Food & Farm News
Real Audio» March 21, 2007 «
Ag Day focuses on farmed fuels
The state's top agricultural official says farmers already feed the world, and they're preparing to fuel the world as well. State Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura discussed the potential for on-farm energy production, during the annual Ag Day at the Capitol festivities in Sacramento yesterday (Tuesday). The event featured ethanol makers and other biofuel producers ... and was powered by biogas collected at a Merced County dairy farm.
Bush renews call for ethanol research
During a visit to an automobile assembly plant in Missouri yesterday, President Bush renewed his call to expand ethanol research. Most ethanol is made from corn grown in the Midwest, but the president said he wants to make ethanol production "more widespread." The administration's Farm Bill proposal would increase research to make ethanol production more practical from sources such as rice straw and wood chips.
UC studies expanded production of biofuel crop
Interest in biofuel production could boost California plantings of canola. The crop is considered one of the best for making biodiesel fuel. University of California farm advisors have started to study the prospect for widespread canola planting around the state, and how best to grow the crop here. Test plots of canola have been planted in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Imperial valleys.
Basketball fans boost avocado consumption
It will be another couple of weeks before sports fans know who emerges as champion of the national college basketball tournament ... but California avocado farmers could be among the winners. The California Avocado Commission estimates that basketball fans will consume more than 30 million fresh avocados while watching the tournament. The commission is conducting promotions to encourage guacamole consumption by basketball fans.
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