May 2008
Politically Popular Farm Bill Gets Election-Year Boost
Rising food costs and the upcoming election have fueled bipartisan support for a politically popular $290 billion farm bill full of extra money for food stamps and farm subsidies, despite strong opposition from President Bush. The Mercury News(5/15)
Defying President Bush, Senate Passes Farm Bill
The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a five-year, $307 billion farm bill, sending it to President Bush for what is expected to be his futile veto. New York Times(5/15)
New Survey Underscores Urgent Need for Farm Bill as Demands Are Up, Food Down
Food banks across America are reporting a significant increase in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance, at the same time they are experiencing dwindling food inventories, forcing many food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries to cut back food distribution and adjust operations to meet demands. Mississippi Sun Herald (5/12)
Farmers Look to Congressmen to Help with Labor Shortages
Over the years, Curtis DeBerry has slowly shifted operations of his Rio Grande Valley-based Progresso Produce LTD to Mexico. The Brownsville Herald (5/9)
Bush Set to Veto $300 Billion Farm Bill
Administration officials have dashed hopes among farm-state lawmakers from both parties that President Bush will sign a nearly $300 billion farm bill that they finished Thursday. SFGate (5/9)
A Look at the Details of the Farm Bill
The five-year farm bill completed Thursday is a multibillion-dollar grab bag. Tradingmarkets.com (5/9)
Small Farmers Have Huge Stake in Farm Bill Debate
For the co-owner of Windrose Farm, the ideal measure includes better funding of so-called specialty crops and aid for those with a desire to work the land. Los Angeles Times (5/8)
Farmers Say State Choking off Supply of Foreign Workers
An attempt by the state Labor Department to increase the number of Puerto Ricans working on New York farms is leaving some farms short of workers and could threaten this year’s harvests, farm officials and lawmakers said Tuesday. poughkeepsiejournal.com (5/7)
Apple Moth Quarantine Around Sonoma
A 15-square-mile quarantine was established Monday in Sonoma County in the ever-widening - and increasingly controversial - war against the pest known as the light brown apple moth. SFGate (5/7)
High Food Prices May Put Farmers on a Subsidy Diet
With high food prices prompting grocery-store apologies to customers and raising fears of starvation in impoverished countries, Congress suddenly faces renewed pressure to cut subsidies to the wealthiest farmers and incentives for ethanol production. Los Angeles Times (5/2)
Australian Scientists Develop Apple That Doesn't go Brown
Australian scientists have come up with an apple that does not go brown when cut. Unlike most apples, which go brown almost immediately, the fruit stays a pale pink colour for several hours after it is exposed to air. Yahoo! News (5/1)
April 2008
Farm Bill Debate Continues on Capitol Hill
Lawmakers continue to debate the Farm Bill, even after a tentative agreement was reached on Friday. KTIV 4 (4/30)
Labor Shortage Sending Farmers to Mexico
Some American farmers are making their way southward, setting up shop across the border in Mexico and farther away in Brazil. FrederickNewsPost.com (4/30)
Few Reforms Find a Home in Farm Bill
When lawmakers began debating a new farm bill that would set the nation's agriculture policies for the next five years, a motley collection of conservation, taxpayer and nutrition groups spotted an opportunity for making major reforms to the current farm system. JS Online (4/28)
Serious Crop Damage Reported After Mid-April Freeze
Damage from the Yakima Valley's worst freeze in more than two decades is still being assessed, but some growers are reporting they've lost their entire apple or cherry crop. yakima-herald.com (4/28)
Mid-Columbia Fruit Growers Brace for Freeze
The chill in the air is sending a chill down the spines of area fruit growers. tricityherald.com (4/28)
Troubles Aplenty Down on the Farm
Federal lawmakers need to get out of Washington more often. Perhaps a visit to an actual small farm back home would be in order for many of them. The Republican (4/21)
Fertilizer Price Hikes are Pinching Farmers
Link Leaven's fertilizer bill has been growing faster than the lemons and avocados on his Ventura County farm. MercuryNews.com (4/21)
Is it Toxic or OK for Organic?
