Agriculture Daily News April 29

Food:

 

*Study links 'food environment' to diabetes, obesity -- In communities with an abundance of fast-food outlets and convenience stores, researchers have found, obesity and diabetes rates are much higher than in areas where fresh fruit and vegetable markets and full-service grocery stores are easily accessible. The new study builds on research released a year ago that found California has four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores as grocery stores and produce vendors. The average California adult has more than four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores near their home as grocery stores and produce vendors. Sacramento Bee 4/29/08

 

 

Agriculture:

 

*November initiative targets farm animal housing -- Voters will decide on an animal welfare ballot initiative in November that, if  passed,  would require farmers to provide enough space for breeding sows, veal calves and laying hens to turn around and stretch their limbs. Critics of the proposal say it would effectively require egg farmers to switch to cage-free barns or move their operations out of California. Farmers say the measure won't make egg farming more humane, but will make California's eggs more expensive and less safe. Inside Bay Area 4/28/08

 

Labor:

 

U.S. push to get more farmworkers in visa plan draws criticism -- Less than 1 percent of California's farmworkers are on H-2A visas that allow them to enter and exit the country freely. The Bush administration has promised to get tougher on illegal immigration and is trying to cajole American agribusiness to use the H-2A program instead of hiring undocumented workers. . To that end, the administration in February proposed H-2A changes it ideally wants finalized by the end of summer. Labor unions and California farmers object, though, saying many changes would make the program worse. Sacramento Bee 4/29/08

 

Organic:

 

*Suit accuses cosmetic makers of organic ruse -- Monday, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps filed a lawsuit charging many of its competitors with deceptively marketing their soaps and lotions. In the suit, Dr. Bronner's accused the firms of false advertising by labeling products "organic" that contain relatively little organic material, that contain synthetic chemicals, or that use petrochemicals in processing. There are no federal regulations governing either natural or organic personal care products. SF Chronicle 4/29/08

 

Water:

 

Bill to expand smelt hatchery draws fire -- A southern San Joaquin Valley lawmaker wants to help restore the endangered Delta smelt by dramatically increasing a tiny hatchery operation in the Delta town of Byron, but the proposal has drawn immediate fire from the environmental community. State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, has sponsored a bill to use $5 million in water-bond funds to help the state Department of Water Resources expand hatchery operations for the little fish, possibly on Stockton's Rough and Ready Island. Critics worry that the plan would be misspent energy. Stockton Record 4/29/08

 

Biofuel:

 

Jet Fuel From Garbage -- A Washington, D.C.-based company is in the preliminary stages of developing a $250 million plant in California to make jet fuel out of garbage, manure and tree bark. Solena Group hopes to build the plant in Gilroy, Calif. and will use raw material from municipal, agricultural and forestry waste supplied by Norcal Waste Systems, one of California’s largest municipal waste and biomass collectors. AVWeb 4/29/08