Climate Change Comments & Broad Reforms

Climate Change Comments & Broad Reforms plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

During March - the House Agriculture Committee distributed questionnaires about the climate change issue to more than 400 organizations. The purpose was to gather input on proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson announced the publication of responses to the survey. About half of the organizations responded. Still - Peterson termed the response tremendous - saying that it demonstrates the real concerns and contributions organizations can offer in the discussion about climate change.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chief Gary Gensler proposed before the Senate Ag Committee broad reforms of the derivatives markets. Gensler told ag members it’s time for comprehensive regulation.

GENSLER: I believe that must urgently enact broad reform to regulate the over the counter derivatives marketplace. Such reforms must comprehensively regulate both the derivative dealers, those institutions that make markets in these products as well as regulating the markets themselves.

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

There’s been a lot of talk lately about women in agriculture, and that’s a good thing; but truth be told, there have always been women in agriculture. My grandmother used to feed the cows and chickens, help plant and harvest crops, drive a wheat truck or tractor, and feed farm hands daily meals to boot; and we’re not talking frozen dinners, we’re talking the likes of fried chicken, potatoes and gravy, a veggie or two and dessert to finish it off! Women down through the generations have always worn numerous hats when it came to farming and ranching, and they continue to today; working just as hard as their mothers and grandmothers before them, at probably a much more dizzying pace. Today’s women in ag range anywhere from widows who have inherited the business to women fresh from college who are choosing farming as their career. All in all, women in ag are as diverse as the agriculture industry itself. Thankfully, through national media awareness these women are now getting the recognition and support which they so rightfully deserve.

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