Following a joint request from four wheat growing states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a task force to study the feasibility of creating grain cleaning facilities at public grain elevators in the Texas Gulf. Wheat producers from the Colorado Wheat Administrative committee the Kansas Wheat Commission, the Nebraska Wheat Board and the Texas Wheat Producers Board recently presented information to USDA urging the development of grain cleaning facilities. The producers cited complaints from overseas customers regarding the cleanliness of U.S. wheat and instances of difficulties encountered when making specific dockage limit requests.

Two wheat cleaning facilities are located in ports in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) with a third expected to be operational in March 1999. Most of the wheat cleaned in PNW port areas is exported to Japan and Taiwan, both of which in recent years have reduced maximum dockage levels to 0.5 percent. In addition to cleaning at the site of export, producers and country elevators are harvesting and shipping cleaner wheat to the PNW.

At the Spokane Ag Show each year, the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum features top-name speakers, in addition to over 100 workshops and seminars. The "headliners" of the 1999 Farm Forum Series will address farmers and ranchers during three morning general sessions held January 12,13 and 14 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the DoubleTree Spokane city center and the Ag Trade center Theater. The 1999 keynote speakers include:

Tuesday, January 12, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, DoubleTree Hotel (next to the Ag Trade center)

• Mr. Pat Kluempke, Sr. Vice President, Planning and Development, Harvest States Cooperative "Tools for Tough Times."

• Dr. Art Douglas, Chairman of the Atmospheric Science Department at Creighton University - "A New Regime for the Turn of the Century." Douglas will be making his 12th appearance at the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum. His predictions of El Nino and the drought in the Mid-West, have amazed show goers, making his talk a Farm Forum favorite.

Wednesday, January 13, 9:00 -11:00 am, Ag Trade Ctr Theater

"Creative Financial Management Tools for Surviving Tough Times" - Panel Discussion

• Fred DePell, Executive Vice President, Farm Credit Services

• Bart Gebers, Agricultural Economist, LeMaster & Daniels, PLLC

• John Blanchfield, Manager of Ag Banking, American Banker's Association

Thursday, January 14, 9:00 am-11:00 am, Ag Trade Ctr Theater

• "Looking for Alternatives&emdash;The Real Story on Alternative Crops: Production, Markets and Contracting" Panel Discussion

• Chad Shelton, Agronomist, Western Farm Service, "Alternative Cropping Options in Washington State"

• Dan McKay, McKay Seed, "Are There Viable Markets for the Alternative Crops?"

• Contracting Expert, "Growing on a Contract: Opportunities and Pitfalls"

The Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum, January 12-14, also features over 300 hundred exhibitors and 100 seminars at the Spokane Arena, Convention and Ag Trade Centers. Call 1-888-374-EXPO for information.

A $6 billion farm relief assistance package to assist financially-beleaguered U.S. farmers was part of the $500 billion fiscal year 1999 (Oct.-Sept) government spending bill signed by President Clinton on Oct.21. The farm aid package includes direct cash payments to farmers who have suffered crop losses and accelerated government subsidy payments to farmers. The spending bill itself provides President Clinton with means to waive U.S. sanctions against India and Pakistan for one year. Sanctions were put in place earlier this year following the countries' nuclear testing, however, Congress passed a measure exempting farm credit sales from the sanctions.

The year 2000 could usher in some serious problems for Spokane communities and businesses if they don't get serious about the year 2000 bug, according to WSU/Spokane County Extension Agent Marilyn Trail. This "bug" is really a computer problem that will arise when we reach the year 2000 and some of our computers won't be able to deal with it. Computer and telecommunications professionals who are working on the problem have affectionately labeled it "Y2K."

The problem arose when computer system managers and programmers tried to save computer memory and money by representing the date with only two digits instead of the usual four. So 1981 became just 81,1998 just 98. The problem is that when January 1, 2000 arrives and computers record it as "00," some of them will recognize it as 1900 instead of a century later. This glitch could cause them to generate false data, or possibly stop running.

