Meat Prices Going Up & Wolf Kill

Meat Prices Going Up & Wolf Kill

Meat Prices Going Up & Wolf Kill plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

If you noticed rising prices at the meat counter, you are correct. USDA's economist Annemarie Kuhns says the latest Food Price Outlook shows what increase is.

KUHNS: Beef and veal prices increased .4% from June and are up 10.4% from this time last year.

Pork prices are also up.

KUHNS: They increased .7% from June and they're also up 10.9% from thins time sat year. We also increased the meat and poultry and fish category to 4 to 5% and the meat category to 5 to 6% for 2014.

Washington State Fish and Wildlife officials have decided on lethal measure for three more members of the Huckleberry wolf pack. A female was killed in an effort to deter the wolves from killing sheep but at one point wolves killed as many as 22 sheep. Non-lethal measures have been tried with no luck. Wildlife groups immediately criticized the decision to kill wolves instead of moving the sheep herd to areas outside the pack's range. This is the second time the state has said it had no choice but to kill problem wolves. In 2012 sharpshooters killed the entire Wedge Pack of Wolves which was reportedly attacking cattle in Northeast Washington.

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

As many students head back to school this week they'll notice even more healthy changes in their school lunches. The USDA's nutritional requirements for public schools seem to be working, with more than 90% of schools reporting that they successfully met those standards. Again schools must offer more whole grains and make sure that every student has a fruit or vegetable on their tray before they can get through the line. Just this last week the USDA announced that additional tools will be made available to help schools continue to serve healthier meals and snacks. The "HealthierUS School Challenge", a voluntary program that provides financial awards to those schools that take the steps needed to encourage their students to eat healthier and be more active, is also being re-launched. Those awards can range anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Studies have reported that after the initial shock and complaints students are responding well to the new school menus. And even better news, they haven't just stopping complaining, they are actually eating the healthier school lunches and enjoying it.

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

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