Food & Farm News
» September 13, 2007 «
Medflies found in Solano County
Sterile Mediterranean fruit flies will be released in the Dixon area beginning tomorrow (Friday), in response to a newly discovered Medfly infestation. The state Department of Food and Agriculture said yesterday (Wednesday) it has trapped eight Medflies in that part of Solano County. The sterile male flies will be released to mate with any wild females, in a technique that's proven successful in fighting the bug. The Medfly threatens a wide variety of California-grown crops.
Cooperation aids tricolored blackbirds 
A cooperative approach shows promise in helping Central Valley populations of tricolored blackbirds. Farm groups, environmental organizations and government agencies announced this week they've reached agreement on a plan to benefit the birds. Tricolored blackbirds now nest mainly in silage fields at dairy farms. One part of the plan compensates farmers who delay their harvest in order to help the birds.
Corn crop estimate is revised upward
Each time forecasters look, California's corn crop grows a little larger. A government report released yesterday says California farmers will harvest 931 thousand tons of corn for grain. That's up 3 percent from last month's forecast but it's up 83 percent from a year ago. High corn prices have encouraged farmers across the nation to plant more. California produces relatively little corn for grain, grown mainly to feed the state's livestock.
Navel orange crop shows recovery
The first official forecast of the new navel-orange crop confirms that trees appear to be recovering from January's devastating freeze. The forecast, released yesterday, indicates California navel-orange production will be about 26 percent larger than this season's freeze-shortened crop. That would leave the new crop still a little smaller than the two seasons prior to the freeze. Navel orange harvest will likely start in late October in Kern County.
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