June 23, 2009
Consumer and producer interest in food production systems continues to rise, partly in response to media reports, books and movies on how food is produced, and in response to recent food recalls and food-borne illnesses. These UC Davis faculty and staff members have expertise on topics related to food production and food safety, nutrition and health, organic and sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, and food production economics.
More info:
Showing posts with label Food and Agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food and Agriculture. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Agriculture tourists learn that not everything's bigger in Texas
By Danny Bernardini/ DBernardini@TheReporter.com
Posted: 06/14/2009 01:01:08 AM PDT
Solano County had a few extra belt buckles and cowboy hats in the area this week as about a dozen Texans arrived to learn about local agriculture.
The guests were from the Texas Farm Bureau, which is trying to groom future agricultural leaders. By visiting different areas, the group is exposed to a variety of goods and farming methods not seen in their neck of the woods.
Because trends, weather and regulations seem to travel eastward, it's good to see what may be on the horizon, said Si Cook, director of organization programs for the bureau.
Cook said the group of 25- to 40-year-olds takes nine trips in two years, traveling within Texas and to California, Washington, D.C., and the Midwest. It also visits one international destination.
Last week was spent visiting San Francisco, Sacramento and a few stops in between -- including a day in Solano County -- touring olive oil production farms, wineries and nut orchards.
Along the way, the future leaders learned about the crops themselves, as well as the politics, regulations, marketing and other behind-the-scene issues.
"The point is to see the whole picture," Cook said. "California is No. 1 in ag production. We're No. 2. But (California) is about double what we produce. The reason is right here."
Read more:
Posted: 06/14/2009 01:01:08 AM PDT
Solano County had a few extra belt buckles and cowboy hats in the area this week as about a dozen Texans arrived to learn about local agriculture.
The guests were from the Texas Farm Bureau, which is trying to groom future agricultural leaders. By visiting different areas, the group is exposed to a variety of goods and farming methods not seen in their neck of the woods.
Because trends, weather and regulations seem to travel eastward, it's good to see what may be on the horizon, said Si Cook, director of organization programs for the bureau.
Cook said the group of 25- to 40-year-olds takes nine trips in two years, traveling within Texas and to California, Washington, D.C., and the Midwest. It also visits one international destination.
Last week was spent visiting San Francisco, Sacramento and a few stops in between -- including a day in Solano County -- touring olive oil production farms, wineries and nut orchards.
Along the way, the future leaders learned about the crops themselves, as well as the politics, regulations, marketing and other behind-the-scene issues.
"The point is to see the whole picture," Cook said. "California is No. 1 in ag production. We're No. 2. But (California) is about double what we produce. The reason is right here."
Read more:
California enjoys long, productive history of agriculture
Don Curlee
Agriculture
Those who say California is not as rich in traditions as perhaps Virginia or the New England states apparently haven’t talked to many farmers in the Golden State.
True, the Pilgrims landed on the East Coast before Father Junipero Serra and his followers began building California worship centers. But the padres planted grapes, grain, tree crops and vegetables as well as missions.
California farmers have been producing agricultural crops in abundance ever since.While the Forty-Niners hoped the gold they sought would make them rich quicker than they could plant and harvest a typical vegetable crop. They helped to discover the width and breadth of the state’s richness in soil, water and climate.
Later on, California’s rolling plains and flat valley expanses were perfect grazing land for the vast cattle empire of Henry Miller, once the owner of the largest cattle herd in the country. Even Texans were impressed, and still should be.
Chinese workers helped reshape flood plains and waterways, some in the complex and peat-rich Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. They were a key in the development of rich fruit production areas, especially in the Sacramento Valley and along the river’s lower reaches.
The agricultural tradition enjoyed a rebirth as Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl in the ’20s forced thousands to seek a living, if not their fortunes, in the great Central Valley. Cotton, practically unknown as a major California crop in those days, soon found itself on a path toward royalty.
Wise legislators and politicians bolstered the agricultural tradition by developing an enviable water distribution system. It allocated naturally occurring supplies to productive areas. Railroad barons laid the groundwork for transporting crops from the Golden State to population centers in the East, and for bringing manufactured goods from the East to California’s growing population. Visionaries in the fruit industry helped develop a refrigeration system (known simply as ice) to provide cool environments for tasty fruit to ride the rails to well-established Eastern markets.
These historical vignettes often escape newcomers who sometimes have trouble looking back beyond the freeways, Hollywood, Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge or the Queen Mary at permanent anchor.
Agricultural traditions have led to great processing facilities. They underlie the development of perhaps the world’s greatest wine empire, closely related to even longer traditions in Europe.The integrated strength of a great state is firmly rooted in deep agricultural traditions.
Who knew that citrus and subtropicals such as avocados would thrive in the California sun until enterprising farmer-investors and dedicated researchers gave them a chance?
As productive as the great plains states have been, their climates would not have allowed Luther Burbank to develop the unending array of fruit varieties, some still to be developed to their commercial potential.California’s economic development and its population have grown up around rich agricultural traditions. Even late bloomers such as the electronics industry are supported by rich and sturdy agricultural roots.
