Tackling Carbon Emissions & Fire Potential

Tackling Carbon Emissions & Fire Potential plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved the first legislation that tackles the issue of climate change by reducing carbon emissions. After marathon sessions during the week - Committee members passed the more than 900-page bill with a 33 to 25 vote. A cap-and-trade system that caps greenhouse gas emissions from every source is the centerpiece of the plan. The measure calls for a 20-percent reduction of national emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 - a 42-percent drop by 2030 and an 83-percent cut by 2050.

Fire season is here and Robyn Heffernan of the National Interagency Fire Center reveals some Western areas that could see above normal fire potential this summer.

HEFFERNAN: In California we’ve seen some very dry conditions there. They’re in their third year of significant drought in California and that certainly taking it’s toll on the fire season in that area of the country. We anticipate above normal significant fire potential though out much of northern California and portions of the central coast. Also in the northwest we saw some pretty good snowpack though out much of the winter in many places, in north central Washington they had below normal. No water equivalent values in that area of the country and so we’re keeping our eye on that area as well for some above normal fire potential.

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

I noticed an ad in one of my women’s magazines the other day that pictures two women discussing corn syrup versus “natural” sweeteners; the one woman getting her facts on nutrition from her hairdresser! I had to chuckle at the other woman’s response, “Wow, you get your hair done by your doctor?!” Well, it would be funny if it wasn’t so close to the truth. So many people are more than willing to believe health scares that are spread by unknowing sources; and sadly, like the game of telephone, misinformation spreads quickly and rampantly. Misinformation is also much easier to distribute than it is to dislodge. Even after numerous studies that show corn syrup is in essence identical to regular table sugar in nutritional value it continues to get a bad rap. But like all things nutritional this too is subject to change. Remember how not that long ago eggs were considered taboo. That too has changed; eggs are now considered “good cholesterol”. One thing however remains consistent; the easiest thing to conceive is a misconception.

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