Oregon Tax Increase & Higher Milk Prices

Oregon Tax Increase & Higher Milk Prices plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

High costs, low prices and reduced demand have left dairy producers in crisis. The monthly all-milk price has steadily declined since the summer of 2007 - with USDA projecting the price will decline to its lowest annual average since 1979 later this year. But in 2010 - World Ag Outlook Board Chair Gerry Bange expects a nearly 30% increase to the 15.35 range. But is that enough for beleaguered dairy producers?

BANGE: Dairy producers are not elated with that price yet given that the cost structure that they are seeing and given their concerns about demand.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has signed a $733 million tax increase plan he says will protect schools and state programs from budget cuts. Kulongoski says the targeted increases will make Oregon's tax system fairer while averting deep budget cuts to schools, human services and public safety programs. Opponents, who plan to file paperwork to launch their referendum drive, say the taxes are a "job killer" that will slow Oregon's economic recovery.

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

Rabbits and zucchini have a lot in common; they both multiply faster than you can blink.  If you had the daring to plant zucchini in your garden this year you’re probably starting to sound like “Rabbit” from Winnie the Pooh, “Why, oh why, oh why”. Luckily, there are nearly as many great zucchini recipes to choose from as there are zucchinis in your garden. One of my favorites comes from my Grandmother’s recipe cache that uses not only zucchini but other favorites from the garden; tomatoes, green peppers, and onions, wrapping them all up in a tidy casserole with buttered bread crumbs and cheese on top. Grandma also made a lot of zucchini chocolate cakes over the long garden season in Kansas. Who would have thought, zucchini used in a cake recipe! Obviously someone who was desperate to use up all that zucchini they so lovingly nurtured from seed. So, before you start tip toeing around your neighborhood at night with a basket of zucchini, check out all the creative zucchini recipes that seem to keep multiplying like, well zucchini!

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