Just exactly what is organic? The fight over who gets to use the word can get ugly. courant.com (4/21)
Saving Parks, Agriculture Department: Welcome News
The good news is that Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. have tentatively agreed not to eliminate the state Agriculture Department and close nine state parks this summer. pressofAtlanticCity.com (4/21)
Moth Fallout Leads Committee to Pass Two Bills
An Assembly committee approved a pair of bills Wednesday that were written in response to public outcry over the state's plans for aerial spraying of a pesticide in the Bay Area to eradicate an invasive moth. SFGate (4/17)
Corzine Eases Plans to Cut Agriculture and Parks
Faced with irate municipal officials, besieged state legislators and tractors ringing the State House, Gov. Jon S. Corzine says he is willing to relent on his budget proposals. The New York Times (4/17)
Letter: Don't Blame Farmers for High Food Prices
Media reports blaming farm profits and ethanol production for higher food costs are presenting a distorted view of the issue. Daily Globe (4/16)
Bay Area Officials and Residents Rally to Oppose Aerial Spraying of Moth
Dozens of Bay Area residents of all ages gathered at the steps of San Francisco City Hall this afternoon to demonstrate their support for a resolution that opposes a state plan to conduct aerial chemical spraying to eradicate the invasive light brown apple moth. cbs5.com (4/15)
Vineyard Hopes Labor Bears Fruit
Corky, Holy-Field Vineyard and Winery’s mascot, flopped down and made himself comfortable in the dirt alongside about two dozen planting crew volunteers. Lawrence Journal-World (4/14)
Ag Secretary Schafer No Longer Optimistic About Farm Bill
House and Senate conferees met for the first farm bill conference late last week. Hoosier Ag Today (4/14)
Putting a Face on Food
The Fleischman family knows where their food comes from. Twin Cities Daily Planet (4/11)
Farm Bill May Consume Two More Years
Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican leader on the U.S. Senate’s Agriculture Committee, is in his third round of writing a new farm bill. nptelegraph.com (4/10)
EPA Sued Over Pesticides
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is being sued to stop the continued use of four organophosphate pesticides commonly used in California on a wide variety of fruit, vegetable and nut crops. Central Valley Business Times (4/9)
Farm Labor Pool all but Dried up
Greg Donaldson can't relate to Lou Dobbs' gripes about illegal immigrants taking Americans' jobs. nj.com (4/8)
Ag Industry Hit by Fuel Prices
The price of gas is starting to take a toll on the Monterey County agriculture industry, but local tourism may be immune to the bad economic times. Monterey Herald (4/7)
Farmers Find More Profit in Selling Directly to Consumers
If you're looking for locally grown sweet corn, tomatoes and zucchini this summer, the local supermarket isn't necessarily the place to go. The Eagle-Tribune (4/7)
Hispanic Worker Program Raises Questions
A work program widely praised by local farmers and managed by the U.S. government is under fire from a Blount County resident who says it keeps Americans from getting jobs. thedailytimes.com (4/7)
Taking a Break on the Farm
Spring break is usually a time to unwind and take a vacation from the pressures of school and homework. StatesmanJournal (4/4)
Bishops Call for End to 'Exploitation' of Undocumented Farm Workers
Expressing "deep concern for the men and women" who labor in the fields of southwestern Arizona and northern Mexico, the bishops of Tucson and Mexicali, Mexico, have issued a joint statement calling for legislation to end "exploitation of the undocumented farmworker." Catholic News Service (4/4)
Returning from Recess, Congress Faces Tight Farm Bill Deadline
Time is running out for Congress to finish a new Farm Bill, as legislators returning from a two-week recess will attempt to iron out the differences in the bills passed by the House of Representatives last July and the Senate last December. Wisconsin Ag Connection (4/3)
New Diesel Engine Rules Could Cripple Agriculture
Farmers, like most other Californians, are concerned about the economy, but they've got one more item to worry them: diesel regulations. New diesel rules are going to swamp California farmers with unbearable costs. TheCalifornian.com (4/1)
Arizona Considers a Guest Worker Program of its Own
The state already at the cutting edge of immigration reform seems poised to undertake yet another experiment: a guest worker program created and administered by a state rather than by the federal government. The Christian Science Monitor (4/1)
March 2008
Immigration Issues Endangering Agriculture's Future
Kay Hollabaugh's jaw dropped when she learned this week that the state's largest tomato grower would not plant a crop this year because there might be too few workers to harvest it. The Evening Sun (3/31)
