Cattle Shootings & REAP Deadlines

Cattle Shootings & REAP Deadlines plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The next deadline for grants under the Renewable Energy for America Program is quickly approaching. REAP has been successful in spurring several wind projects across the nation. Wind Utility Consulting Owner and Professional Engineer Tom Wind talks about the application guidelines.

WIND: We’ve found that the guidelines are really helpful for many people in figuring out all of the aspects of the project that are important. And it could be from where are you going to get your money, where are you going to put the wind turbine, how is the wind turbine going to be connected up to the grid, where’s the power going to go, who’s going to pay for it. All those basic questions that makes you analyze them very carefully.

Several areas in Idaho have seen a number of cattle shootings in the past few weeks. Authorities are not sure that the shootings are linked since they’re a spread over a large area but they are hoping to find someone who might have information. The most recent shooting was a cow and calf five miles north of Eagle. Lynn Gibson, the State Brand Inspector says they appear to be killings just for the sake of killing something with no reason. Bullets have been retrieved and tire tracks found may help lead authorities to the culprits.

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

Is it a garden shed, outdoor office, or backyard getaway? The answer would be yes to all three when describing our neighbor’s quaint, almost fairy tale looking backyard hideaway. Be it sheds, huts, gazebos, or tree houses, people are discovering the usefulness a backyard retreat can have, as well as the creative inspiration such a space can bring. This is really nothing new though considering that Mark Twain wrote a large portion of his literary works from his “garden getaway”, and that Thomas Jefferson pondered the nation’s future while enjoying Virginia sunsets in his brick garden pavilion. Working from home has become more of the norm, and since home remodeling can be quite expensive a modest garden shed can offer the perfect solution to the quandary of where to put a home office. Lets face it, there’s a little bit of the pioneer in all of us and the ability to have our own “little cabin in the wild” all within the safe confines of our own backyard is very appealing. There is a lot to be said for being able to get away from the main stream, or rather the main house, if only for a few blissful moments out of the day.

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