10/05/06 H.R. 6130 & Veneman Portrait

Ag Groups Support of H.R. 6130 & Veneman Portrait. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Ag and food organizations are rallying in support of legislation introduced just before Congress adjourned last week. According to groups like R-CALF USA and the Livestock Marketing Association - H.R. 6130 would benefit farmers and ranchers by spurring competition in the marketplace - creating additional market opportunities - leveling the playing field for livestock producers and ensuring fairness in trade. The bill - titled the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act - would remove obstacles that prevent businesses from making beef, poultry, pork, lamb and goat meat available to consumers across state lines. Foreign-produced meat can already be shipped anywhere in the U.S. as long as that nation`s inspection program is equivalent to U.S. federal standards. H.R. 6130 - according to its supporters - would extend that same marketing opportunity to domestic businesses. Former Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman took time out from her duties at the United Nations to return to USDA for the unveiling of her portrait. VENEMAN: When you first come in to office they tell you that after your tenure, you will be hanged on the USDA patio. Now I thought that was a bit extreme but then they told me they were talking about my portrait. Hundreds of friends an co-workers attended the unveiling last Tuesday. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. In all the stories regarding the e-coli outbreak in spinach how often is the word "organic" mentioned? It is pretty obvious by now that "organic" spinach is responsible for the twenty-one state e-coli outbreak considering that the nations largest grower of organic produce, California based Natural Selection Foods, farm's are under investigation and have recalled ( I going to say the word) "organic " Spinach packaged under the label Earthbound Farms. The fact that organic is mentioned only by a few stalwart publications like Investors Business Daily is evidence just how deep the roots of this movement go. The E.-coli outbreak begs the question that has become the mantra of the organic movement, is organic really safer? Or will the fallout from this E-coli crisis create more demand for produce that is grown. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.