No Disruptions from Spill & Quitting Smoking

No Disruptions from Spill & Quitting Smoking plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The top Agriculture Department economist says so far the Gulf oil spill is not causing disruptions to export shipments of agricultural products. Joe Glauber. GLAUBER: Everyone is watching this situation. I think the real issue is whether or not shipping were disrupted. Thus far no signs of problems. We're like everyone else following this day-to-day but at least all the news thus far suggests that the ports are clear and we have had a lot of ag shipments that are sales and so there is a lot of activity. Just days after the price of cigarettes jumped one dollar per pack, the Washington State Department of Health is reporting an increase in the number of calls to its tobacco quit line. It was expected. Health officials report now that most callers say they simply can't afford to keep smoking. Which is understandable when you consider that under this new tax the average pack-a-day smoker would save around $2,500 each year by quitting. Health officials estimate the tax increase on tobacco will be enough to get 19,000 current smokers to quit, and will prevent about twice as many kids from starting the habit. And this decrease in smokers is expected to save more than $850 million in health care costs. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Last week's incredibly high winds and occasional pockets of blowing dirt, due in large part to construction sites, made it seem as if Mother Nature was remembering and reminding us of the anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. The SCS was formed to aide farmers and ranchers during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930's. The agency's title has now changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service but the goals are still the same; provide landowners with the assistance and guidance to implement good land management practices when it comes to preserving and protecting soil, water, and air quality. American farmers and ranchers have shown a dedication and commitment to land conservation over the last seventy-five years that sets the tone for future generations of landowners. May our nation's future farmers and ranchers never forget the lessons learned due to the Dust Bowl; the health of our topsoil, air and water depends on us, and our future depends on healthy topsoil, air and water. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.