"The year Y2K bug can affect us all," said Trail. "Many computers will have problems. Even if their own computers are okay, a lot of our farms and businesses depend on suppliers or services that might have problems. That can be disruptive and expensive."

"We're asking our communities and businesses to take a good look to be sure they're Y2K okay," Trail said. "We want them to be sure that their own computer systems won't have a problem with the Y2K bug. We are encouraging them also to examine their data exchanges with other businesses or organizations and consider where those important providers might have a Y2K problem. We want them also to develop a Y2K action plan to protect themselves, and to use it."

Trail offers three suggestions for local businesses and communities:

First, figure out if you have a Y2K problem, rather than assume you don't. That means being sure not only that your own computers are okay, but that the vendors you depend on are okay as well.

Second, be informed. Rather than being pushed into paying for remedies you don't need, make realistic assessments based on what's important to your operations.

Third, act now. Fixing most Y2K problems isn't particularly complicated, but it can take time against a deadline that truly cannot be moved, and last-minute fixes may not work.

County businesses needing advice on the Y2K bug can start with the WSU Spokane County Extension office in Spokane. "We have some fact sheets and can point the way to other resources," Trail says. There are also several Y2K Internet sites on the World Wide Web, including the Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (http://www.reeusda.gov/y2k) and the Small Business Administration (http://www. sba.gov/y2k).

Want to know how to choose a healthy poinsettia plant at the store? And how to keep it happy once it is home? Ross Penhallegon, horticulture agent for the Oregon State University Extension Service, offers some hints for choosing the best poinsettia plant of the lot:

* Choose a plant that hasn't shed pollen yet. To check, look for yellow pollen showing on the petal-like red and green bracts. Poinsettias showing pollen grains don't stay nice as long as those that haven't yet released pollen.

* Pay attention to the conditions where poinsettias are being sold. Poinsettias offered in stores during the holidays have been raised in a greenhouse, at 60 to 70 degrees, in high humidity and maximum sunlight or growing lights. Store displays that mimic these growing conditions closely may contain healthier poinsettias than those for sale in hot, dry, and low-light conditions.

* Choose poinsettias with deep green, not yellowish, leaves. Yellowing of foliage may indicate insufficient light, over-watering or lack of nitrogen. Look for brilliant red bracts.

Once you bring a healthy plant home, Penhallegon says, you will need to do the following to keep it in good health:

* Put your poinsettia plant in a sunny window.

* Water regularly and thoroughly. But never allow a plant to stand in water.

* Fertilize once a week with a complete (20-20-20 or 20-5-10) fertilizer.

* Keep hot or cold drafts away from the plant.

The leaves may wilt if the plant is too dry, too wet or exposed to a draft. Yellowing of foliage may indicate insufficient light, over-watering or lack of nitrogen. Try changing the poinsettia's environment for the better if any of these symptoms occur.

After blooming, mature bracts and leaves of your poinsettia will begin to fall naturally. Discontinue fertilizing and reduce watering. Cut the plant back to six inches and store in a cool dark area. Water only enough to prevent the stem from shriveling. In the spring, the plant can be set outdoors or maintained as a houseplant. Water it regularly and fertilize monthly. If grown out of doors, be sure to check for insect pests and treat if needed.

To learn more about keeping your poinsettia healthy year after year, request "Care and Handling of Poinsettias" (publication FS 162), available at no charge for the first six copies. Add 25 cents for each additional copy beyond six.

Send request and check or money order payable to OSU to: Publication Orders, Extension and Station Communications, OSU, 422 Kerr Administration Bldg., Corvallis, OR 97331-2119.

Intermountain beef producers can update their understanding of today's most pressing herd health, nutrition, product quality and economic issues when the Idaho Cattle Association and the University of Idaho College of Agriculture host the 1999 Intermountain Cow Symposium in Twin Falls.

Speakers from the UI's Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, UI Cooperative Extension System, Oregon State University, Washington State University, and private industry will address the cutting-edge symposium, which will be held in the Fine Arts Auditorium of the College of Southern Idaho.

