10/30/08 Rate Cut, Flu Death & USDA Changes Numbers

Rate Cut, Flu Death & USDA Changes Numbers plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. In an effort to help stabilize the dollar the Feds cut their key interest rate to just 1% yesterday and at least at the moment it seems to have helped. Many analysts said they believe the Fed will not stop at 1 percent if officials see the need to cut rates further. Some are forecasting another half-point move at the Fed's last meeting of the year on Dec. 16 while others believe the rate is sufficient and that it should hold there. Time will tell. In an unprecedented move, USDA has issued corrected crop reports, after a major data problem in its October 10th reports. World Ag Outlook Board Chair Gerald Bange says there's never been a problem at USDA like this one, during his USDA career, spanning some 30-years. BANGE: There was a problem with the data coming out of the Farm Services Agency where the data with our main from database was not in concurrence with what they have in their user friendly database. Idaho State health officials say a 50-year-old woman from northern Idaho has died from influenza complications and is the first flu-related death of the season in Idaho. Last year, Idaho had nine deaths from the flu and some 36-thousand deaths are reported nationwide. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Fright night is nearly here. No, not November 4th, the original fright night, Halloween, is almost upon us. Hopefully you have a safe and fun Halloween already planned for yourself and your family. If you haven't picked up your pumpkin for carving yet, try to get one from a local farm or farmer's market. Many local farms offer pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay rides and other fun Halloween farm activities. And if you're wondering what to do with ol' jack after your Halloween fun is over, remember, pumpkins can make great compost material. October offers up the perfect time to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall foliage, the fun and silliness that goes along with Halloween, and the abundant sights and experiences offered down on the farm. The pumpkin patches, fresh cider, petting farms and corn mazes all provide communities the perfect opportunity to connect with their areas hard working farmers and experience the difference that comes from the local element. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.