09/29/06 Electric Loans & Better Beef

Electric loans & better beef. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns has announced that 234-million dollars in electric loans will go to 10 electric cooperatives in 15 states to improve infrastructure, erect new lines and provide service to 62-hundred new customers. Johanns says the funding is part of the administration`s commitment to improving the quality of life for America`s rural communities, businesses and families. Since the beginning of the Bush administration - Rural Development has invested more than 72-billion dollars in equity and technical assistance to fund business development and community and technology infrastructure. Over one-million jobs have been created or saved because of those investments. The nation's cattle industry is doing a better job. That's the bottom line from the 2005 beef quality audit - a self-examination the beef industry conducts every five years. Lisa Pederson is the Beef Quality Assurance Specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. She says the 2005 audit showed improved cattle management and higher quality beef. PEDERSON: We have the highest quality grade we have ever seen in the audit. We also had one of the largest rib-eye sizes that we've ever had and for the first time ever, we decreased the incidents of horns, we decreased the incidents of rib brands and we decreased the incidents of bruises. So those are things we really need to give ourselves a pat on the back for. Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. (GRANGE) That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.