Being Optimistic, Funding Government & Idaho River Floods

Thursday Mar 17th, 2011 118 Views Northwest Report

Being Optimistic, Funding Government & Idaho River Floods plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Steve Foglesong - former President of the National Cattleman's Beef Association - says farmers and ranchers today have a couple of challenges and reasons for optimism. He says the challenges start with government overreach.

FOGELSONG: From a number of places. Through the EPA really wanting to regulate in some situations those of us in agriculture right out of business and hopefully we’ve got an opportunity now maybe stem that tide and get a little common sense and some science back into those regulations. I think that’s what we’re really asking for. Let’s make sure before we put a regulation in place and expect folks in agriculture to step up to the plate, let’s make sure it’s economically correct.

Idaho’s Weiser River is out of its banks and closing several roads. No homes have been evacuated and the sheriff does not anticipate any evacuations will be necessary. The National Weather Service predicts the Weiser River will be back below flood level by early Friday morning.

For the fifth time since the fiscal year began October 1, the House of Representatives has approved a short-term spending resolution for the current fiscal year. The vote was 271 to 158. The measure cuts an additional 6-billion dollars from the budget and diminishes the possibility of a government shutdown beginning on Friday. The Senate is expected to soon take action.

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

Ah, tis St. Patrick’s Day. A holiday where everyone is proud to be Irish, at least for a day. For Irish Americans anyway, corned beef and cabbage is most often served on St. Patty’s, but if you’re an adventurous Irish soul why not try a brand new menu this year to celebrate everything Irish. How about Irish stew, beer braised brisket, a Reuben sandwich, or maybe scalloped potatoes and ham. Vegetarians can celebrate in style on “the day of the green” with choices like spinach pie, green cabbage soup, or green onion and potato pancakes, all in keeping with the green and clover themed holiday. At our house, where we’re proud to be Irish all year long, Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie with huge chunks of lean beef along with potato, onion, and carrots will probably find it’s way to the supper table with plenty of Irish Soda Bread on the side; followed up of course with a fine Irish coffee. While you’re celebrating Irish heritage, no matter if you’re not actually Irish, just remember to let go and enjoy, reveling in all things green and Gaelic. As my three year old grandson likes to say with his apple juice raised high, “Cheers everybody”.

Thanks Lacy and yes, she is Irish. Happy St. Patrick’s everyone. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.