11/15/06 Trade agreement & USDA donation

Russian / U.S. agreement & USDA donation plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab has confirmed that the U.S. and Russia have reached an agreement in principle to clear the way for Russia to join the World Trade Organization. She says final details are being negotiated - and the agreement should be signed in Hanoi during an APEC meeting this week. According to Schwab - the agreement will mark an important step towards Russia`s goal of attaining WTO membership. Plus - she says the agreement is an indication of Russia`s efforts to fully participate in - and benefit from - the rules-based global trading system. USDA is making another donation under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Humpty Dumpty Institute will use the 660-metric tons of U.S. ag commodities for a children`s education and nutrition program in Laos. Humpty Dumpty will use 180 tons of corn soy blend - 20 tons of canned salmon - 230 tons of rice and 230 tons of small red beans to provide daily snacks to nearly 10-thousand school children and teachers. The commodities will also be used for take home rations to an estimated five-thousand female students as an incentive for school attendance. Through the McGovern-Dole program - USDA donates ag commodities to promote education - child development and food security for some of the world`s poorest children. USDA plans to provide nearly 89-thousand tons of commodities to 13 countries under the program. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. The tradition of Rodeo runs deep in the Northwest. We are home to some of our nations most famous rodeos the Pendleton Roundup, Ellensburg and my favorite, St. Paul. And we have a great tradition of competitors, this year were sending of our 11 cowboys to the NFR finals in Vegas, five from Oregon, four from WA and two from Idaho. One of the reasons our region is so competitive is a strong junior rodeo association .For example My friend Ashley Cardin an 8th grader has been barrel racing and roping as long as she can remember in the Eastern WA Jr. Rodeo Association and has oodles of buckles and some nice saddles as evidence. Competing at the junior level has given Ashley a confidence other kids her age often lack, she is now beating many adults at jackpots .plus the responsibilities of rodeo keep her out of trouble. The junior rodeo association offers events starting with 6year olds up to the Senior division ages 15-18 and strives to not only pass on the sport of rodeo but to teach children rodeo values. Who knows, in a few years Miss Ashley Cardin might be heading off to Vegas. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.