Record Exports & Landowners Threatened

Record Exports & Landowners Threatened plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

What has been predicted as a record ag export number for US trade grow larger in the latest USDA Ag Trade Outlook. Chief Economist Joe Glauber

GLAUBER: For fiscal 2014 we were forecasting a record export level at 149.5 billion. We've actually upped that in the August estimate. We're now calling for ag exports for fiscal 2014 at 152.5 billion which is clearly a record. We've been exporting more soybeans than we thought. Corn exports - all down the list of products we've had some increased volumes.

Some 300 Oregon landowners are not happy about something called eminent domain and there doesn't seem to be anything they can do about it. A Canadian company, Calgary, Alberta-based Veresen Inc. and its pipeline partner, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams Companies Inc. are using the eminent domain law to tell landowners where their pipeline will run that will carry liquefied natural gas to Asia. The pipeline will run along a 230-mile path where contractors can clear-cut public and private forests, tunnel under hundreds of rivers and streams, and plow across more than 400 parcels of privately owned land.

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

The Labor Day holiday has come to signify the end of summer to most people and one of the last times they can relax, enjoy time off from work, and celebrate until the winter holidays roll around. My 4 year old granddaughter doesn't have much use for the holiday though since she found out there aren't any presents involved. As I quickly found out, explaining the original meaning of the Labor Day holiday to a pre-schooler isn't easy. The first Labor Day was originally designated as a public exhibition to recognize the strength and spirit of trade and labor organizations. In other words, it was a celebration of the working class men and women who built this country up with the sweat of their brow and the strength of their backs. Speeches and picnics surrounded the first Labor Day holidays. Now, for the most part speeches have been moved to the "back burner" , and picnics and outdoor recreation have become the main focus. Strangely, because of modern technology and 24 hour connectivity today's labor force seems to always be working. So I guess a long relaxing Labor Day weekend is the perfect way to celebrate.

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