04/15/05 Gov signs bills; drop in e coli

04/15/05 Gov signs bills; drop in e coli

Washington Ag April 15, 2005 Several non-controversial bills passed by the current session of the state Legislature of interest to agriculture have been signed by Governor Christine Gregoire over the past two days. Among them is legislation that creates the Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought. The committee will provide oversight of state actions regarding drought and make recommendations to the Legislature. Also signed was a bill that provides tougher penalties for adulterating feed in violation of the feed ban that provides protection against BSE. Two bills relating to the Conservation Commission were signed by the governor. One extends a revolving loan fund the Commission administers to include the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program in addition the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. A second bill allows the Commission to develop its own rules for distribution of grant funds to local conservation districts and eliminates the current funding formula. Several federal government agencies reported yesterday there was a continued downward trend in foodborne illnesses in 2004. USDA Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says that includes e coli 0157. Johanns: "As a matter of fact e coli infections have decreased 42% since 1996 with the overwhelming majority of that decline coming since 2002." The federal government says only one of the five most common salmonella strains declined significantly. I'm Bob Hoff.
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