Monsanto Pay Off & Disaster Declaration

Monsanto Pay Off & Disaster Declaration plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Last Wednesday Monsanto announced it would pay nearly $2.4 million to settle a dispute with farmers in Washington, Idaho and Oregon over genetically modified wheat. Blake Rowe is the CEO for Oregon Wheat says Monsanto is donating $250-thousand dollars to 4 organization including the three northwest wheat groups.

ROWE: They also put $2.125 million dollars into a settlement fund to pay farmers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho who sold soft white wheat between May 30, 2013 and November 30, 2013. There will be some kind of a process to file so if you sold wheat during that period and you want to file a claim there will be more information forthcoming on how you do that

Monsanto decided to settle the case rather than pay for an extended legal battle.

Two counties in Oregon have been declared primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought. Both Adams and Wallowa counties and any contiguous counties including those in Washington are now eligible for disaster assistance from USDA's Farm Service Agency providing they meet criteria. If you have any questions you will need to contact your local FSA office as there are a number of programs that many be called into play.

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

You may have heard by now that the 87th National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky was attended by a record 64,409 FFA members.  Themed "Go All Out" the convention's attendees each had their own individual reasons for being there - for becoming FFA members. But there is one common goal that resonates with all FFA members and that is to continually improve and expand the face of agriculture while promoting the importance of agriculture around the globe. FFA has come to embody everything that first group of young farmers envisioned back in Kansas City in 1928; it is an organization dedicated to "preparing future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population".  Interestingly, FFA receives no federal funding; its programs are funded through sponsorships and private donations at the local, state and national level.  FFA members prove over and over again that they "Go All Out" for what they believe in - the future of agriculture. 

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.