Vilsack On Grain Inspection & Russia Bans Ag Imports

Vilsack On Grain Inspection & Russia Bans Ag Imports plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The sticky situation at the United Grain Corporation continues. USDA said this week it won't direct federal personnel to take over grain inspections at the Port of Vancouver because it believes the safety of its employees can't be ensured. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.

VILSACK: I think it is incumbent on me to make sure any decision we make relevant to inspectors is done with the safety of those inspectors in mind. And I will tell you that I'm a little concerned about the fact that Washington State has made this decision in terms of why they made it. They ,must obviously conclude that conditions aren't as safe as they need to be.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a one-year ban on certain agricultural produce, foods and raw materials from countries that have sanctioned Russia. The law goes into force immediately but the government is coming up with a list of imports to be banned. The register of the banned or restricted products will be flexible. It will include different kinds of vegetables, fruit, and meat. However, wine and baby foods will "definitely" not come under sanctions. According to a government official, cheeses, meat, and dairy products are those most likely be affected by the ban. Putin stressed that Moscow's response should be "cautious" and said quote "Obviously we need to do it cautiously in order to support domestic manufacturers, but not hurt consumers."

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

With large food companies, such as General Mills, Kellogg, and Nestle, grouping together to announce their commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce water use throughout their supply chains one has to wonder what new measures of applying pressure on farmers and ranchers their actions will take. Several of these major food companies along with others were invited to a sit-down with the President recently to discuss their "commitment" to stopping climate change. Interestingly, no major ag groups were invited to the soirée. Needless to say this smacks of yet more "us versus them" mentality. We've reached a point where we have to admit that for whatever reason, nature or man's influence, the climate the way we've always known it is changing. The powers that be on all sides of the arena need to work together to reduce our role in advancing climate change at a faster rate than Mother Nature would normally allow. The challenge of mitigating climate change should be addressed and worked on in partnership with all entities and stakeholders within the food change. Making demands and developing supply chain requirements without first discussing what is actually doable and practical with the very people who produce the food is a recipe for contention and failure.

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