Food & Farm News
Real Audio» October 25, 2006 «
With stocks low, wheat planting will rise
Worldwide wheat supplies have been dropping, and California farmers plan to plant more in response to increased demand. The California Wheat Commission says stocks of wheat may slide to their lowest levels in 25 years. Drought in the Midwest and in Australia has further reduced supplies and raised wheat prices. The commission says it has noticed rising demand for wheat seed among California farmers. Planting of winter wheat will start around November 1st.
Spinach farmers look ahead to next year
As the spinach harvest winds down in the Salinas Valley, farmers say they will continue working to restore consumer demand before determining how much of the crop they plant next spring. Farmers, processors and marketers have been working to rebuild consumer confidence since the spinach market reopened nearly four weeks ago. The harvest will move into the Imperial Valley and Arizona for the winter season.
Study: Eating veggies keeps mind sharp
A six-year study has shown that eating vegetables helps older people keep their minds sharper. The study, published yesterday (Tuesday) in the journal Neurology, tracked people aged 65 and older. Those who ate more than two servings of vegetables a day had fewer memory problems and otherwise slowed their rate of "cognitive change." Researchers say green leafy vegetables appeared to have the strongest benefit.
Meeting looks at agricultural self-sufficiency
Policy experts say it's in America's best interest to stay self-sufficient in food and agricultural production ... and that strategic importance of agriculture will be the focus of a meeting in Sacramento today (Wednesday). Former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta will be among the speakers addressing the topic before the state Board of Food and Agriculture. The board's president says leaders must think through a strategy that maintains the nation's agricultural self-sufficiency.
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