Wildfire Season & Food Forethought

Wildfires Burning plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Unfortunately it is wildfire season and all across the northwest various fire outbreaks are causing trouble for firefighters. Idaho has seen several windmills destroyed as a lightening-caused fire burned more than 5-thousand acres southwest of Bliss. Several windmills in the area were destroyed. A Central Washington blaze has caused the evacuation of some 18 people and threatened a number of homes. The blaze is in a canyon, about 10 miles north of Wenatchee. Gusty wind conditions are causing extra trouble for firefighters in the area. The threat of wildfires has caused the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to institute a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010 according to Mark Gray, asst. division manager, with the Washington State DNR. GRAY: This will limit all burning on state and private forest lands with the exception of recreational fires in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds. Other burning to enhance or restore forest fire dependant ecosystems that can only be conducted during July 15th through September 30th. If you have any questions about burning, contact your local DNR office. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For each person that beauty can be anything as grandiose as the Cascade mountain range or as simple as a wheat field waving in the summer breeze. If you ever have the chance to cruise through the Walla Walla area you may catch a glimpse of one man's perception of beauty created from the ordinary farm machinery he has worked with on a daily basis nearly all his life. It may be the giant winged dragon standing sentry along the side of the rode, or the cattails, native grasses or wheat that seem so real at first glance but on closer inspection are found to be made from countless pieces of scrap metal and farm machinery parts; things most of us would have considered junk. The number of people who have discovered and are now enjoying this unique artwork is proof that beauty can be found in the strangest of places. We have only to look around us to find a treasure trove of "beauty" just waiting to be discovered. So, next time you're tending the garden, working on an irrigation unit, or using a manure spreader pay close attention, you just may find the inspiration you need to become the next Michelangelo. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.