05/08/08 Farm Bill Question & Seal Update

Farm Bill Questions & Seal Update plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Negotiators seem to be nearing the end of farm bill negotiations but the question overriding all discussions is: What will the President do? Sign or Veto? President Bush and Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer met to discuss the farm bill. Schafer was updating the President on USDA's programs and about the more than 60 billion dollars in federal support for domestic food aid assistance. Schafer feels that things are moving in the right direction. SCHAFER: I do believe that Congress has shown, especially the negotiators here in the last week; 7-8 days, have really shown their desire I think to try to incorporate the President's desires here, to look out for the American taxpayer. The seals found at the Bonneville Dam over the weekend were not shot to death as earlier believed. Preliminary results of a necropsy found no evidence of recent gunshot wounds but found numerous shallow puncture wounds in one animal consistent with sea lion bite marks. The department still is trying to determine how the animals died and how the doors to the traps in which they were found had been closed. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Shrooms have proven themselves good for more than just pizza! In a report of "Current Biology" researchers stated that they have found evidence to suggest that fungi can secure depleted uranium into a mineral form that could prove less likely to resurface in plants, animals or the water supply. Depleted uranium is the byproduct of uranium enrichment for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. And though it is not as radioactive as natural uranium, depleted uranium is just as deadly and is a danger to humans. This study has found that free living and plant symbiotic fungi, such as mushrooms, can colonize depleted uranium and transform the metal into a less threatening and retained substance. How they do this is a lengthy and involved process which I won't go into, but it is a major and relevant breakthrough which could lead to a remedy for uranium polluted soils. Funny isn't it how even the lowliest seeming of life forms can be crucial to our very existence. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.