Being Energy Efficient at the Pump & Slowing Ag Trade

Being Energy Efficient at the Pump & Slowing Ag Trade plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Tough times are causing more fallout issues around the U.S. including ag trade with countries like Mexico & Canada. Allan Mustard, USDA’s Ag Councilor in Mexico City says the economy has certainly slowed trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

MUSTARD: When we go up and visit the border; ports of entry and ask what’s the flow, what’s the traffic look like we get estimates of between 30 and 50% decline depending on the product group. In general I’d say it’s probably down about 30% by volume. This is having an impact on both producer incomes on both sides of the border and of course it’s reflected in food manufacturing, the whole supply chain from field to consumer.

Legislation introduced by Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Richard Lugar of Indiana has received the endorsement of Growth Energy. The Consumer Fuels and Vehicles Choice Act is designed to give American drivers the choice of filling up on low-carbon fuel, like ethanol, by increasing the number of flex fuel vehicles and pumping stations available to consumers. The act calls for: 50 percent of all automobiles manufactured for sale in the United States to be flex fuel capable by 2011 and 90 percent of all automobiles manufactured for U.S. sale to be flex fuel capable by 2013.

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

Can you say “agriburbia” ten times real fast? Nope, me neither. In fact I had to do an internet search to find out exactly what agriburbia was. What it is is very interesting indeed. Remember how several years back people were developing communities that revolved around a particular interest, such as golfing, bicycling, or horses? Agriburbia is in the same vain only this time developers are integrating food production with housing. It’s the brainchild of a Colorado housing developer and offers residents a chance to get in touch with the land and have a hand in their own sustainability. Not such a bad idea or vision, but one that is going to take a lot more thought on efficient energy sources, and sustainable transport options to make it a truly working and viable concept. Plus, no small part of the equation is finding people who are eager and willing to buy into their own sustainability. But then having grown up in a small Kansas farming community I feel I was a part of one of the original “Agriburbia”. Who knows, perhaps this newest agriburbia will catch on and thrive.

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