Summer's Here & Opening Global Ag Trade

Summer’s Here & Opening Global Ag Trade plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

What are the keys that one trade official sees to opening up global agricultural trade? U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says two things need to be done to make the world agricultural trade and production system work as the world population increases.

KIRK: We have to operate with sound sanitary and phytosanitary standards if the system is going to work. The other thing we have to do is honestly look at the challenge of a global population that if it’s really going to add a billion over the next 20 years and continue to grow, we need to stop looking at ag as a competition and realize the number of countries around the world that are blessed enough to be able to feed themselves and make a net contribution are going to all be challenged.

I can remember my grandparents telling me that as you get older time just seems to pick up speed. Well the logical part of my brain knows that time is constant but I just have one question. What happened to spring? Today is June 21 and that means the summer solstice which comes along at 1:16pm Eastern Daylight Time and is the point where the sun reaches the northern most point in the sky. It is also the longest day of the year. So get out and enjoy some sunshine. It’s officially summer!

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

Gardening is not just a hobby or a duty for me, it’s much needed therapy, and I’m not alone. Many people garden simply for the pleasure it gives them. For many across the country the healing aspects of gardening are being used in actual therapy treatment. Though it sounds like a new concept, it’s not. There have been therapeutic gardening retreats offering social and therapeutic horticulture for over fifty years. Gardening therapy offers a sense of calm, achievement, and self-confidence not easily realized in other types of therapy. While this type of therapy works well for those recovering from illness or accidents it has also been found to benefit veterans returning from active duty. Reports from vets currently participating in gardening therapy programs state that gardening activities help them to take focus off themselves, gives them an outlet for their frustrations, alleviates depression, and provides much needed satisfaction; proof positive that gardening is good for the mind, body, and soul. A famous quote says “Nature can do more than physicians”, so true. Its been a stressful day. If anybody needs me, I’ll be in my garden.

Thanks Lacy. Just a reminder, BigIron.com has some outstanding equipment listed for this Wednesday’s on line sale. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.