Food & Farm News
Real Audio» May 5, 2006 «
Exotic pest found in San Diego County
An exotic pest that threatens a wide variety of crops and plants has now been found in a third Southern California location. San Diego County authorities reported yesterday (Thursday) that the pest, diaprepes root weevil, has turned up on 11 properties in La Jolla. The weevil made its first California appearance in Newport Beach last fall, and later arrived in Long Beach. The La Jolla find will also prompt a plant quarantine and a long-term eradication project.
Mexico resumes wheat imports from state
Ten years after banning California wheat ... and nearly 10 months after officially lifting that ban ... Mexico will resume imports of California-grown wheat today (Friday). Wheat farmers and government officials from California and Mexico will gather at a Woodland grain elevator, to commemorate the first commercial shipment. Mexico banned all California wheat after a plant disease turned up in a few fields. California farmers again have a chance to sell their grain to that large export market.
UC tries to halt disease that attacks trees
A plant disease described as "a forest fire in slow motion" continues to move northward, and University of California scientists say they're trying a variety of methods to contain it. Known as "sudden oak death," the pathogen has killed hundreds of thousands of trees in 14 coastal counties. UC researchers have been working to slow the pathogen's northward spread in Humboldt County. Diseased trees are treated, and experiments with controlled burning have been undertaken.
Spring weather slows blueberry harvest
Add California-grown blueberries to the list of crops that will be slow to reach market, because of cool and rainy spring weather. The California Blueberry Association says it expects harvest to begin around May 22nd. That's about two weeks later than average. Farmers say the crop looks good now, and that they hope for continued favorable weather. The development of new varieties has led to expanded blueberry production, especially in the San Joaquin Valley.
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