Food & Farm News
» August 28, 2008 «
Water supplies cut earlier than usual
Sacramento Valley farmers who get irrigation water from the Corning and Tehama-Colusa canals will have their water supplies end early. The Central Valley Project says it will begin removing the Red Bluff Diversion Dam on Wednesday (Sept. 3), about two weeks ahead of average. That action is under the direction of a federal district court order to protect migrating winter-run chinook salmon. About 150,000 acres of farmland are irrigated with water from those canals.
Inspectors hope to muscle out invasive pest
Boaters, beware. Quagga and zebra mussels might be trying to hitch a ride with you. California border inspectors will be especially vigilant over Labor Day weekend, checking for the invasive pests on the 4,000 plus watercraft entering the state. The mussels can alter water chemistry, making waterways uninhabitable to native species. Inspectors have looked at more than 150,000 watercraft since last year and so far have found the pests in 200 of them.
Wine moves from bottle to box 
Wine packaging is changing. Industry experts say boxed wine is Earth friendly--and consumers are more likely to buy products that stand out from the crowd. Younger consumers, especially, seek wines that have attractive packaging and are in their price range. California wine sales remain strong even in the economic downturn, in part because the weak dollar makes foreign wines pricier.
Veterinarians oppose Proposition 2
The American Veterinary Medical Association has come out in opposition to Proposition 2 on the November ballot. The association says while the goal is admirable, it ignores critical aspects of animal welfare that would threaten the well-being of the animals it seeks to help. The association says that legislating rules on farm-animal housing may do more harm than good. Earlier a UC Davis study said the egg-producing business would be forced out of California if Proposition 2 passes.
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