Taiwan Reaction & New Advisory Committee

Taiwan Reaction & New Advisory Committee plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Taiwan's legislature has voted to ban the import of some U.S. beef and beef products. The vote negates an earlier agreement between the United States and Taiwan completed a little over two months ago. That protocol was negotiated on the basis of the guidelines laid out by the World Organization for Animal Health, as well as the findings of Taiwan's own risk assessment, which concluded that all U.S. beef and beef products are safe. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Economist Gregg Doud says the action is almost without precedent - to walk away from what amounts to a treaty - and one that took two years to reach.

DOUD: Quite frankly U.S. beef producers are sick and tired of being a political football for these kinds of political activities. We’ve talked to the Obama Administration about this, they are equally displeased with Taiwan’s decision to walk away from an agreement we have government to government and we’ve asked the administration to look into all opportunities here to see if they can remedy this situation as soon as possible.

25 members of the new Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee have been announced by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. The committee members were selected from individuals nominated by their peers and will advise the Secretary on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry and each member is appointed to a two-year term.

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

Today is a good day. We had sunshine for the first time in I don’t know how long and gardening catalogs arrived in the mail! WaHoo! Now I just have to set down and devise my planting strategy. Am I going to plant annuals, perennials, or a combination of both? Do I want to plant a full blown vegetable garden and if so, when is the best time to get started. So many questions, so many catalogs to peruse. And then of course I will need to consult my “Old Farmer’s Almanac”; an old family tradition from way back. My Grandfather was the green thumb of our family and he passed the love of gardening on to me. Granted I don’t do it with the same amount of flare as Grandpa, and sometimes that’s a good thing if gardening in mixed company, but I did listen when he passed along gardening advice.  Your geographic location may determine what signs point to the right time to plant and sow seeds for you; whether it is birds heading north or south, or the bull frogs serenading. But one thing is certain, the sign are all starting to point in the right direction, spring!

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