Idaho Reacts & Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act

Idaho Reacts & Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act plus Ramping Up China Exports. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack encouraging all schools to sign on to the community eligibility provision of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act giving all student access to free meals where there's a large free and reduced population.

VILSACK: What this means, if you are a school district with a high percentage of low income students, 40% or more that are on free lunch, instead of requiring every student to apply, instead of utilizing direct certification for more ease and administration, why not just simply let all the youngsters in that school since you have a high percentage already, to access the school lunch program and the free lunch program?

Idaho is reacting to a bill that would punish individuals caught secretly videotaping farming and dairy operations in the state. The bill has passed both the Senate and the House and is headed to Governor Butch Otter's desk. The ACLU of Idaho has taken a stand against the legislation saying it limits someone's freedom of speech, and violates whistle blower protections. Idaho Dairymen say all of agriculture strongly support this bill.

Now, China is now the world's second largest importer of food and agricultural products, but what would it take for China to become a huge exporter? Gary Crawford has the story.

(USDA Report)

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