUS Reaches Out to Canada

Crop Insurance Deadline & HSUS Reaches Out to Canada

Crop Insurance Deadline & HSUS Reaches Out to Canada plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The signup deadline is coming soon for several additions in 2012 to the federal crop insurance offerings for spring planted crops. Risk Management Agency Administrator Bill Murphy talks about the importance of the upcoming spring crop insurance sale closing date and some of the programs offered.

MURPHY: The March 15th sales closing date is by far the largest sales closing date for the program in the country. Some 65% of our liability for the entire program is booked during that time period so it’s huge. The crops by far, corn soybeans, spring wheat out of that are all done because March 15th is the major date. We also get a whole host of other crops that are done on March 15th.

The Ontario, Canada-based Tim Hortons restaurant chain has been contacted by the Humane Society of the U.S. asking it to disclose to its shareholders the feasibility of ensuring that bacon and other pork products the restaurant chain uses in its U.S. locations does not come from pigs traced back to systems using gestation-sow stalls. This proposal mirrors McDonald’s plan announced in late February, in which it asked its suppliers for a report on their long-term gestation-sow housing strategies. McDonald’s has given its suppliers a deadline of reporting back by May. The HSUS proposal will be voted on at the Hoton’s annual meeting in May.

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

When having pizza most of us like to pile on the toppings, which often include some not so healthy choices. It is possible though to indulge in everyone’s favorite food and still get the USDA’s MyPlate seal of approval, but there is a slight catch. In keeping with MyPlate, which recommends that half our plates be filled with fruits and vegetables, a little rethinking when it comes to pizza toppings is in order. One of the first things to consider when ordering pizza at your favorite pizza place, or when creating your own at home is the thickness of the crust. If you’re like me, the thicker the crust the better, but thinning down that crust and perhaps making it a multi-grain or whole wheat crust would be a healthier choice. Next, comes the sauce and the toppings. If you go with a layer of fresh tomato sauce and a thin covering of skim cheese, you’re off to a good start. Follow that with tons of fresh veggies, some lean protein like chicken or turkey, and even fruits like pineapple or blue berries, and you’ll have a nutritious and delicious pizza. Of course, the next step in making sure you eat healthy while indulging in your favorite pizza is perhaps the hardest, and that’s limiting yourself to having just a couple of slices!

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

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