Food & Farm News
Real Audio» March 28, 2005 «
Availability of farmland top concern
For the first time in seven years, Americas Young Farmers and Ranchers are more concerned about the availability of land for farming than profitability. The finding is a result of a survey of Young Farmers and Ranchers attending the annual meeting of their American Farm Bureau Federation group. Another first is the participants' view that an energy policy should be the top priority of the federal government to help farmers and ranchers. Thirty percent of the participants report both husband and wife working off the farm to make ends meet, an all time high.
Wine attitudes changing
Public attitudes about wine are changing significantly, according to an online survey of 10,000 consumers. More than four-fifths of those surveyed agree or strongly agree that red wine consumed in moderation has health benefits. Another finding is that three-fourths of the panel prefers red to white wine. Of those, more than a fifth prefer red because research reports indicate moderate consumption helps prevent heart disease.
New control for glassy-winged sharpshooter
Researchers at the new Arvin Biocontrol Facility are enthused about a new wasp species that is a natural enemy of the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The new species has been under quarantine at the University of California Riverside facilities for the past two months. It is more efficient than the wasp now in use. The new species lay eggs in the glassy-winged sharpshooter eggs. The hatching nymphs devour the sharpshooter eggs. The new wasp lays more eggs per glassy-wing than the present widely one.
Vaccinate horses soon
State officials are urging horse owners to vaccinate their animals to protect them from West Nile Virus. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says outbreaks of the virus may be worse this year than last. Owners are urged to contact their veterinarians as soon as possible. Last year 540 horses contracted the disease and 229 died. Of the known cases 356 were not vaccinated and 145 more were vaccinated incompletely.
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