01/22/07 WSU pursues viticulture endowed chair

Washington Ag January 22, 2007 Washington State University is launching a $1.5 million fundraising campaign to create the position of Endowed Chair of Viticulture and Enology. WSU`s Viticulture and Enology Program was established seven years ago in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences to provide a well-trained workforce for Washington`s growing wine industry. College Dean Dan Bernardo says they intend to recruit an internationally recognized scientist. Bernardo: "This chair would be a leader for this viticulture and enology program. Someone who can give the attention to this program that it truly deserves and that is sort of 24-7 attention." To donate to the endowment contact foundation@wsu.edu The Cattle Producers of Washington has sent comments to USDA regarding its proposed BSE minimal risk rule. CPoW stated it strongly opposes the proposal that would allow Canadian cattle over 30 months of age, and beef from them, into the U.S. saying such a relaxation would have significant adverse economic and healthy/safety impacts on the U.S. cattle industry and U.S. agriculture as a whole. CPoW also requested USDA fully and immediately implement mandatory country of origin labeling. I'm Bob Hoff.