Water Quality Trading & Senator Praises Action
Water Quality Trading & Senator Praises Action plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.
Water officials in Idaho are promoting the use of water quality trading to help reduce pollution in rivers, streams and lakes at lower costs although it is not widely used throughout the state. It’s an idea that has been around for awhile. If an operation reduces its pollution by more than what was required, then it can then create a marketable credit. This credit can be purchased by another source to allow them to increase their pollutant discharge. While the program is voluntary, state and federal agencies also need to give their final approval before the trading can begin.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington had high praise for recent action taken on Capital Hill concerning The Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013. Action taken in amendments will help the Coast Guard ice breakers, tsunami clean up and others.
CANTWELL: It is a worthy tribute to a force of men and women that in 2011 alone helped us save over 3,800 lives across the US, confiscated over 166 thousand pounds of cocaine, and secured over 472 vessels before they arrived at our ports. This legislation will give the Coast Guard the funds that it needs to upgrade equipment and purchase the right vessels for carrying out every mission that they need.
Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.
Put on you woolies, we’re going to the farmers market. People don’t have to give up their fresh local goodies just because there’s a little snow on the ground. In fact, winter markets now account for roughly 24 percent of the farmers markets listed in the USDA national directory, with nearly two thousand operating across the country this year. Of course, markets only have to operate once between November and March to be considered a winter farmers market, with most having found an indoor space to set up in. Still it’s a good opportunity for farmers to generate a little more income, and offers consumers the chance to find locally sourced foods in the off season. I don’t know about you, but I get a much more pleasant feeling thinking about wandering through a winter farmer’s market, picking out fresh ingredients for holiday dishes or handmade gifts for friends and family while sipping on a warm apple cider, than I do thinking about struggling through crowds at a shopping mall. What can you find at a winter market? Well, there’s usually root vegetables, apples, greens, meat, breads, gourds, cheeses, honey, nuts, jams and jellies, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
