UC ANR in the post-election news

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UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is in the news today. For example, UPI ran a story about a UC Davis study that determined daily consumption of vegetable juice is an effective way for people to increase their vegetable intake. AgAlert released an article about a UC Riverside scientist's conclusion that fertilizer savings make growing a cowpea cover crop of value even to non-organic farmers.

These are important developments, but somehow it doesn't seem right to go into the details on the day following what has been described as a "momentous" and "historic" election.

For several months, this blog has documented the many UC Cooperative Extension and other ANR comments in the media on Proposition 2, however today, with so many races to cover, the media have so far left UC experts silent on the lopsided victory. (With 95 percent of precincts reporting, the proposition is winning by a 26 percent margin, according to the LA Times.)

Two opponents of the measure have released statements about the proposition's passage. The American Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians should be included in implementing the new animal welfare standards. Californians For SAFE Food commented mainly on the mechanics of the election in its statement and concluded:

"The special interest group that pushed Prop 2 will now go back to Washington, and leave it to California's farmers, veterinarians, regulators and lawyers to interpret what this poorly-conceived and vaguely-worded initiative actually means for the real people it affects."

The campaign manager for Yes on Prop 2 noted in a statement that proponents have built an "army of the kind" in California.

"Let’s not stop now. Let’s build on this victory," she wrote.

Contented chicken.