Another NW West Nile Case & Cattle Groups Agree

Another NW West Nile Case & Cattle Groups Agree

Another NW West Nile Case & Cattle Groups Agree plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

It is rare that all U.S. cattle groups agree on a subject, that is the case with allowing imports of fresh and chilled beef from Argentina enter into the U.S. due to the fact that they have known cases of Foot and Mouth disease. R-Calf U.S.A., Executive Director, Bill Bullard.

BULLARD: We tried to regionalize Argentina back in early 2000. USDA said this is a great opportunity to demonstrate that we can trade even with a country that has a dangerous disease like foot and mouth disease, all we have to do is not trade in the specific areas where the disease occurs and we began trading with Argentina in fresh and chilled beef. And then we learned that Argentina had outbreaks of foot and mouth disease but the Argentinian government did not inform us of this until the outbreaks were very widespread. In fact they tried to hide the fact that it was having widespread outbreaks.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture reports that an unvaccinated horse in Omak is the second case of equine West Nile virus confirmed in the state this summer. The 17-year-old palomino gelding was not vaccinated for the virus and has not traveled out of state. The horse is responding to treatment at this time. Washington had two confirmed cases of horses with West Nile virus last year; one in Franklin County and another in Yakima County. The Omak horse is the first reported case of West Nile virus in Okanogan County in recent years. In 2009, British Columbia reported a case across the border north of Okanogan County.

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

The Monsanto Fund sponsored America's Farmers Grow Communities program is now in it's fifth year and has successfully invested more than $16 million in individual nonprofit organization across rural America. The program allows farmers to enter to win $2,500 for the community non-profit that is most important to them. Washington state 2014 winners include the Kamiakin High School FFA in Kennewick, the Columbia Basin Junior Livestock Shows - Connell, the Walla Walla County Safe Harbor Support Center, Riverside Christian School in Yakima, and the New Life Christian School. In Oregon the Morrow County 4-H Leaders Council and Adrian High School - Football were selected winners. Idaho winners included Love INC Treasure Valley, the Wendall Rural Fire District, the Silver and Gold Senior Center in Jerome, the Twin Falls County Fair Foundation, and the Acequia Elementary School and Minidoka County School District. Farmers have until November 30th to enroll in the America's Farmers Grow Communities program for 2015. So go ahead, help great things happen in your community - visit americasfarmers.com and enroll today.

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

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