Since the USDA, on January 28^th, approved the use of genetically

engineered (GE) Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa there’s been quite a bit of discussion going on in the media. In Mendocino and Lake Counties we grow very little alfalfa as it is much easier to grow clover/grass hay over a monoculture crop. Also, nutritionally, our livestock producers that feed hay generally can do well with our clover/grass version as it provides all that’s needed for range livestock production. That said, with the irrigation systems in place on some of our former pear acreages, alfalfa production is possible and could certainly be profitable. Certainly, weed-free organic alfalfa would be even more profitable to a hay producer as very little is produced.

Of course, many believe that because alfalfa is insect pollinated, cross-pollination and contamination of non-GE alfalfa could result — some say “inevitable”. Since most of Mendocino County is GMO-free (city limits, Rancherias and State lands are exempt) there is still fear that potential alfalfa producers outside the county boundaries or in adjoining counties, could start growing RR alfalfa and impact those potential alfalfa producers who want to grow conventional alfalfa, organic or otherwise.

In response to some to these concerns, UCCE Agronomy Specialist, Dr. Dan Putnam, has written several publications that will assist those interested to understand the risks and science. They are available for free in pdf format. The first entitled Methods to Enable Coexistence of Diverse Production Systems Involving Genetically Engineered Alfalfa can be downloaded at http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8193.pdf. In addition to explaining the risks of cross-pollination, Dan provides information for testing hay to determine if it is genetically engineered. Livestock producers targeting our local or niche markets should download this publication just for that information alone. A second publication co-authored by Dan and several other UC scientists is entitled Roundup Ready Alfalfa: An Emerging Technology. It can be downloaded at http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8153.pdf and it discusses further pros and cons. The third publication is entitled Avoiding Weed Shifts and Weed Resistance in Roundup Ready Alfalfa Systems and it can be downloaded at http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8362.pdf and provides a thorough explanation of the risks of weed resistance.

As producers of meat protein, it's important to understand the nutrient

needs of the end consumer. To that end, understanding the problems US citizens are having with obesity and planning your marketing accordingly will benefit everyone's health and hopefully your sales. The announcement below will provide you with the science on human diet recommendations that will help you to continue to provide an excellent source of protein, iron and B vitamins.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released this week, emphasizing the importance of consuming a balanced diet, eating less sodium and more nutrient-dense foods and carefully monitoring what Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack characterized as "calories in, calories out."

The guidelines include 23 key recommendations for the general public and six for specific groups like pregnant women. Key recommendations include:

• increase in vegetable and fruit intake;
• increase whole grain consumption;
• eat a variety of protein foods;
• eat more fish; and
• replace protein foods higher in solid fats with choices that are lower in solid fats and calories and/or are sources of oil.

The guidelines are available at www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm. To download the full pdf file go to http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/PolicyDoc.pdf

For those livestock producers who are selling locally there are some new labelling laws coming that will impact your retail sales. The following information came via NMPAN E-update.

New Nutritional Labeling Rules: Will they affect you? 

USDA-FSIS has created new nutritional labeling regulations that require single-ingredient items -- retail "major cuts" and ground meat -- to have nutritional labeling. Until now only multi-ingredient products required nutritional labels.

This will affect you if you operate under inspection or have retail sales (even if your retail products are produced under retail-exemption). Meat processed under custom exemption is not affected by these new regulations.

The new rules will affect retail sales and inspected processing in two ways:

1)  Retail Cuts: Forty "major" whole-muscle cuts of meat and poultry will now require nutritional labeling (as defined in 9 CFR 317.344 and 381.444). Processors with retail sales can provide point-of-sale material with nutritional information in place of putting nutritional info on the product label. Producers who direct market meat can also use such point-of-sale material. FSIS will be offering posters for free download over the internet that you can print and put up at your retail counter. NMPAN will provide information as soon as these become available.

2) Ground: If you produce more than 100,000 lbs. of a specific ground item during the calendar year under inspection (such as ground beef), you must now put nutritional labeling on this product. Likely only processors who average ~10 or more head of inspected beef a week will be affected by this part of the new rules. Be sure to check your annual processing volume if you think you're close.

If you do process over 100,000 lbs. per year of a specific ground item, small plants can use a statement of BOTH percent fat AND percent lean (such as "85% lean / 15% fat ground beef") instead of adding a nutritional label.

Again, custom-exempt processing will NOT be affected by these new requirements. For more information, see the notice in the Federal Register:  www.federalregister.gov/a/2010-32485

Rules go into effect January 1, 2012. So you have almost a year to get your labeling in order.

Have you ever thought of adding agritourism to your livestock operation?

Agricultural tourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch or agricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment or education of visitors, and that generates supplemental income for the owner.

Traditionally agritourism has included efforts like farm stands or shops, U-pick, farm stays, tours, on-farm classes, fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, winery weddings, orchard dinners, youth camps, barn dances, hunting or fishing, or guest ranches. Heritage ranch tours like was done last year at the Ford and Schmidbauer ranches are other examples. 

The UC Small Farm program offers quite a bit of information on getting started in agritourism. Check out the website at: http://sfp.ucdavis.edu/agritourism/.  In addition, there is statewide site that will help you promote either a one-time event or list your agritourism effort in a statewide directory that is sorted by county. The link for the free directory and the event listing is: http://ucanr.org/sites/CalAgTour/. This is a very cool resource for anyone interested in agritourism be they producer or the general public.