Food & Farm News
» July 11, 2007 «
Apple moths trapped in LA, Solano counties 
Single moths trapped in Sherman Oaks and Vallejo have widened the locations where authorities have found light brown apple moths in California. The Los Angeles County find is the first outside Northern California. State and federal authorities quickly imposed restrictions on nurseries and on community and school gardens near the new finds. They say intensified trapping has not disclosed any more moths in either place. The light brown apple moth attacks a wide array of crops and plants.
USDA to announce air-quality plan for SJV
A new, three-year initiative to be announced tomorrow (Thursday) will help San Joaquin Valley farmers improve air quality. A U.S. Agriculture Department official will announce the plan during a meeting in Fresno. To be called the Air Quality Initiative, the plan will provide farmers with technical and cost assistance to adopt technologies that benefit air quality. The U.S.D.A Natural Resources Conservation Service will administer applications for the program.
On-farm milk price to rise 4 cents in August
Export demand for milk and dairy products continues to drive the on-farm price of milk higher. On average, California dairy farmers will earn an additional 4 cents a gallon starting August 1. On-farm milk prices will stand at an average of $2.03 a gallon, based on a formula calculated by the state. Even though farm milk prices have risen for eight straight months, dairy farmers continue to repay bank loans from last year, when they lost money.
Apple growers gauge competition from China
California apple growers watch warily as production in China soars. The California Apple Commission says its chief concern involves making sure that pests found in Chinese orchards don't make their way into the U.S. with imported fruit. California growers have a slight advantage because apples ripen here earlier than in China. Taiwan is the second largest export market for California apple growers, and so far buyers there favor California-grown fruit.
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