Cleaner Trucks & First Time Gardeners

Cleaner Trucks & First Time Gardeners plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Bruce Butterfield, with the National Gardening Association, saying that there was a large increase in the number of households growing some of their own food last year and the list of firstimers had more young people than was expected. BUTTERFIELD: There was a 14% increase over 2008 because of the recession but also because of – I think folks may be finally getting the message that it's better health to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of our new gardeners taking up food gardening for the first time are 18 to 34 year olds and so to me that's a real good sign because we had not seen them be real interested in gardening of any kind and food gardening in previous years. President Obama wants to increase fuel efficiency for medium and heavy-duty trucks. The President is directing EPA and the Department of Transportation to tighten pollution standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks for model years 2014-18 and extend the existing program for cars and light-duty trucks to model year 2017 and beyond. The directive also includes support for the development of advanced vehicle infrastructure. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Gone are the days that girls took only Home Economics in school and boys took shop or belonged to the Future Farmers of America. The fact that those days are past is a good thing for girls and the face of farming. It's not unusual today to find young women setting their sights on a career in farming or the agriculture industry. Today when you see a group of blue coated FFA members nearly half are female. At a recent Women Changing the Face of Agriculture career expo nearly two hundred young women came together to share their hopes, dreams, experiences and perspectives on what the future holds for women in agriculture. Ask any older generation farmer worth his salt about women in agriculture and he'll tell you that women have always held an important role in farming, as partners working on family farms or as primary farm operators themselves. Women as integral members of the ag industry is nothing new; women being given the recognition they deserve and the opportunity to develop themselves as leaders in the ag industry is a new experience for most women. The role of women in agriculture has always been and continues to be of the utmost importance, and is essential to the future of farming. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.