Rural Tour & Holiday Travel. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The Obama Administration’s Rural Tour is officially underway. Vice President Joe Biden, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke were all in Pennsylvania Wednesday where Recovery Act broadband investments were highlighted. According to Vilsack - folks appreciate that the administration is taking the time to come and listen to them and share what the administration is doing.

VILSACK: Because a lot of folks don’t know that there is a broadband initiative. A lot of folks don’t know that there is money now being spent on second and third generation biofuels research and that there are resources available to help farmers through these tough times.

The 4^th of July holiday is here but according to AAA there will be less people on the road. They expect a 1.9% decreased in travel of 50 miles or more this weekend. Higher gas prices, joblessness, falling incomes all are playing into the decline. Gas prices are 30% lower than they were a year ago but 11% higher than just one month ago. Some experts think that attractive air prices are also playing in the travel equation.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange Report.

(GRANGE)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.