Apples for Haiti & What's Up With The Weather

Apples for Haiti & What's Up With The Weather plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The weather across the U.S. has most people stymied. Here in the NW we go from t-shirts to overcoats on a daily basis and across the country it is a definite mixed bag according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. RIPPEY: We have a large thunderstorm complex crossing the northern cornbelt. Eventually that will head towards New England and so that's the summer part of it. It's a little bit early to be seeing thunderstorms that far north, all the way up into Iowa and later on through the Great Lakes region and into the northeast. As we head into next week I believe we'll return to a little bit more normalcy and we'll see storms moving back to the south where they should be. Rippey also says there will continue to be snow in the west which is good since many areas are hurting for moisture. Yakima, Washington businesses and organizations are planning to help earthquake victims in Haiti through a "Million Apples for Haiti" campaign. Five fruit companies have committed to donating the apples. The Rotary Club and some schools are selling 900,000 of the apples at $20 a box. The money will go to the Hope for the Hungry organization to build 23 homes in Haiti. The remaining 100,000 apples will be shipped to Haiti. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Lately I have been seriously considering the possibility of raising goats. The thought of fresh goat's milk and making my own goat cheese is one of those enticing DIY dreams. And the idea of having a method for grass and weed control that doesn't involve me pushing a mower is very tempting. I've even heard that certain breeds of goats make for excellent pets. In doing research on goat rearing I've found out the obvious, they need lots of space, which I have, and they need to be fenced in as they like to wander. The not so obvious results of my research pertained to the fact that there are several different breeds of goats and depending on your reasons for wanting to raise goats there are very specific breeds for specific purposes. So all goats are not created equal. If you're raising for meat, you want boer goats, for breeding, showing, or as pets, you want to raise pygmy or Nigerian dwarf goats. Goats are also herd animals and prefer the company of other goats, so if you aren't prepared to have three or more they suggest you don't raise goats. Last, but definitely not least, unless you plan to breed them, stick to girl goats because boy goats stink, literally. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.