Hay Disposal & Food Prices

Hay Disposal & Food Prices

Hay Disposal & Food Prices. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

$250,000 is being sought by Idaho ag officials to dispose of 2,000 tons of contaminated hay and that's just a part of an on-going pesticide cleanup in the state. The request for funds was made by Idaho Ag Director Celia Gould saying they'll likely request additional funds in upcoming years to treat the negative impacts of a pesticide known as methyl bromide. Methyl bromide was applied on potatoes in Bingham and Bonneville counties in 2006. Research has confirmed high levels of bromide in alfalfa hay grown on the treated fields.

We are almost at the end of January. One month down and 11 more to go in 2016. Last year saw the decline of a few food items but according to Ag Department Food Price Economist, Annemarie Kuhns, 2016 may be a different story.

KUHNS: In 2016 we expect poultry prices to rise between 2 to 3%. Pork prices are also expected to rise this year by 1½ to 2 ½% and just a reminder this comes after a 3.9% decline in pork prices in 2015.

She also says that beef prices might stay even to up just 1% and the same for egg prices which saw an 18% increase last year due to that outbreak of avian influenza. Fruits and veg may see up to a 3 ½2% increase.

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

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