The National Marine Fisheries Service has added two Columbia Basin Steelhead populations to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings effective October 17, 1997. In the Columbia Basin, the Upper Columbia River Steelhead are listed as endangered. These anadromous fish inhabit the river from the Yakima River upstream to Chief Joseph Dam. An endangered" listing indicates that the population is at risk of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. Steelhead in the Snake River Basin, which includes parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, are designated "threatened" meaning that they are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Three Steelhead species in California have also been listed. A decision on whether to list five Steelhead populations in Oregon, Washington and California has been deferred for six months because of scientific disagreement about their status.

Since Steelhead are a type of salmon, these listings bring the number of Columbia Basin ESA listed salmon populations to five. The Snake River sockeye, fall Chinook, and spring/summer Chinook salmon populations have been listed since 1991-92.

As with other decIning species of salmon in the Columbia Basin, habitat degradation, effects of hydropower dams, hatchery production practices, and over-harvest have reduced the fishes' ability to cope with changes in environmental conditions, such as poor ocean conditions.

Many of the steps the Corps and the region are taking to protect listed Snake River salmon will also benefit listed Columbia and Snake Steelhead. For example, the region has been augmenting flows in the Columbia and Snake rivers during juvenile salmon migration periods for a number of years, to help overcome the slowing effects of dam reservoirs. Augmented flows should be of help to juvenile Steelhead traveling down-stream to the ocean. Transportation for juvenile fish is a boost to Steelhead smolts since research indicates a substantially higher rate of return for barged Steelhead over those that travel in river.

There are bills in committee in the state legislature that would require meters on ALL PRIVATE WELLS in the state, so users can be taxed on their water use! This is another encroachment on citizens in as much that users pay for the wells on their property and the upkeep of those wells; not to mention an infringement of individual property rights.

Please call your state legislators ASAP and weigh in on these bills, HB1314 and SB5289. The Washington Legislative Hot Line number is 1-800-562-6000.

Despite current economic uncertainty, the long-term global outlook for feed grain demand is basically strong and positive, according to the 1999 World Feed Grains Demand Forecast issued by the U.S Grains Council at its annual meeting here today.

According to the forecast, world coarse grain use could rise by nearly 2 percent annually between now and the 2007 marketing year. Continued global economic growth will more than offset current economic difficulties in Asia, Russia and Latin America. The pace and breadth of this overall growth will "continue to boost personal income growth and stimulate shifts from basic to higher-value foods such as meats, dairy and egg-based products that require increasing amounts of feed grains and oilseeds to produce," according to the forecast.

This fundamentally positive trend could generate an increase of more than 32 percent in U.S. coarse grains exports between the current marketing year and the end of the 2007-2008 marketing year. Moreover, the U.S. share of the world market could rise significantly from the current 49 percent to 57.4 percent over the same period, thanks to the U.S. government's significantly reduced role in production decisions and continued world economic growth.

However, several factors could change this positive outlook, including:

* a continuation of the economic slowdown in Asia, or a new crisis elsewhere in the world, both of which could dampen economic growth.

* a slowdown in the current drive toward freer trade in agricultural products.

* uncertain prospects in several countries, including China, which shifts between net import and export status, but has been the focus of both U.S. market expectations and concerns.

Published annually since 1988, the World Feed Grains Demand Forecast analyzes production trends, economic factors and other developments to project future demand for feed grains. The forecast utilizes a system of economic models maintained and operated by Sparks Companies, Inc., based on assumptions developed by the members and staff of the U.S. Grains Council.

The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of agribusinesses and producers committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and their products. The Council has 11 international offices which oversee programs in over 80 countries. Support for the Council comes from its producer and agribusiness members and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Split pea soups could be a deeper green or a brighter yellow in a few years. And farmers will benefit from larger pea size and better disease resistance from three new varieties of dry peas. An ARS researcher developed and released the new varieties in cooperation with Washington State University and the University of Idaho. Joel, a green dry pea, resists powdery mildew and has greater yields and larger seeds than popular varieties now grown. It also keeps its dark green color after cooking. Fallon and Shawnee are yellow dry peas. They have higher yields, larger seeds, and better color than the industry standards. Fallon is semi-dwarf and semi-leafless. The traits help plants stand upright instead of falling over from wind or rain. The semi-leafless trait improves air circulation, reducing dampness that favors some diseases. Washington and Idaho produce most of the nation's dry pea crop. About two-thirds is exported to Europe and Central and South America. For seed, growers can contact the Washington and Idaho state crop improvement associations. Fallon and Shawnee should be available for the 1998 growing season and Joel in 1999. Frederick J. Muehlbauer, USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Pullman, Washington, phone (509)335-9521, e-mail muehlbau@wsu.edu

For a glimpse at what life would be like living under the environmentalist's Wildlands Project, take a close look at the bill Eastern Big City Democrats have re-filed in the House that will lock up most of the Northwest in Wildland Preserves and Biological Corridors. H.R. 488, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1999, has 21 co-sponsors and all but 2 are from the East.

Two Republicans also signed on, Chris Shays (CT) and Chris Smith (NJ). Affecting the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, the bill would result in 13,538,538 acres of Wilderness, 4,860,497 acres of biological connecting corridors, 1,724,522 acres of National Parks and Preserves, 324.6 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers, and 1,022,729 acres of National Wildlands Recovery Areas.

Of course, there would be no mining, logging, grazing, road building or any other "unwild" activity in the areas. Fortunately for landowners, the bill has been referred to the House Resource Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, chaired by Congressman Helen Chenoweth (R-ID).

Reprinted from Liberty Matters.

One third of China's winter wheat crop is being affected by what is being called the worst drought of the decade. News reports indicate approximately 9.5 million hectares of the 26.25 million planted hectares have been affected by the drought. In order to prevent serious yield reductions, rain is needed in March when the crop comes out of dormancy. Winter wheat accounts for 90% of total wheat production in China.

Representatives Lynn Kessler (D-Hoquiam) and Joyce Muilliken (R-Ephrata) have announced a wide range of recommendations for improving Washington's rural economies. The recommendations are in the final report of the legislature's Joint Task Force on Rural Land Use and Economic Development. The bipartisan task force, made up of 8 representatives and 6 senators, held hearings across the state during the interim to get the input of local officials, business people, community leaders, and regular citizens on how best to bridge the urban/rural gulf in Washington. Kessler and Mulliken said the report's recommendations are based on the suggestions of the rural residents they met with, and give rural areas the tools they need to improve their local economies. Said Kessler, "A person's ability to find a good job in Washington shouldn't depend on where they live. But we all know that today location can be a huge barrier to finding and keeping that good living-wage job. The work of this task force has been a sincere bipartisan effort to find some areas of ageement. There will be additional proposals throughout the session, from both sides of the aisle, but this represents a good starting point. Said Mulliken, people in rural communities love where they live, and they love their way of life. But many of them, especially young people, have to leave home because they just can't find a good job. Our task force recommendations, because they are based on the testimony of rural residents and because they give rural people the flexibility to make their own decisions, will help make our communities stronger and more independent." The final report includes the following recommendations:

* Allow rural counties to "hold back" an additional .04 percent of their sales tax revenues for infrastructure development.

* Define "rural counties" as those with a population of fewer than 100 persons per square mile.

* Make it easier for rural counties to receive state loans and grants for economic development.

* Make funding for rural infrastructure development more flexible and easier to access.

* Strengthen local economic development councils.

Kessler and Mulliken said they hoped to see bipartisan rural economic development legislation move through the legislature this year.

"Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice."