Checking Up On Ag & Grain Lockout

Checking Up On Ag & Grain Lockout. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

2012 has been an exciting year for many industries. USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber says the year is ending with the farm economy still in good shape, despite the drought and financial problems for the livestock sector.

GLAUBER: Land value is still staying very, very strong. And so for the time being at least I think these high prices have helped offset a lot of the yield losses and then when you layer on top of that the crop insurance indemnities farm income, again, very close to last years levels so as far as the overall farm economy, you know the farm economy is still in pretty good shape with the important caveat that means a crop side that’s done very, very well and a livestock side that hasn’t done as well.

The fight between the unions and the NW grain terminals is still being worked out. Yesterday the grain terminals said they would not lock the longshore union workers out of their jobs. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union now has some decision to make. They can accept the offer, call for a strike or seek further bargaining while working under the new terms. For now they have decided to keep working. The contract dispute involves grain terminals in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Wash.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange report.

(Grange)

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