Navigable Water & Corn for Ethanol Report

Navigable Water & Corn for Ethanol Report plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

How much U.S. corn will be used to produce ethanol? World Agricultural Outlook Board Gerry Bange gives the projections on corn for ethanol use.

BANGE: I would just say parenthetically also that we’re maintaining our estimate of corn use for ethanol at 4.1 billion bushels the same as it was last month and up 9.3% from last year.

One word is causing some consternation for American Farm Bureau. The Clean Water Restoration Act would allow the government to regulate every drop of water including farm ponds, standing rain water and more without the word “navigable.” AFBF has sent a letter stating that they support protection of U.S. navigable waters - which are already protected under the act today. Farm Bureau believes getting rid of the term navigable as a condition for regulation under the act would give the federal government the right to exert inordinate control over private property including farm ponds, gutters and puddles of rainwater. The letter states the regulatory reach of the act would extend to all water - It also states that unregulated activities would require federal permits - and those permits would be subject to challenge in federal court - delaying those activities to the detriment of the economy.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

That over the top animal rights group known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is obviously having to “fish” for ways to get media attention. Their latest trip into the realm of the bizarre is to challenge in a letter to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which happens to be having their convention in Seattle next month, that the traditional “fish tossing” by fishmongers at the Pike Place Market is disrespectful treatment of animals. The fishmongers have been asked to give a presentation to the nearly 4,000 veterinarians who will be attending the convention. Now, due to PETA’s ridiculous accusation, they may use rubber fish instead. I certainly hope not. To do so would only give credence to a completely invalid claim. Just so you know PETA, the fishmongers at Pike Place Market are tossing dead, as in not living, fish! Tourists and locals alike have been enjoying Seattle’s skilled and entertaining fish tossing fishmongers for years. Let’s hope this clearly “fishy” claim by PETA will not result in ending a Pacific Northwest tradition.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.