Food & Farm News
Real Audio» November 3, 2006 «
Autumn means moving time for beef cattle
It's moving time for beef cattle. This is the time of year when ranchers either move their herds to lower elevations or prepare to do so. Cattle have spent the summer on mountain grazing land. Ranchers who move their animals via truck have seen diesel-fuel prices drop, lowering their transportation costs. As the rainy season starts, cattle ranchers hope for enough rain to germinate rangeland grasses.
Timber farmers prepare to wrap up harvest
Although rain fell on many North Coast forests this week, timber farmers say they don't think it's rained enough to end their harvest. With the forecast for warmer, drier weather next week, timber producers will be sending crews back into the woods. At this time of year, timber farmers plan on harvesting timber near rock-covered roads, which dry out faster. But the harvest will end once the real rainy weather develops.
Most North Coast grapes avoid rain damage
Because most North Coast winegrapes have already been picked, farmers say rain in the region should not create many problems for their crops. The grapes remaining to be harvested are red grapes that handle rain better. Cabernet sauvignon grapes will be harvested when the vineyards dry. Some merlot grapes that are still on the vine may not be harvested because of slowing demand, rather than weather woes.
There's more good health news about red grapes
It's already been shown to improve heart health and lower cholesterol. Now, a natural compound found in red grapes and blueberries appears to fight cancer as well. The compound (called pterostilbene) appeared to inhibit cancer in laboratory animals, according to studies conducted in the U.S. and Poland. The substance is related to resveratrol, the compound in red grapes that in a separate study appeared to protect mice from the ill effects of obesity.
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