11/03/08 Sali's Social & Veggie Production Slide

Sali's Social & Veggie Production Slide plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Rep. Bill Sali is angry over a campaign flier mailed by the Idaho Democratic Party throughout the 1st Congressional District that shows the Social Security numbers of Sali and his wife Terri. The personal financial information appeared on documents detailing the Republican's struggles to pay debts dating back to the 1980s. The Idaho Democratic Party put together the flier and mailed it out to thousands of voters. That district covers the far western and northern part of the state. The flier points out state and federal tax liens filed against Sali 20 years ago, along with his continuing campaign debt. Sali's campaign says the tax issues happened in 1988 and are not an issue today. Vegetable production is taking a downturn. That probably won't hurt your kids feelings but producers are seeing a downside due to the weather according to USDA economist, Gary Lucier. LUCIER: We had tropical storms go through Florida which caused planting delays. We had some hurricanes brush some areas of Mexico which could cause some delays in harvest and also some planting delays in Mexico, which may mean we could have some problems with supplies around Christmas time. We'll have to wait and see how that all turns out. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. We are headed into that time of year that the great author, Mr. Charles Dickens, referred to as "the time when want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices." Taking that sentiment to heart, The AFBF's Young Farmer and Rancher program pulled together with America's Second Harvest in order to supply thousands of our nation's hungry with food produced and harvested from America's farms and ranches. Their combined efforts actually started in 2002 when AFBF offered up their support for the first Hunger Awareness Day. Since then the partnership has been a huge success and has grown to include The National Association of Farm Broadcasters. While the issue of feeding the hungry of our nation generally becomes forefront in most people's minds on or around the holidays, ranchers and farmers across the nation donate their time, energies and food to hungry people throughout the entire year; diligently striving and working towards the day when we as a nation can truly rejoice over a hunger free America. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.