Food & Farm News
» April 14, 2008 «
Farmers losing milk buyers 
Milk processors are not building new plants in California, and through consolidations, some farmers are losing buyers for their milk. Processors cite excess regulation as their reason for not locating in the state that produces the most milk. More than 20 California dairy farmers were scheduled to lose their milk buyers at the end of June because of a consolidation. A temporary fix has been achieved, while efforts continue to find permanent milk buyers.
Colorado River runoff above average
Above average snowfall in the Colorado River basin will help both major reservoirs on the river. The spring runoff is projected to be about 122 percent of average. As a result Bureau of Reclamation water managers will release an extra 653,000 acre-feet of water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead. The recent releases to create an artificial flood are included in the surplus. Southern California water users will receive their normal allocations this year.
Sudden oak death solution found?
Researchers say they might have an environmentally friendly effective means to control sudden oak death. They've found that a compound from western red cedar and incense cedar heartwood inhibits growth of the microbial agent that causes sudden oak death. They suggest the extracts could be processed into shavings, sawdust, wood chips, or liquid extracts and distributed in areas with high human activities to prevent the spread of spores that carry the disease. Their findings were published in the April issue of Agricultural Research magazine.
Researchers work to save wild bees
Wild bees are plagued with the colony collapse disorder just as domesticated European Honey bees are. The wild bees augment the pollination work of the honeybees, and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers are trying to learn more about wild bee nesting habits. Some seem attracted to nesting cavities occupied earlier by wild bees that succumbed to colony collapse disorder. The scientists have collected fluid bees left behind and believe if they can replicate that they may be able to entice wild bees to nest in safer locations.
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