05/15/08 WTO Update & Dairy Consolidation

WTO Update & Dairy Consolidation plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab believes reaching a global trade deal in the Doha Round of WTO talks could help curb rising food prices worldwide by reducing high farm commodity prices. WTO Director General Pascal Lamy Wednesday said he's a believer as well. LAMY: Although the WTO cannot provide anything immediate to help solve the current crisis, it can through the Doha Round negotiations provide medium and long term solutions. But to conclude the Doha Round of negotiations yet this year - Lamy said a breakthrough is needed within a matter of weeks. And if the talks aren't wrapped up this year - a number of negotiators say the round will go into a deep freeze. Idaho lost another 35 dairies in 200 7, according the latest figures from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. The state had 683 dairy farms at the end of 2006 but shrank to 648 by the beginning of this year. The consolidation of the industry is being caused I part by increasing regulations. The consolidation of the industry has caused dramatic growth in animal numbers. Cow numbers increased from 476,000 dairy cows in 2006 to 507,000 in 2007. Accordingly, milk production is up, increasing from 10.89 billion pounds of milk in 2006 to 11.55 billion pounds in 2007. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. It's that time of year again, a time that has me itching with anticipation. I'm talking about the opening of our local Farmers Market. I look forward to that first opening day with the same amount of enthusiasm as a five year old for Christmas morning, or so it seems if I'm remembering my childhood correctly! I have to get there earlier each year as the word has obviously gotten out that the Farmers Market is the one place where you can be rest assured of finding deliciously fresh and tasty produce. In fact our area of over one hundred thousand inhabitants could stand to have several more farmers markets as the demand for fresh local produce seems to outpace the supply. Finding a new generation of farmers to step in and take over for the large number of retiring farmers can be a challenge. As each farmer who manages a stand will tell you it's a lot of hard work but extremely satisfying and well worth it. Hopefully we will be able to continue to find young farmers eager and willing to carry on the wonderful tradition of the local farmers markets. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.