Small Wind & More Wolf Control

Small Wind & More Wolf Control

Small Wind & More Wolf Control plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

When I was a kid a windmill marked just about every farm on the landscape. That windmill was was used to pump water. Today farmers are comfortable investing in equipment that will pay for itself and offset some electricity usage - especially at a time when energy prices are volatile according to Small Wind Certification Council Technical Director Brent Summerville:

SUMMERVILLE: Wind energy would be right for a farmer or rancher if they have a suitable wind resource and the space to install a wind turbine. The project will be successful if they choose a dealer/installer that can provide a reliable support and if they choose a quality wind turbine. The dealer will help them access their wind resource, match their energy needs with the wind turbine system , estimate the energy output and help them with the economics of the project including financing.

Eastern Oregon ranchers told a House committee Tuesday that their existing authority to kill wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock isn’t enough protection from the substantial losses they incur when wolves prey on cattle and sheep. Three Eastern Oregon legislators have proposed allowing ranchers to kill any gray wolf they reasonably believe has attacked or harassed their livestock. Both sides are planning meetings to work on a compromise.

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

I can remember giving my husband a hard time way back when he wanted to buy our first microwave. I believe I said something like, “what will we use that thing for, heating up your coffee’? The microwave that we have had for the last twelve years just recently decided to up and die on us. I believe I said, “now what will we do without a microwave”? My how my tune has changed. It’s amazing how we come to depend on technology in all areas of our lives. Technology is important to the entertainment, finance, medical, and yes agriculture industry. Technology in agriculture helps growers enhance productivity to meet the growing demand for food worldwide. As consumers we tend to forget that. And there are those consumers who, like I was all those years ago, are leery of that technology and just what producers do with it. The agriculture industry finds itself under attack for how it utilizes innovative technology on a daily basis. The ag community has responded by reaching out to consumers in an effort to educate them about the true picture of agriculture. Educating consumers is the key to helping them understand and support agriculture.

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

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