01/02/07 Saying Goodbye, Bacteria Detection & Clon

Former President Gerald R. Ford is remembered as an excellent chief executive and one of the most underrated presidents in history. Former USDA Secretary Bob Bergland, who served in Congress with Ford, recalled him as a hard-working, dedicated leader. Clayton Yeutter, the former USDA secretary and U.S. Trade Ambassador, who served in both the Nixon and Ford administrations, was impressed with Ford`s strong executive skills. Yeutter said that Ford was a likeable, decent person and he developed long-term relationships across political parties. Researchers at Purdue University say a new technique will rapidly detect - and precisely identify bacteria - including dangerous E. coli - without time-consuming treatments usually required. Purdue Chemistry professor R. Graham Crooks says - the technique called desorption electrospray ionization - or DESI - could be used to create a new class of fast - accurate detectors for applications ranging from food safety - to homeland security. In a draft risk assessment - FDA says meat and milk products from cloned animals and their offspring are safe. Adding that meat and milk from cloned animals are - "virtually indistinguishable" - from conventional livestock - and so there does not appear to be a health-related reason to require labeling. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. Now what constitutes sustainability? I know that "sustainability" is currently the "it" word of the decade and I am more than aware that when "sustainability" is used in the same breath as agriculture it can make farming issues all warm and fuzzy for the metropolitan crowd. "Sustainability" commonly accompanies dialog pertaining to the environment. The "S" word can pop up routinely in discussions regarding U.N. relief work or economic development. Eco- celebrities like Bono frequently pepper their conversation with it. Webster's Dictionary defines sustainability as; "relating to or a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged, or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods.". Others have described sustainability as "about living, working and ordering society in ways which are environmentally "sustainable. Who fits the definition? The urban greenie who pats herself on the back for a "sustainable" shopping trip to Whole Foods or the farmer who continues. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.