Reports Cancelled & Vilsack Welcomes Workers Back

Reports Cancelled & Vilsack Welcomes Workers Back plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

It must have been strange for USDA workers to head back to work after their furlough. But things are slowly getting back to normal. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack welcomed the employees back.

VILSACK: Number one, we're happy that folks are back and number two we appreciate their service. I think a recognition that folks went through a very stressful time and we are very, very happy to have folks back at USDA. I think we recognize here at USDA now - perhaps the rest of the country now recognizes the important work that gets done by folks who work at USDA. I was just really pleased with how excited and enthusiastic people were as I greeted them as they headed to work, bounding up the steps. Excited to be back

USDA has announced the cancellation and postponement of the publication of selected USDA statistical reports impacted by the lapse in federal funding. The National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production as well as the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - scheduled for release last Friday, have been cancelled. The NASS Crop Progress reports scheduled for October 7th and 15th are also cancelled - while the Cattle on Feed report scheduled for last Friday are postponed. USDA notes that while the lapse in federal funding has ended - NASS has not been able to engage in the necessary data collection and analysis over the past few weeks.

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

The President's recent "Get Er Done" speech upon the reopening of the federal government was quite telling to say the least. Gloating is not attractive on anyone. He spoke of working together, putting aside differences, and doing what's good for the American people, then quickly proceeded to take jabs at and admonish his Republican opponents. And let's remember all this "let's work together" rhetoric is coming from the man who just a few days prior said he wasn't going to budge. Obama admonished House Republicans on passing a farm bill, saying that "If House Republicans have ideas that they think would improve the farm bill, let's see them. Let's negotiate. What are we waiting for? Let's get this done." House Ag Committee Chairman, Republican Representative Frank Lucas, responded that the President should "check his facts". That "fact check" from the House Ag Committee countered that farm bill negotiations have begun, that the House adopted a motion to go to conference October 11, named conferees to negotiate differences in the House and Senate passed farm bills October 12, and House and Senate Ag Committee leaders have met and will start formal conference meetings when the two bodies are in session together, which should be this week.

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