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Wildfire recovery in Mendocino County forests

Oriental fruit flies discovered in a second county

Two Oriental fruit flies have been found in Loma Linda in San Bernardino County. The state Department of Food and Agriculture says both turned up in a residential neighborhood within a block of each other. Traps to attract the male flies are being placed on trees and poles in a 9-square-mile radius of where the insects were located. Earlier, crews discovered nine Oriental fruit flies in Los Angeles County, where a quarantine zone has been created. The insect can infest more than 230 types of fruits and vegetables.

Timber farmers hurry to harvest fire-damaged trees

North Coast timber farmers continue working to salvage what they can after wildfires damaged several farms. Mendocino Redwood Company had more than 30,000 acres of timber burn. However, damage doesn't seem to be as great as first feared. The fire stayed mostly on the ground, sparing many trees. Those that did burn are being harvested quickly before the rainy season makes that impossible. Trees with less damage can be left until spring and still be salvaged.

July's milk production dips slightly

California milk production was about 1 percent less this July than in July of the previous year. However, the Golden State remains the milk-producing leader. The state Department of Food and Agriculture reports the average production of each cow was slightly lower. There were 30,000 more cows being milked in July compared to a year ago. For the 12 months ending July 2008, California milk production increased 3.5 percent.

Research targets wheat disease

Bread and pasta lovers can be buoyed by research that aims to reduce wheat lost to disease. A scientist has experimented with a wild grass that should help plant breeders more quickly develop wheat that is resistant to various types of rust, which threatens wheat fields throughout the world. He's shared his findings with scientists in 25 states and 20 countries. Better wheat varieties would also help reduce farmers' production costs.

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