Food & Farm News
» May 5, 2010 «
State and federal water deliveries to increase
Farmers south of the delta will get 40 percent of their allocations this year from both state and federal water projects. Both agencies announced the increases Tuesday. The state cited the May 1 snowpack measurement, which revealed the highest levels since 2006. The higher federal allocation comes as a result of increased runoff into reservoirs and officials securing additional water supplies from other sources. Pumping restrictions to protect fish continue to reduce water allocations. A final state water allocation announcement will be made at the end of May.
Mother's Day flowers will be in ample supply
Consumers should have no trouble finding California grown flowers and plants for Mother's Day. The California State Floral Association says growers have been shipping product to retailers for some weeks. Weather has been iffy in some regions, but many cut flowers are raised in greenhouses, which are not affected by weather. Whether choosing roses or special floral bouquets shoppers should find a wide variety from which to choose. Growers say demand varies from good to strong.
Almond tree acreage increases 
Demand for almonds continues to rise and farmers have responded by planting more trees. A new government report says almond acreage grew by 2 percent. Marketers say there's a need for increased production, with demand projected to rise 9 percent per year. Observers say they expect this year's almond crop to be a good one, though it's still early to know for certain. Almonds are California's leading export crop.
Honeybee losses continue
Honeybee colonies continue to decline, according to a federal government report on a survey of beekeepers. The number of managed honeybee colonies declined almost 34 percent from October 2009 to April 2010. That is an increase from 29 percent the year before. Experts call the continued high loss rate troubling, especially considering losses over the summer months are not included. Researchers continue to search for a cause and cure for colony collapse disorder.
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