Specific topics include wintering nutrition, wintering health, calf scours, carcass evaluation, visual evaluation, expected progeny differences, dystocia, ultrasound, brucellosis, Johne's, E. coli, salmonella, retained ownership and grid pricing.

Gary Weber of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association in Washington, D.C., will describe "Life with Oprah" at the Jan. 5 luncheon.

Beef producers from Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming are encouraged to attend. Cost is $40 per person, $80 per family and $20 per student. Pre-registration is required by Dec. 11. For more information, call the Idaho Cattle Association at (208) 343-1615 in Boise or e-mail idahocattle@rmci.net.

Washington 1998 fall potato production is forecast at 89.6 million cwt, an increase of 2 percent from the 88.2 million cwt. produced in 1997. This year's crop was 5.6 percent less than the record 95.0 million cwt. crop of 1996, according to estimates released by the Washington Ag. Statistics Service.

Although there was an increase in production for Washington between 1997 and 1998, the increase can be attributed to an increase in harvested acres. Harvested acreage for 1998 is estimated at 160,000 acres, up 8,000 from 1997. While production is up, yield per acre is down to 560 cwt., 20 cwt. less than the 1997 yield. The 1998 growing season was characterized by summer heat which led to smaller potatoes, lower solids, and rougher potatoes in the Western United States. Producers delayed digging to increase size of the potatoes.

The situation in the rest of the Pacific Northwest is similar to that in Washington, with decreases in yield and increased harvested acreage in Oregon and Idaho. Yield in Idaho decreased 20 cwt. from 353 cwt. in 1997 to 333 cwt. per acre for 1998. Oregon's yield also decreased 11 percent from 508 cwt. in 1997 to 450 cwt. in 1998. Acres harvested in Oregon increased 4,500 acres to 58,000 acres. Idaho's acreage increased 15,000 acres to 413,000 acres for harvest in 1998.

Unlike Washington, production in Idaho and Oregon fell, to 137.7 million cwt. and 26.1 million cwt. respectively. The estimated total 1998 production in the Pacific Northwest is 253.4 million cwt., down 2.2 million cwt. from 255.6 million cwt. in 1997. The Pacific Northwest produced 59.1 percent of the total U.S. estimated fall production in 1998 compared with 60.5 percent in 1997.

Total fall production in the United States was forecast at 429 million cwt., up 1 percent from last year, but 5 percent below 1996. There were 13 states with lower production and 10 states with increases.

Drawn from: "Put Laughter and Humor in Your Life." By Herbert G. Lingren, Extension Family Scientist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; As seen in Farm Bill Flash WSU Extension Newsletter

Humor is an effective way to relieve stress. Laughter leads to a cathartic release of emotion, can help to release pent-up feelings of anger and frustration in a socially acceptable way, and is often followed by a state of relaxation and a feeling of reduced tension. Aside from the psychological benefits, laughter affects the body in a number of positive ways as well. Laughter release endorphins - natural chemicals in the body that I create a feeling of pleasure and have a pain relieving effect.

Some tips to help you put more humor in your life.

1. Remind yourself to have fun. When the going gets tough, just repeat to yourself, "Life is crazy," and "It's OK to be foolish on occasion."

2. Head off stress with regular doses of humor. Remember "A shot of humor is like a dose of medicine; the effects linger, dissipating gradually over several hours." See a funny movie or humorous play. You'll find yourself thinking about it after you get home and often into the next day. Later you'll need another dose. Gauge the "humor half-life" of whatever amuses you and replenish your dosage as needed.

3. Take a "laugh break" instead of a coffee break. Keep a "humor first-aid kit." Fill it with comedy tapes, a book of jokes and stories, a disguise and other comic props to draw on when you feel the urge to be silly.

4. Make a "silliness" check at 4:30 in the afternoon. People around you need to see you smile, whether at home or at a meeting. A well-developed sense of humor is especially essential to avoid burnout for people in certain professions: educators, doctors, teachers, farmers, ranchers, nurses, counselors, etc.

