Dairy Proposal Stirs Debate & Power Rate Increase
Dairy Proposal Stirs Debate & Power Rate Increase plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
A proposal to create a dairy market stabilization program is generating considerable debate in the dairy industry. Opponents say it’s a form of supply management - while proponents say it would only kick in when conditions warrant. Jerry Kozak, with National Milk Producers Federation says the proposal has widespread producer support - and that’s what matters most
KOZAK: They all recognize it’s not perfect. It has warts. It has issues but it’s far better than anything we have and it’s a viable vehicle that can actually get passed. The processors may have tons of money on lobbying but at the end of he day the Congress has to look at where there constituents are, what is meaningful for agriculture and I’m pretty optimistic we’ll be successful.
A lot of folks in Washington State are wondering why Avista is applying a rate increase when snowpacks in the area assure continued hydropower. The company said despite strong earnings and all that water, it needs the money for infrastructure upgrades. Local hydropower pumping to the max is not enough revenue to replace old transformers and other equipment. The company said a rate increase is necessary to ensure reliable service.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
It’s always nice to hear or read about the US helping impoverished countries in reducing their population’s hunger, either through food donations or by helping them to implement their own sustainable agricultural methods. It’s even nicer to hear about such aide happening right here on the home front. In an effort to help the hungry and give low income communities the ability to better establish sustainable food systems the USDA has again awarded grants to different universities across the country to help improve just such sustainable food system programs on a local level. A lot has been done on this front already, but as the number of hungry here in America continues to grow daily any effort to raise public awareness about the hungry and needy in our own communities needs to be continually addressed. Additional focus should be put on the value of local foods and helping farmers find profitable and sustainable farming methods in rural communities; and these grants should go a long way in doing just that. As a wise person before me once said, “Where food grows, so does hope”. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