Farmers Fear N.J. Ready to Take Garden out of Garden State
Is New Jersey taking the garden out of the Garden State? newsday.com (3/31)
Labor Crisis can be Solved, Salinas Panelists Say
America’s agricultural-worker shortage can be resolved, but the solution will require time, the right legislation and a whole lot of support. TheCalifornian.com (3/28)
Rising Farm Prices Splash Extra Profits Toward Sprinkler Maker
High crop prices are putting farmers in a spending mood. CNNMoney.com (3/28)
Panel Sees Ag-Labor Solution
America's agricultural-worker shortage can be resolved, but the solution will require time, the right legislation and a whole lot of support. Salinas Californian (3/27)
USDA Planting Report To Provide Clues On Outlook For Ag Cos
U.S. farmers are expected to continue boosting investment this year, but a closely-watched government report next week and rising input costs are likely to impact spending patterns. CNNMoney.com (3/27)
Farmers get More With Less While Saving Fuel
Like many motorists, California farmers are feeling a big pinch at the pump again. California Farm Bureau Federation (3/27)
Few NAFTA Labels for Farm Chemicals
In announcing a joint label for farm pesticides and herbicides last year, regulators in the United States and Canada called it a milestone in the reduction of trade barriers. Associated Press (3/26)
Peach Crop Narrowly Averts Disaster
Relieved peach farmers found little damage to their crops Tuesday after freezing overnight temperatures came within a few degrees of disaster, experts said. Greenville News (3/26)
Carpinteria Hit with Quarantine Because of Apple Moth Discovery
A 10-square-mile area in Carpinteria has been placed under quarantine because of the discovery of two light brown apple moths, a crop-destroying scourge of the agriculture industry. Monterey Herald (3/25)
Local Farm Systems Growing in Popularity
A local food system in Iowa, in which farmers deliver fresh fruits, vegetables and other products directly to consumers, is growing in popularity. Radio Iowa (3/25)
Fruit Trees in the Pink But Not Yet Out of Danger Zone
There's a lot riding on the temperature gauge for the next couple of weeks for state peach growers and those who love biting into a fresh, juicy peach. Greenville News (3/24)
Cows Grazing in the Rumpus Room
O.K., the planet is officially out of (or back in?) alignment: American farmers are making money hand over fist while the hedge fund guys are wishing they’d put a little more cash under the mattress. The New York Times (3/21)
Canned Fruits and Vegetables Versus Fresh and Frozen
Are canned fruits and vegetables as nutritious as fresh or frozen? Hillsdale.net (3/21)
Administration Position on Farm Bill Outlined by Schafer
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer briefed reporters Tuesday about Farm Bill deliberations. Last week the President signed an extension of current farm law until April 18 to give Congress more time to finish a bill. Schafer stressed the fact that if the final bill sent to the President contained tax increases or failed to reform farm policy it would be met with a veto. Farm Futures (3/20)
Moth Spray PR Falls on Deaf Ears
California's agricultural secretary defended plans Tuesday to continue aerial spraying for the light brown apple moth this summer, saying it's the only way to prevent long-term devastation. Salinas Californian (3/19)
Ag Faces Diverse Issues
It was designed to showcase the county's agricultural industry. But what Tuesday's "Celebrate" breakfast at the Monterey Fairgrounds did best was to showcase the diversity of challenges facing Monterey County's largest industry. Monterey Herald (3/19)
Farm Economy
Those higher prices we’re all paying at the grocery store may be enough to make us all want to go on diets – or to at least eat less expensive foods. journalnow.com (3/18)
At Last, Some Respect for Fruits and Veggies
Since early 2007, Congress has been working to renew a sweeping farm bill that provides billions of dollars of funding for agricultural programs. U.S. News & World Report (3/18)
Backyards, Beware: An Orchard Wants Your Spot
Gerry Grunsfeld, a genial 32-year-old lawyer who grew up in England and now lives in a narrow two-story house in Midwood, Brooklyn, has the kind of backyard you’re not sure whether to envy or pity. The New York Times (3/14)
MSU-Bottineau Program
Gardeners and people with small-scale produce operations will soon have a new way to markets for the fruits and vegetables they produce. KXNet.com (3/12)
Fruit and Vegetable Juice Market News
Global fruit & vegetable juices market sets sights on 53 billion liters by 2010, according to new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (3/11)
Growing Red Raspberries Locally is Easy
Red raspberries are easy to grow in our area. In fact, once plants become established, it's hard to keep them from taking over. They'll monopolize an area just like blackberries if allowed to grow unrestrained. newsleader.com (3/10)
