Food & Farm News
Real Audio» November 8, 2005 «
Remember to vote
As California voters go to the polls today (Tuesday), farm groups urge their members to support reform measures on the special-election ballot. The state's largest farm groups have endorsed the four measures supported by Governor Schwarzenegger, Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77. A California Farm Bureau spokeswoman says farmers believe the reform measures would improve the accountability of state government.
Last of state's rice harvest races rain
Rice farmers with late-planted crops are now working to finish their harvests in time to beat autumn rains. So far, predicted rain hasn't fallen in the rice growing areas of Northern California. The rice harvest has been nearly completed, and farmers who have finished their own work are helping their late-harvesting neighbors. Those finished with harvest now work the leftover rice straw into the soil and add water to their fields to help the straw decompose.
Snow stops Tulelake onion harvest
Three inches of snow in far Northern California has halted the onion harvest in the Tulelake Basin. A few growers still have onions in fields that can be harvested if the ground dries before hard freezes set in. Weather forecasts indicate warmer, drying weather later this week along the California-Oregon border ... so growers hope they will be able to harvest their remaining onions.
Christmas trees boast excellent quality
Your Christmas tree is growing well on the state's choose-and-cut tree farms. California farmers report an excellent crop this year. They say late spring rains seemed to help trees develop. Farms in the foothill regions appear to have benefited most, but all Christmas tree farmers say consumers will find trees of excellent quality to select. The California Christmas Tree Association says higher fuel prices may affect tree prices this winter.
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