Most farmers in the state can feel the depth and breadth of the agricultural underpinning, even those who have arrived recently. One of California’s richest traditions is agriculture. Preserving and enhancing it is well worth whatever it takes.
Don Curlee is a freelance writer who specializes in agricultural issues.
Write to him at Don Curlee-Public Relations, 457 Armstrong Ave., Clovis, CA 93612.
Agriculture
Those who say California is not as rich in traditions as perhaps Virginia or the New England states apparently haven’t talked to many farmers in the Golden State.
True, the Pilgrims landed on the East Coast before Father Junipero Serra and his followers began building California worship centers. But the padres planted grapes, grain, tree crops and vegetables as well as missions.
California farmers have been producing agricultural crops in abundance ever since.While the Forty-Niners hoped the gold they sought would make them rich quicker than they could plant and harvest a typical vegetable crop. They helped to discover the width and breadth of the state’s richness in soil, water and climate.
Later on, California’s rolling plains and flat valley expanses were perfect grazing land for the vast cattle empire of Henry Miller, once the owner of the largest cattle herd in the country. Even Texans were impressed, and still should be.
Chinese workers helped reshape flood plains and waterways, some in the complex and peat-rich Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. They were a key in the development of rich fruit production areas, especially in the Sacramento Valley and along the river’s lower reaches.
The agricultural tradition enjoyed a rebirth as Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl in the ’20s forced thousands to seek a living, if not their fortunes, in the great Central Valley. Cotton, practically unknown as a major California crop in those days, soon found itself on a path toward royalty.
Wise legislators and politicians bolstered the agricultural tradition by developing an enviable water distribution system. It allocated naturally occurring supplies to productive areas. Railroad barons laid the groundwork for transporting crops from the Golden State to population centers in the East, and for bringing manufactured goods from the East to California’s growing population. Visionaries in the fruit industry helped develop a refrigeration system (known simply as ice) to provide cool environments for tasty fruit to ride the rails to well-established Eastern markets.
These historical vignettes often escape newcomers who sometimes have trouble looking back beyond the freeways, Hollywood, Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge or the Queen Mary at permanent anchor.
Agricultural traditions have led to great processing facilities. They underlie the development of perhaps the world’s greatest wine empire, closely related to even longer traditions in Europe.The integrated strength of a great state is firmly rooted in deep agricultural traditions.
Who knew that citrus and subtropicals such as avocados would thrive in the California sun until enterprising farmer-investors and dedicated researchers gave them a chance?
As productive as the great plains states have been, their climates would not have allowed Luther Burbank to develop the unending array of fruit varieties, some still to be developed to their commercial potential.California’s economic development and its population have grown up around rich agricultural traditions. Even late bloomers such as the electronics industry are supported by rich and sturdy agricultural roots.
Most farmers in the state can feel the depth and breadth of the agricultural underpinning, even those who have arrived recently. One of California’s richest traditions is agriculture. Preserving and enhancing it is well worth whatever it takes.
Don Curlee is a freelance writer who specializes in agricultural issues.
Write to him at Don Curlee-Public Relations, 457 Armstrong Ave., Clovis, CA 93612.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Women in agriculture at highest risk of leukemia
www.chinaview.cn
2009-06-16 17:53:03
WELLINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural workers have the highest incidence of leukemia of all New Zealand occupation groups, probably because of their exposure to chemicals, the Massey University's public health specialists have found.
And women agriculture workers are even more at risk than men, according to the Centre for Public Health Research.
The center has just released analysis of a study started in 2003-04, when researchers interviewed 225 cancer patients aged 25-75 and 471 randomly selected participants from the general population.
They found elevated leukemia risk four or five times greater among market gardeners and nursery growers compared to the general population. Market farmers and crop growers, and field crop and vegetable growers, also all experienced varying degrees of elevated risk.
The study builds on research published by the center last year, which showed those working in plant nurseries were four times more likely to develop non-hodgkin's lymphoma, while vegetable growers and those in general horticulture production have a two-fold risk of developing that disease.
Read more:
2009-06-16 17:53:03
WELLINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural workers have the highest incidence of leukemia of all New Zealand occupation groups, probably because of their exposure to chemicals, the Massey University's public health specialists have found.
And women agriculture workers are even more at risk than men, according to the Centre for Public Health Research.
The center has just released analysis of a study started in 2003-04, when researchers interviewed 225 cancer patients aged 25-75 and 471 randomly selected participants from the general population.
They found elevated leukemia risk four or five times greater among market gardeners and nursery growers compared to the general population. Market farmers and crop growers, and field crop and vegetable growers, also all experienced varying degrees of elevated risk.
The study builds on research published by the center last year, which showed those working in plant nurseries were four times more likely to develop non-hodgkin's lymphoma, while vegetable growers and those in general horticulture production have a two-fold risk of developing that disease.
Read more:
Monday, June 15, 2009
Government Agency Sites
FEDERAL:
- Western Center for Urban Forestry Research and Education (WCUFRE)
- Institute of Forest Genetics Dendrome Project
- USDA Home Page
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
- USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES)
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)