Mid-afternoon news digest: forbidden food edition

At the Star Tribune, Kevin Diaz picks up on the Jack Hedin forbidden veggie tale that first ran as a column in the New York Times. Diaz writes Growing locally, legislating nationally: Rules hinder state's specialty farmers.

Walz is mentioned:

Hedin's predicament is not unique. Growers for large Midwestern canneries and food processors such as Minnesota's own Green Giant face the same planting restrictions on fruits and vegetables.

Partly in response, Peterson and other Midwestern lawmakers have sought a limited pilot program that would give more flexibility to Midwestern fruit and vegetable growers.

"Whether they're growing sweet corn to sell at their local market or beans to be canned by the Green Giant, many farmers in southern Minnesota are interested in diversifying their crops," said Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn.

In response to increasing concerns about health, particularly children's health, the new farm bill is also likely to provide new direct subsidies for specialty crops.

Bluestem has posted about the column a number of times, including here, here and here.

Agricultural issues of quite another sort came up in yesterday's  Winona Daily News article Ban on horse slaughter could cause problems for equine industry. Many Americans object to the slaughter of horses for human consumption, on the grounds that it is inhumane to consume companion animals. A recent law forbids the inspection of horse meat, effectively banishing the industry.

However, horses continue to be shipped to Canada and Mexico and slaughtered there (allegedly under cruel circumstances). Moreover, the economic downturn is creating a glut of horses whose owners can no longer afford them. As a member of the Ag Committee, Walz doesn't agree with the current law:

Most opponents of the bill have agreed that a better solution to banning horse slaughter would be to create better regulations on the plants to ensure humane treatment.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., sits on the House Committee on Agriculture.

“Congressman Walz feels strongly that horses, like all animals, should be treated humanely and decently,” said Walz spokeswoman Meredith Salsbery. “That’s why he’s pushed in Congress for full funding for animal welfare laws like the Humane Slaughter Act and the Animal Welfare Act. However, when horses reach the end of their natural lives, he believes that their owners should be able to decide how to handle them.

“Congressman Walz opposes efforts to prohibit horse slaughter because he believes it would put an undue burden on many horse owners,” she said.

As the economy takes a nose dive and more and more foreclosures hit the market, those with horses are sometimes left with no home for the animals.

We have mixed feelings about the practice. While horses are livestock, and we're not particularly sentimental about livestock, many horses are family pets. And sadly for pets, we live in a throwaway society. Perhaps the best compromise would be to allow horse slaughter in the United States, while strictly regulating the practice and fostering educational programs about responsible horse ownership.

And then, we might consider strengthening humane treatment laws for more common food animals and improving working conditions in the meat industry itself.

The Faribault County News, a weekly paper, reports that tiny Easton, population 217, held the biggest St. Patrick's Day parade in Faribault County. On the other hand, it was the only St. Pat's Day parade in Faribault County. Elsewhere in the paper, we learn that local farmers are raising buffalo for their meat. This post is making us hungry.

The Fairmont Sentinel reports that the Fifth Annual Johnfest, a all ages show, will be celebrated on May 17 at the local VFW.

The editorial board of the Mankato Free Press says No state should be left behind in response to the very limited pilot project for No Child Left Behind that Education Secretary Spellings proposed last week in Minnesota. As it turned out, our state couldn't apply to participate in the pilot project. The editors observe:

Any kid from a third-grader to a high school senior seasoned in taking mandatory tests could see the common-sense problem of last week’s announcement about No Child Left Behind.

It doesn’t make much sense to unveil a proposal by staging a big media to-do when the option touted wouldn’t even be available in the state where you’re making the announcement...

Congressman Walz responds to the proposal here.

The Rochester Post Bulletin mentions that Walz will have another vets forum, but doesn't provide the time (it's at 1:00 p.m.):

On Wednesday, DFL Rep. Tim Walz will host a medals ceremony and veterans forum at the American Legion in Rochester. Walz will present medals to Christopher Lee, who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operating Enduring Freedom.

However, the paper isn't singling him out: Senators Klobuchar and Coleman get the same treatment for their visits to Rochester this week. More specific information is included in coverage of Friday's forum in Austin: Veterans are topic of forum set for Austin.