08/29/06 Columbia Free Trade & Canada`s BSE

Columbia Free Trade & Canada's BSE. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. President Bush has notified Congress he will sign a free trade agreement with Colombia. That a result of an acceptable agreement on beef trade that allows for trade from animals of all ages. In a letter to Congressional leaders - Bush expressed that the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will not only generate export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers - but will create jobs in the U.S. and offer American consumers more choices. Now that Bush has notified Congress - the President must wait 90 days before signing the trade deal. That means the earliest the two countries could sign the pact is late November - after the Congressional elections. That means a vote on the agreement isn`t likely until the first half of 2007. A 50-month old Alberta dairy cow that was diagnosed with BSE likely contracted the disease from contaminated feed. That's the conclusion of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This case has drawn increased attention because the animal was born well after Canada's 1997 feed ban. Also - the U.S. government has been waiting for the investigation to conclude before moving ahead with a rule that would allow imports of Canadian cattle older than 30 months. Now that the report is done - Director of Government and International relations for the Canadian Cattlemen's Association John Masswohl says it should have a minimal impact... MASSWOHL: This report and what they've been able to find in the investigation is going to confirm their assumptions that the levels of control in Canada and the risk assessment that they've made are pretty much intact and I think they're going to be able to go forward with the rule. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. Hollywood has embraced Al Gore's eco-environmentalism with a big bear hug causing many of us to desire to green up our lives, but be wary when this pied piper calls for personal sacrifice. Tell me what sacrifices has Mr. Gore made? While you shop for that pricy flex-fuel vehicle, Al flits around in a jet promoting his film. Mr. Gore still retains stock in Oxy petroleum, a company currently in hot water for drilling in ecologically sensitive areas. He lectures us on excessive consumption, but has yet to give up one of his homes & none of which use available green energy. His 10,00 sq. ft. home in Nashville, house in Virginia or his property in Tennessee located on a zinc mine that nets Al nets about $20,000 annually. And it is not that green energy isn't available. In Virginia the Bush Administration is utilizing alternative energy for some federal buildings but we don't hear about that! While we dig deep into our pockets and pay extra for fair trade coffee, or biodegradable diapers we should give some thought to a finding an eco-environmental spokesperson with credibility Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.