Cuban Restrictions & No April Fool's

Cuban Restrictions & No April Fools plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman was on Capitol Hill Tuesday, joining congressional members to advocate the removal of travel restrictions to Cuba. Stallman spoke in support of S.428, which opens Cuba to travel by U.S. citizens and gives the U.S. President authority to restrict travel to Cuba only in times of war or imminent danger. Stallman praised the renewed travel effort - but said more work is needed on ag trade.

STALLMAN: We do have the ability under fairly severe commercial restrictions to trade agricultural goods with Cuba. Long term we need to do more to open up the channels of trade like we do for every other country.

Yes it was April 1^st and no, it was no joke as a warm front moved through Western Washington and brought a mixed bag of snow, mixed snow and rain and rain showers. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures are expected this weekend by old man winter is sure not going quietly. As much as one to two feet of new snow may be on the ground by Friday in some areas. A combination of wind and snow Tuesday also created a mess for drivers in the mountain passes, causing traffic to be stopped altogether for a time on the three major east-west highways. The Transportation Department is not extending the April 1 deadline to remove studded tires.

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

Okay, so she wasn’t exactly dressed appropriately to put in a garden, but hey, at least First Lady Michelle Obama was personally operating a rake and shovel as she worked side by side with several school children while they broke ground for the first White House produce garden since the Roosevelts resided there. I don’t know about you but it does me good to see the First Lady participating in such a regular activity. I have trouble relating to society luncheons or entertaining dignitaries, but working the soil and putting in a garden; that I can relate to!  The garden, which is planned to have year round rotating crops of assorted vegetables, fruits and herbs, will be used not only for the first family and their guests but at a local soup kitchen nearby.  The White House garden and many others like it this year across the country are one of the few good things resulting from our nation’s troubled economy. They will be our generation’s version of a “victory garden”; the victory of growing organic and healthy food at home for ourselves and our neighbors.

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