5. Spend time with those who help you see the bright side. Get together regularly with friends to share funny stories about daily disasters, with an eye toward constructive solutions.

6. Learn to laugh if you can't. If you'd like to be able to laugh but can't, if you're feeling angry over things like the market which you can't control, force yourself to laugh anyway. Think about what's bothering you and try a "tee-hee." If that doesn't make you feel better, try a throatier "heh-heh," then a "ha-ha" from the chest, or a "ho-ho" from the belly. If your laughter ignition seems hard to start, think of something absurd&emdash;like your favorite Bill Clinton joke&emdash;to help trigger your mirth.

The annual events that put agriculture in the lime light in Spokane, WA&emdash;The Spokane Ag Expo and the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum, sponsored by the Ag Bureau of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, are scheduled to take place on Jan. 12,13, and 14, 1999. This cultivating event will be held in Spokane Arena, Convention and Ag Trade Centers. The theme for this year's show is, "Tools for Tough Times."

Over 300 exhibitors will participate in this 3-day event to enlighten farmers on the latest agricultural technology and farm equipment. One highlight of this year's show is the Hands-on Welding Exhibit where participants can try the latest welding technology under guidance from the pros. More than 100 workshops and seminars will also be featured including a guest appearance from Meteorologist Art Douglas, Ph.D. Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Creighton University, who will bestow farmers with his predictions of this year's growing season.

Official Ag Expo Guides will be distributed in the December 25 issue of the Capital Press. Or growers can call 1-888-374-EXPO for more information.

Last year over 6,000 farm families attended the Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum which is organized by over 120 volunteers of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Bureau.

Contact: Dennis Fiess (509) 459-4108 Stacy Baker (509) 487-7686 for more information.

Most of the time we don't notice mistletoe growing in oaks. But this time of year, once leaves have fallen, mistletoe stands out in dark clumps against the winter sky.

Is mistletoe harmful to your oak trees?

It depends on how much you have in a given oak tree, according to Greg Filip, forestry specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.

The mistletoe found in Oregon white oaks and the black oaks of southern Oregon is known by botanists as "Phoradendedron villosum," or oak mistletoe.

A parasite plant, mistletoe gets water and nutrients from it host plant, the oak tree. Oak mistletoe is spread from tree to tree by birds, who dine on sticky mistletoe berries. They disperse mistletoe seeds in their excrement.

"The type of mistletoe growing on oaks in Oregon gets moisture and nutrients from the oak tree," explained Filip. "The roots of the mistletoe grow into the branches of the oak tree, so if you snap off the mistletoe, it grows back."

Filip recommends removing mistletoe only from heavily infested oak trees.

"If you have two or three clumps on a tree, there's probably no problem," said Filip. "But 10 or 20 clumps per tree is different. I'd recommend breaking off the plants. They will eventually grow back, but at least you'll slow the plants down."

There is no chemical control available for oak mistletoe , he said. Most people will want to call an arborist, a professional tree care specialist, to remove large quantities of mistletoe, especially in large, difficult-to-climb trees.

Also found in Oregon are the juniper mistletoe, incense cedar mistletoe and the dwarf mistletoes. All these are more inconspicuous than the larger leafed oak mistletoes. Dwarf mistletoes parasitize conifer trees, said Filip.

"Dwarf mistletoes cause growth loss in conifers," he said. "Unlike the oak mistletoe, which takes only food and nutrients, the dwarf types also take carbohydrates or the sap. The dwarf mistletoes change the growth pattern of some trees, stimulating thick, broomy sections to grow.

"But these dwarf mistletoe brooms are starting to be looked at by some forest managers as a benefit, rather than a problem," he said. "Foresters have found out these dwarf mistletoe brooms serve as spotted owl and other owl nest sites, because they provide good cover for the owl."

So the mistletoe parasite is not all bad. Besides being food and habitat for birds, it becomes a good excuse to smooch your favorite person at holiday parties.

Cardiovascular diseases kill moe than 950,000 Americans every year, says the American Heart Association. That's nearly twice as many deaths as from all forms of cancer&emdash;a life every 33 seconds.