Michigan May Be First State to Issue Food Stamps Twice a Month
Michigan could become the first state in the nation to issue food stamps twice a month, making fresh produce and meat more available and giving grocery workers steadier hours. Detroit News (3/9)
Pome Fruit Trees Need March Trim
Last week, I wrote about pruning fruit trees, which is an annual chore that is usually performed at this time of the year. DailyFreeman.com (3/7)
A Safe, No-Cost Fruit and Berry Fungicide
People who live in wet climates are often all too familiar with the effects of mildew on such plants as gooseberries, currants, raspberries, grapes, phlox and roses ... and if the same individuals keep fruit trees, they're probably acquainted with apple or pear scab (Venturia inaequalis) as well. Mother Earth News (3/6)
Lowell Students Use Fresh Fruits, Vegetables to Raise Money
On Tuesday, 62 families from Lowell Elementary School received their first crate of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables — and they helped raise money for the school in the process. gazettes.com (3/6)
Space Fruit Plants and Get Luscious Rewards
Fruits splashed all over the pages of nursery catalogs look as enticing now as they could taste in summer, so long as you don't bite off more than you can chew. nj.com
(3/6)
Jack Hedin: My Forbidden Fruits and Vegetables
If you've stood in line at a farmers' market recently, you know that the local food movement is thriving, to the point that small farmers are having a tough time keeping up with the demand. dallasnews.com (3/5)
Backyards Blossom Into Vegetable, Fruit Stands
Melvin Picking knew he was in the middle of citrus and fishing country in Lorida, but he wanted to try growing other stuff. TBO.com (3/5)
Research Station Develops New Ag Ideas
People who grow up in the Finger Lakes munching on apples often have an inkling that Geneva and Cornell University had something to do with the local bounty. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (3/5)
Pollution Rules Squeeze Strawberry Crop
Edgar Terry says the biggest threat to his hundreds of acres of strawberries isn't bugs or bad weather. Newsday (3/3)
Strawberry Growers Hope Hard Freeze Doesn't Damage Crop
Strawberry growers hope this week's hard freeze won't damage their crops. NBC Augusta (3/3)
Area Grape Grower Harvests Wine Award
Deeply rooted in grape grower Frank Lafoon's successes is Guy Renzaglia. The Southerner (Illinois) (3/3)
Federal and Provincial Governments Continue to Support Tree Fruit and Grape Growers in Nova Scotia
The Government of Canada is helping Nova Scotia's tree fruit and grape industries by investing up to $2.3 million to help growers meet changing market demand. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (3/3)
House Votes to Create State Blueberry Commission
Move over pecans, peaches and peanuts —the Georgia blueberry may get its own state agency too. The Atlanta Journal Constitution (3/3)
February 2008
Evidence Of 'Rain-making' Bacteria Discovered In Atmosphere And Snow
Brent Christner, LSU professor of biological sciences, in partnership with colleagues in Montana and France, recently found evidence that rain-making bacteria are widely distributed in the atmosphere. These biological particles could factor heavily into the precipitation cycle, affecting climate, agricultural productivity and even global warming. Science Daily (2/29)
Strawberry Growers Say Rules on Pollution Will Choke Production
Grower Edgar Terry says the biggest threat to his hundreds of acres of strawberries isn't bugs or bad weather. MercuryNews.com (2/28)
$10 A Week Can Help Keep Michigan's Produce Industry Thriving, Experts Say
Michigan's produce industry brings in $63.7 billion to the state's economy each year, according to Christine Lietzau, manager of the Select Michigan program at the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The program's purpose is simple: Encourage consumers to buy Michigan products. The Bay City Times (2/26)
Peninsula Residents Air Concerns on Spraying for Apple Moth
The need for studies on the environmental and health effects of aerial spray mixtures used to fight the light brown apple moth was among the top concerns expressed by some two dozen Peninsula residents in Monterey on Wednesday. Monterey Herald (2/21)
Markets Look Promising for Wine and Grape Sector
The economic outlook for California's winegrape growers is more upbeat than it has been in years. California Farm Bureau Federation (2/20)
Fresh Produce Delivery Service Expanding Reach
Mark Godley recalls a particularly pleasing part of his Connecticut boyhood: walking to a farmer's stand and buying organically grown corn or beans — "which, as I recall, were delicious." Oakland, Calif., Inside Bay Area (2/17)
Bipartisan Farm-Bill Plan Offers an End to Stalemate
With the Bush administration's blessing, key lawmakers are pushing a plan that could break a logjam that has threatened an overhaul of federal farm programs. The Wall Street Journal(2/15)
