Food & Farm News
» November 14, 2007 «
Jump in thefts worries cattle ranchers 
Investigators say they're not sure why, but the number of cattle thefts has jumped sharply in California. State officials say thefts during the past six months have risen 40 percent, compared to the same time a year ago. Cattle ranchers throughout the state have reported thefts. As many as 30 cattle at a time have been stolen, and branded cattle have been stolen in larger numbers. Detectives say they suspect many of the stolen animals are transported out of state.
Governor seeks 'sweet spot' in water talks
Governor Schwarzenegger renewed his call for a comprehensive water plan yesterday (Tuesday), saying he's continuing to negotiate with legislative leaders. In a speech to county government officials, Schwarzenegger said California needs to invest in additional water efficiency, flood control, storage and conveyance. The goal, he said, is to find what he called the "sweet spot" that brings agreement on the proper mix of strategies to address chronic water problems.
Sales rise for low-salt canned vegetables
Canned vegetables labeled as "low salt or sodium" have shown the largest sales increases in recent years, according to figures from Nielsen LabelTrends. Dollar sales for low-salt canned vegetables have risen for three straight years. That's also true for canned vegetables labeled "no salt or sodium" or "no salt added." Sales of canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste have also performed better this year than the category as a whole.
Study checks financial performance of co-ops
Agricultural cooperatives on the West Coast appear to be holding their own, in terms of their financial performance. Many farmers and ranchers belong to cooperatives that market their products, provide credit and perform other services. University of California analysts combed through 12 years' worth of financial data, and concluded that agricultural cooperatives generally have performed as well as investor-owned companies in the same sectors.
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