MOLINE, IL -- WQPT can now be seen in full high definition (HD) on DirecTV. The change has been one year in the making and was started at the request of many DirecTV viewers.

In order to satisfy the requests for WQPT's main channel in HD, the station was required to trade in the standard definition (SD) carriage of both WQPT and our secondary channel, MHz Worldview.

"It takes more band width to broadcast in high definition," said WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess. "Therefore, our SD carriage of both WQPT and MHz Worldview were traded in order to accommodate the change to HD."

DirecTV viewers can still see MHz Worldview on DirecTV channel 2183 (with the appropriate equipment), or it remains free, over the air, anytime on WQPT-2 (24.2). Over-the-air and Mediacom viewers are not affected by this change.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

###

Opening  Sun. April 12

Germany has been the homeland of many breeds of dogs, even some you might not expect! Join GAHC in learning about these fascinating animals with information on how we help man's best friend to how they can help us! You can have your German dog in the exhibit by posting a photo of your pooch with #qcgermandogs on Instagram or Facebook. Or you can email kelly.lao@gahc.org. We salute these dogs with this exhibition and related programs:

Sunday, April 19

2pm: Dachshunds- Local author Pam Bulat will read from her book "Lucy, Queen of the Sofa" which features her dachshund. Books will be for sale to benefit GAHC and will have a visit from someone low and lean!

Sun. June 14

2pm: Patriotic Pooch Parade- In partnership with the Human Society of Scott County, this Flag Day event will be held outside in the GAHC parking lot! Bring your costumed pet in red, white, and blue to honor Old Glory! All pets must be leashed and youth under 14 must have adult supervision. Prizes awarded for best costumes! The Humane Society will bring some shelter pets and explain how to give them fur-ever homes. No charge for outdoor event; regular admission for exhibits.

Sun. June 21

2pm-Scott County Kennel Club will be bringing four legged friends to demonstrate obedience and agility training.

Sun. July 12

2pm- Animal Behaviorist Melanie Brown and her German Shepherd Sam will be visiting GAHC to show off Sam's skills and talk about training.

Please join us for these events at the German American Heritage Center, located at 712 W2nd St. Davenport, IA. For more information contact Kelly at 563-322-8844 or kelly.lao@gahc.org.

Scott County Master Gardeners Colleen Adrian and Rhonda Cooper will present "Herbs: What You May or May Not Know" at 5 p.m. April 14 at the Quad Cities Food Hub, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport.

Adrian and Cooper are Iowa State University Scott County Extension and Outreach Master Gardeners. Their presentation will provide information on selecting, growing and using herbs. The session is free, but the Food Hub welcomes donations. To register, call the Food Hub at 563-265-2455.

USDA Continues to Remove Barriers and Open Trade Opportunities for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 10, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently reached agreements allowing U.S. beef and pork producers greater access to consumers in Mexico and Peru. The two agreements announced Friday will allow U.S. producers to export slaughter cattle to Mexico and expand access to consumer markets in Peru for U.S. fresh and chilled pork. The Secretary made the announcements during a meeting with producers in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Our priority at USDA is not only to open or reopen markets for our producers, but to help drive U.S. economic growth through trade by supporting and creating American jobs on and off the farm," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "Mexico is an important market for U.S. cattle producers, with the potential to import $15 million of live U.S. cattle per year and we expect Peru's market could generate $5 million annually in additional pork sales."

The United States and Mexico reached an agreement that takes effect immediately and will allow U.S. producers to export slaughter cattle to Mexico for the first time in over a decade. The USDA has been working with Mexico since 2008 to reopen this market and the final agreement was reached between USDA Under Secretary Ed Avalos and Enrique Sanchez-Cruz with SAGARPA during meetings this week in Washington, DC. Exporters and producers can find the required documents on the APHIS website or through their local Veterinary Services office.

Similarly, USDA has conducted extensive negotiations with Peru's Servicio National De Sanidad Agraria (SENASA) since 2012 to expand access for U.S. fresh, chilled pork and pork products. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service export library will be updated to the new export requirements for these pork and pork products exports.

"More than one million people go to work every day thanks to exports of American-grown products. Expanded U.S. agricultural exports mean more new jobs, but our farmers and ranchers will miss out on new markets for American products if Congress doesn't act on Trade Promotion Authority early this year and if we don't continue to build support for a Trans-Pacific Partnership with Asian nations."

USDA continues its push to eliminate all remaining trade barriers to U.S. cattle and cattle products stemming from past detections of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to work with its trading partners to ensure any unnecessary requirements for U.S. origin beef are eliminated. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) considers the United States' to have negligible risk for BSE. This is OIE's lowest risk category for this disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture continuously seeks opportunities for U.S. agricultural products and producers to expand access to overseas markets and contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, to create jobs and to support economic growth. The past six years have represented the strongest period for American agricultural exports in the history of our country. In fiscal year 2014 American farmers and ranchers exported a record $152.5 billion of food and agricultural products to consumers worldwide.

#