- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The KGO TV newscast in San Francisco ran a story yesterday about a virus that seems to be causing vineyard decline in syrah vines. The reporter spoke to Rhonda Smith, the UCCE viticulture farm advisor in Sonoma County. She said the problem isn't as serious in Sonoma County as it is in France because there are only about 1,800 acres of syrah being grown in the county, about 10 percent of the state's total.
According to the story posted on the TV station's Web site, Smith said she's advising the syrah vineyard owners to uproot their vines and replant.
"We're taking it on a case-by-case basis" she is quoted as...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The (Arroyo Grande) Times-Press-Recorder ran a story today about "a splendid crop of new gardening books for Central Coast gardeners," including one produced by UC Cooperative Extension. Reporter Joan Bolton noted that there are scores of gardening books published every year, though few target California gardeners.
"But we lucked out this year, with inspired writing, great photographs, and tips and techniques that specifically apply to our mild, coastal climate. Any local gardener would be happy to unwrap at least one of the following books on Christmas morning," she wrote in her article.
...- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Bloomberg.com ran a story this week on a problem the devaluing dollar poses for African cotton farmers.
According to to the article, cotton prices have risen, but the dollar's slide against CFA francs (the euro-pegged local currency of 14 western and central African countries) has offset the increase.
For the story, reporters Kim-Mai Cutler and Rose Skelton spoke to Dan Sumner, the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center. He said a shift in the exchange rate can eliminate a month's food for the poorest families.
Fifty dollars can be "enough to feed a child for a year," Sumner is quoted....
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Farmer Paul Bentencourt noted that the predicted rain will help, but, along with the others, heard dire predictions about how dry his farm could be come summer.
Westlands spokeswoman Sarah Woolf explained a federal court ruling calling for closer monitoring of delta smelt and effects on the fish from pumping water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Fresno Bee reporter Nzong Xiong filed a story this month about blueberries, a topic that usually seems to get more ink when the weather warms. The story appeared in the Modesto Bee on Dec. 1.
Xiong spoke to Fresno County Master Gardener Lee Fanucchi, who is growing the healthful fruit in his own backyard. In addition, he went to the Valley's resident blueberry expert Manual Jimenez, the UC Cooperative Extension small farm advisor in Tulare County who has been conducting blueberry research at the Kearney Research and Extension Center for 10 years.
Jimenez noted the blueberry's need for acidic soil, a challenge in the Central Valley where soils tend...
