04/19/07 Utilizing Space & Blaming Corn

Utilizing Space & Blaming Corn plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Dealing with guest worker housing issues can sometimes call for outside of the box thinking and for Stemilt Ag Services in Wenatchee, WA that thinking led them to an old Air Force base. Stemilt brings in seasonal workers under the H2-A guest worker program and is looking at the possibility of using the old base to house up to 150 workers this year. There is a lot to be done to bring some of the building up to code but officials at Stemilt are looking into the possibility. It appears that the demand for corn and soybeans in then production of ethanol is at fault for driving up food prices not only in the U.S. but worldwide. But USDA's Chief Economist, Keith Collins says it's not the only thing. COLLINS: Driven in part by the terrible weather that Australia had for example last year shortening up the available world wheat exports; driven by the declines in dairy. Exports from Oceana countries because of the poor weather they've had and driven in part by the very strong global economic growth in both developing but in particular developing countries. So all those things are putting demand pressure on raw agricultural prices around the world so some countries are seeing higher food price increases. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. The Chinese calendar states that 2007 is the year of the Pig but for those in the know it is really the year of the cow. When it comes to Food Trends I am delighted to report it that 2007 will be all about Steak. Naturally this is wonderful news for our beef producers especially when you have folks like the editor and chief of Food and Wine Magazine, (a "tony" publication geared towards urbanites) saying that there will be no peak to the steak craze. The steak house is back with a vengeance, course I never thought it went anywhere. Trend analysts state that while people will consume more beef they will also crave more information about it. The consumer now wants to be privy to where and how the animal was raised, how long their meat was aged and how it was slaughtered thus opening the door for even more branded beef products. When you think beef, think Starbucks. Really! The coffee dynasty has trained us all by now to purchase coffee based on country or region and to select from a variety of processing methods. In 2007 it will be the same with our steaks. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.