Food & Farm News
Real Audio» July 14, 2005 «
Asian longhorned beetles found in Sacramento
Smokejumpers lent their tree-climbing skills to the search for a serious tree pest in Sacramento. Asian longhorned beetles emerged in a warehouse district, apparently from wooden crates carrying goods from China. The beetles attack fruit trees as well as forest and ornamental trees. The state Department of Food and Agriculture said yesterday (Wednesday) it has set 190 insect traps near the Sacramento site, and Forest Service smokejumpers searched the tops of nearby trees.
Hot days slow ripening in fruit orchards
With temperatures soaring past 103 degrees in parts of the Central Valley, fruit trees have gone dormant, which slows ripening of peaches, nectarines and plums. Specialists say the hot weather doesn't damage the fruit, and that it then ripens faster once temperatures cool below 103. Plums have been slower to mature this season, but once cooler weather arrives there will be larger supplies. Consumers should see ample supplies of tree fruit throughout the summer months.
Onion harvest remains behind schedule
It got off to a late start because of wet spring weather, and California's spring onion harvest remains about two weeks behind a typical schedule. Growers report some onions have been lost to fungal disease linked to the wet weather. Farmers expect lower yields as a result. Federal forecasters say onion production nationwide should be about 7 percent greater than last year's crop.
USDA encourages ranchers to provide habitat
Ranchers who provide habitat for a native bird can qualify for incentives offered by the U.S. Agriculture Department. The department said yesterday it will make more than $1.2 million available to Northern California ranchers who encourage the ‘greater sage grouse.’ For example, ranchers in Modoc and Lassen counties will improve grass rangelands in ways that will benefit the grouse. Habitat will also be improved in a part of Mono County where the birds breed.
On the Calendar:
The Mother Lode Fair begins today (Thursday) in Sonora.
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