Yakima's Snokist Co-op Ends Fresh Fruit Packing, Still Canning
The Snokist Growers cooperative in Yakima says it will stop packing fresh fruit and focus instead on its Terrace Heights cannery. seattlepi.com(2/15)
Market Maker Can Connect Farmers, Food Buyers
In our complex and busy world, how can farmers and consumers with matching production systems and purchase preferences find each other? The Ann Arbor News (2/14)
Apple Moth Spraying to Start This Summer in S.F. Bay Area
California agricultural authorities announced Wednesday plans to spray a pesticide over cities in the Bay Area and Central Coast to stop a crop-eating moth. SignOnSanDiego.com(2/14)
January 2008
Wilmington Pumpkin Patch Takes it to the Top
A local pumpkin patch has received a top honor in the nation. Last year, workers at the patch sold almost $87,000 worth of pumpkins; making it the most successful patch involved in a fundraiser. WECT6 (Wilmington, N.C.)(1/31)
Washington Apple Commission Loses 1-Cent Referendum
The Washington Apple Commission lost its bid to get more money from growers and isn't sure it will ask again. The Wenatchee World (1/16)
A Year After the Freeze
A brutal freeze last January devastated some California fruit farmers, destroyed their crops and damaged their trees. Pacific Coast Business Times (1/15)
Organic Event Theme is Safety
California Certified Organic Farmers - known as CCOF - will hold a conference on food safety to discuss the challenges to organic farmers and food handlers that have sprouted since an E. coli outbreak in 2006. Salinas Californian (1/14)
Rising Fertilizer Costs Mean Struggle for Farmers
There are a number of factors that are resulting in higher prices for products needing fertilizer such as cattle feed and sweet corn. The question is, how will the higher fertilizer prices affect consumers? WKTV-Utica (1/8)
Strawberry Harvest Sets Record in '07
A damaging freeze in January 2006 helped strawberry production in California last year grow by nearly 7 million trays - each equivalent to 10 pounds of strawberries - the California Strawberry Commission said Monday. Salinas Californian (1/8)
The Effect of Warm Winter Weather on Crops
It felt like spring on Monday, but for plants and trees mild weather in January can be harmful. News 10NBC was out in orchard country Monday to see whether fruit trees will be in danger when the temperature drops again. WHEC (1/8)
Hundreds of Health Complaints Followed Apple Moth Spraying
The number of people who suffered burning eyes, scratchy throats and other ailments after the state sprayed Santa Cruz and Monterey counties for the light brown apple moth might be much higher than previously believed, although state agriculture officials insist the pesticide was unlikely the cause of any illness. San Jose Mercury News (1/7)
Blueberry Fields Forever
In his retirement years, Col. Leland Thomas found a new calling in the blueberry business. Jackson County Floridan (1/7)
New Cranberry Hybrid High in Antioxidants
ARS scientists and colleagues are suiting up a wholesome cranberry variety with a newly isolated genetic trait. Using traditional breeding methods, they have created an experimental cranberry line with a high level of absorbable antioxidants. Agricultural Research Service (1/4)
Farmers Not Worried About Quick Freeze
Apparently, one or two nights of sub-freezing temperatures is not enough to kill a citrus field or blueberry farm. Hernando Today (1/4)
Farmers Scramble to Save Crops
Ann Holt calls it "our first little surprise of the winter." Put that way, the arctic-style weather that was heading Wednesday night for South Florida's vegetable farms, fruit groves and nurseries doesn't sound too threatening. Palm Beach Post (1/4)
Farm bill a win for Michigan agriculture
The importance of agriculture to (Michigan's) economy means that the farm bill that the U.S. Senate passed in December is critical for our entire state. While the final legislation remains to be completed in 2008, this Senate-passed bill is an important step forward. Hometown Life (1/4)
Cold, Flurries in Florida, Growers Worry
Florida's citrus growers reported only minor damage early Thursday from a blast of cold air, even as snow flurries fell in at least one part of the Sunshine State. Citrus crops were not the only ones at risk in Florida. (1/3)
December 2007
No Immigration Reform May Cost NY Farms
The failure of Congress to ensure that there are enough migrant workers in the nation's labor force could eventually cost New York agriculture hundreds of millions of dollars in lost crops and hundreds of thousands of acres in lost farmland, according to experts Tuesday at an agribusiness conference. Yahoo News (12/19)
Help with Farming’s Challenges
American farmers no longer have to stoically face all that Mother Nature and the economy can dish out. Lawrence Journal World (12/3)
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