Food & Farm News
Real Audio» January 3, 2007 «
Farmers renew immigration-reform push
Farmers and ranchers will work to make immigration reform a priority, as the new Congress convenes tomorrow (Thursday). The previous Congress ended without final action on a comprehensive reform package. Farmers say there's a particular need for a new program that allows people to enter the country legally to harvest crops. Advocates for the temporary-worker program express confidence an immigration reform package will be adopted this year.
Storms strand Colorado cattle
Ten-foot-high snowdrifts have left thousands of cattle stranded in Colorado, and authorities have organized a hay lift to provide food to the animals. Northern California ranchers often have snow to contend with, but say they rarely face the amounts at one time that now face Colorado ranchers. In fact, ranchers along the California-Oregon border say they're worried by a lack of snow in their region and are feeding hay to their cattle because rangeland remains dry.
Brussels sprouts harvest extended
For another month or so, the only brussels sprouts you'll find in stores will come from California. In a typical year, the California harvest would be winding down by now and brussels sprouts from Mexico enter the market. But weather problems in Mexico have slowed the harvest there ... and California fields continue to provide enough sprouts to fill the market. California farmers say the crop quality remains excellent and yields per acre are good.
State observes Dried Plum Month
For the first time, California is officially observing Dried Plum Month during January, as proclaimed by Governor Schwarzenegger. Dried-plum marketers will spend the month conducting extra promotional efforts at a time when sales of the fruit often slow down. California farms are the nation's only domestic source for prunes and dried plums, with most production coming from the Sacramento Valley and the central San Joaquin Valley.
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