Beef Exports to China & Pesticide Health Risk

Beef Exports to China & Pesticide Health Risk plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Resuming US beef exports to China will be a significant topic of discussion among US and Chinese officials this week according to USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse.

SCUSE: We're working with them to get the logistics down as to how it's going to open, when it's going to open, what the needs are in order to get this market open. Those are some of the discussions the secretaries had, that I've had, that FSIS has had with the Chinese on what they need to grant us access to that market. Those are some of the things that we're working on right now but we're we're hoping in the very newer future that we'll have this market open for U.S. beef products. We have a commitment from the Chinese to open that market and we want to see that market open very soon.

Washington State's Health Department has gone on record saying there has been a sudden rise in illnesses due to pesticide drift in Eastern Washington orchards. The Health Department is reminding pesticide applicator to follow directions and monitor conditions to prevent drift. The department said Monday 15 events since March have sickened 60 people. That's as many as the agency normally sees in a year. Pesticide drifts onto workers in the wind or when the applicator doesn't know people are in the area. They may suffer from eye, skin and breathing irritation and headache and nausea. 

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

Our son is getting ready to become a first-time home owner. He's excited about the prospect of not only having his first house , but his own yard and garden area to create and care for as well. Knowing that I have always been an avid gardener he asked me for input on what type of plants he should choose when putting in a garden or landscaping. One of the first things I told him was to choose plants that will thrive under the natural conditions where we live without a lot of extra coaxing, water, and back breaking work. Needless to say he's all for that. Next we discussed the preconceived notions about what plant combinations make for a good garden. Today's gardener is more focused on sustainable gardening and conserving natural resources. We also chatted about the preconceived notion that lawns need to be completely weed free. While he doesn't want to be the one neighbor on the block who has a yard full of weeds, he should be aware that it's okay to have a low level of weeds in his yard, and that by not over watering and following regular maintenance he should be able to have a strong healthy lawn that can out compete any weeds.

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