02/27/07 Lab Closing & Climate Initiative

BSE Lab Closes & Climate Initiative. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The only mad cow testing laboratory in the Pacific Northwest will close March 1, just over three years after a Yakima Valley dairy cow tested positive for the chronic brain-wasting disease. The closure of mad cow testing at WSU and several other locations across the country comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture determined the prevalence of the disease in the nation`s cattle herd is "extraordinarily low." Of 759,000 animals tested - including 45,000 in the Northwest - only two other infected cows were found after the initial mad cow scare. Five western state governors have agreed to develop a regional target to lower greenhouse gases and create a program aimed at helping businesses reach the still-undecided goals. Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and New Mexico have formed the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative to reduce greenhouse gases. The governors have pledged to work together to reduce greenhouse gases, saying their region has suffered some of the worst of global warming with recent droughts and bad fire seasons. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that a large percentage of greenhouse gases comes from vehicles. SCHWARZENEGGER: More than 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions are from transportation fuels and this is why for instance in the Los Angeles region, we have some of the dirtiest air in the country. Others are methane, nitrous oxide and synthetic gases. Scientists say the atmosphere holds more carbon dioxide now than it has for hundreds of thousands of years. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. I would hazard to guess that the number of times over the last 20 years I repeated the following phrase was in the thousands& Boys "finish your milk". Funny I never uttered those words when chocolate milk was on the table as the kids lapped it up quicker than a cat in a cereal bowl. To the delight of young children everywhere a study in the Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism concluded that chocolate milk is as good or better than traditional sports drinks at helping athletes recover from taxing athletic endeavors. Nine male cyclists rode until their muscles reached exhaustion, relaxed for four hours while sipping Gatorade, Endurox R4 or chocolate milk, then climbed back on and peddled until they were pooped. Those who drank chocolate milk rode an amazing 50% longer than those who drank the Endurox and as long as those drinking Gatorade. For children and especially teens chocolate milk is the ultimate sports drink even discounting the endurance factor simply by virtue of adding much needed calcium. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.