Food & Farm News
Real Audio» September 18, 2006 «
Weather problems hurt bees, honey
With summer winding down, beekeepers say the extended winter and severe July heat have taken a toll on honey production. Because of the weather, the honey production season was shortened and there weren't as many flowers available for bees to visit. Beekeepers say the heat wave also killed bees. That will have implications both for honey production and pollination. Bees are crucial for the pollination of many California crops.
Forecasters say it'll be an El Niño year
The National Weather Service reports El Niño conditions have developed in the Pacific Ocean. That means that ocean temperatures have warmed in the eastern and central Pacific, which could affect weather patterns. At this point, meteorologists describe the situation as a "mild El Niño," but say it could become stronger by the end of the year. Past El Niño years have featured warmer than average temperatures over the West ... and both wetter and drier than average winters in California.
Farmers seek new route for power lines
They understand the benefits that a new electric transmission line would bring, but San Diego County farmers and ranchers want the state Public Utilities Commission to choose a new route for the line. Called the Sunrise Powerlink, the proposed line would carry electricity from Imperial County into neighboring San Diego County. It would cross a number of farms and ranches. Farmers testified at a PUC hearing, urging that the line be rerouted to minimize the impact on agriculture.
Researchers track how West Nile spreads
To learn more about how West Nile virus spreads, scientists at the University of California, Davis, study crows and mosquitoes. The researchers are studying infected mosquitoes around dead birds, seeking to learn how crows and mosquitoes interact. Mosquitoes can carry the disease from infected birds to humans or horses. Horses can be vaccinated against West Nile virus, but no human vaccine has yet been developed.
Top
