Misdemeanor Charges Recommended & Not A Threat

Misdemeanor Charges Recommended & Not A Threat plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Concern has been raised over the discovery of a new pest to U.S. shores. The Spotted Lanternfly has been discovered in Pennsylvania and is known to feed on grape vines, apples, cherries, pine and more. Washington State Department of Agriculture spokesperson, Mike Louisell says northwest producers don't have to worry.

LOUISELL: It was detected by officials in Pennsylvania and they're working on it to see well how extensive might that lanternfly be in their state. It is not in Washington State and that's reassuring to agriculture and environmental groups here in our state and we don't foresee that the spotted lanternfly would make it to our state.

A farmer has been accused of illegally shooting a wolf and Washington fish and wildlife officers are recommending a misdemeanor charge be filed.   Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy will review the investigation report and the law before making a decision about whether to file charges.Under Washington law, a wolf only can be shot if it is in the act of attacking pets or livestock. The wolf was shot southwest of Pullman on Oct. 12.

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

The main source of donated foods to food banks continues to be from growers and processors. Farmers Ending Hunger, a non-profit created in 2004, supplies food for the needy, working directly with the farmers who are growing and harvesting food. The farmers and ranchers who have joined Farmers Ending Hunger donate sizable portions of their produce production at no cost to FEH. In addition dozens of volunteers work long hours to package the donated food items to ship out to local food banks. In 2013 more than 49 million people struggled with hunger on a daily basis in the United States. Nearly 16 million of those people were children. While it's sad that we as a nation and members of the global community still fight hunger on a daily basis, it's encouraging that there are numerous groups and organizations around the globe working hard to end world hunger. They and the food processors and public volunteers who work with them to provide food for the hungry represent the best of human nature; making a real difference for those in need.

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