5-10 NWR

I know every time the topic of roadways comes up in Idaho, Idaho's governor Butch Otter refers to roadways as ribbons of commerce. And when that commerce is agricultural, it makes roadways so very important to food producers. Well in Oregon, the Bulletin is reporting that work on a state roads funding package that has been among the top political topics since 2014 is beginning in earnest tomorrow, with a group of powerful lawmakers and top business executives heading to Portland to meet with the governor.

 

The meeting marks the latest inch toward assembling a funding package that probably will generate and funnel billions of dollars to maintain and rebuild local, county and state roads, bridges, ports and railways. All of that a very good sign for agriculture.

 

In other news, we're certainly all aware of the idea of putting on bug repellent during mosquito season because of West Nile virus. But it isn't just humans who need to worry. Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Joe Baker is urging owners to vaccinate their horses for West Nile virus, following a year in which Washington had more confirmed equine cases than any other state. Thirty-six horses tested positive for the virus in 2015. By comparison, only five cases were reported positive in 2014, all in Eastern Washington.