Back to School & West Nile Found

Back to School & West Nile Found plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

In just a matter of days now school will be back in session and parents will heave a sigh of relief. New clothes and school supplies and very likely some changes in the school lunch menus according to Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack.

VILSACK: Over time a reduction of the sodium content of meals being served to youngsters. For the first time we’ll establish maximum levels of calories in addition to the minimum level of calories that are currently established under the standards. We’ll also encourage far more consumption of fruits and vegetables by encouraging at least one addition cup of vegetables being made available on a daily basis and increasing significantly the amount of fruit that’s available. And suggesting that up to 50% of the grains served would be whole grain.

The West Nile virus has been found in Oregon’s Morrow County along the Columbia River, the first time in three years. So far no human cases have shown up. The last time West Nile was reported in this area was in 2009 when 110 test sites showed positive and one human case was reported. Morrow County and state health officials say the best way to avoid the disease is to eliminate sources of standing water.

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

We woke up today to some welcome rain. Our part of the country hasn’t suffered from the drought, but weeks of 95 to 100 plus temperatures still have us craving some cloudy days. My hubby reminded me this morning that it won’t be long before we’re getting up while it’s still dark out. That reminded me how quickly time passes by. That and the fact that my Dad turned 82 yesterday, which is just impossible because if Dad is 82 that means I’m ...., well never mind. And just how did we make it to these milestone ages anyhow without growing up in a well regulated world? Dad was a child of the 30’s and 40’s, and while I came along quite a bit later, all the bureaucratic regulations that we’re used to today still didn’t exist when I was growing up. So just how did we survive without seat belts and air bags, childproof lids, or cholesterol testing? As kids we rode our bikes all over the countryside. We swiped apples and peaches off our grandparents trees and ate them behind the shed. Hey, we wiped them on our shirts first! We climbed trees, scaled windmills, and dropped rocks on our toes fishing crawdads out of the creek, and we survived, well prepared for what life would throw our way next. Well, pretty prepared, nobody mentioned strangling regulations.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.