Protecting the Land & E. Coli Concerns

Protecting the Land & E. Coli Concerns

Protecting the Land & E. Coli Concerns. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced that it is working with other western states and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate illnesses due to E. coli O157:H7 from chicken salad purchased at Colorado Costco stores in late October. Other states with confirmed E. coli cases linked to the chicken salad include Utah, Montana and Washington. There was at least one reported case related to this outbreak from King County. The product has been removed from Costco stores in Washington. Consumers with "Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken" (item number 37719) purchased from Costco in Colorado should discard it.

With Oregon's population topping the 4 million mark, the state's land use protections appear to be more important than ever for farmers and ranchers, according to officials with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. But with more people choosing to live in Oregon, there could be greater potential of impact on existing and future farms and ranches according to ODA land use specialist Jim Johnson.

JOHNSON:  Well, of course, the Willamette Valley is always of a big concern. It's where 70 to 80 percent of the population lives but it's also where 70 to 80 percent of the value of Oregon agriculture is created. So growth in the Willamette Valley is going to have to be very well thought and planned with agriculture in mind, especially high-value agriculture.

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

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