ED MURRIETA: Chatting with food secretary Karen Ross over lunch
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/11/08/ed-murrieta-lunch-with-karen-ross-esquir.html?page=all
Anne Gust Brown, Governor’s Most Senior Advisor
Anne Gust Brown, petite and polished, speaks with the directness of someone who has little patience for theoretical colloquiums. She is the first person to whom advisers turn if they need to anticipate the long list of questions the governor is likely to pepper them with. After more than 20 years as his partner —
Central Valley farmworkers still vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, study finds
California leads the nation in regulators targeting outdoor employers for heat-illness prevention. Though well down in this Sacramento Bee story, there has been one heat death since 2008, though various unions continue to seek more stringent actions. It should be noted that the county medical examiner makes the determination, NOT the state. California's heat regs
John Deere tractors are getting smarter all the time
http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/29/leadership/deere-sam-allen.pr.fortune/index.html
How Junk Food Can End Obesity
"Let Them Eat Kale" -- This is the Atlantic magazine July cover story, an excellent chronicle of the accelerating consumer trend to, not only eat healthy, but to fully understand the story of the food we eat. The author is an avowed fan of foodies Michael Pollan (UC Berkeley journalism prof and author of numerous
Stanislaus sees huge increase in almond orchards as demand soars
Almond orchards continue to grow, boosting California agricultural economy. http://www.modbee.com/2013/07/27/2830730/stanislaus-county-sees-huge-increase.html
Misgivings About How a Weed Killer Affects the Soil
The New York Times starkly covers the farmer v. farmer issues in GMO, or "traited," crops. In this case, corn in the Midwest. Roundup (glyphosate)-resistant seeds, bioengineered by Monsanto, may also affect the soil, according to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/business/misgivings-about-how-a-weed-killer-affects-the-soil.html
Water Cuality Regulations Costly To Growers
The first wave of Water Board regs designed to limit the impact of nitrates on groundwater is impact growers, causing confusion, fear and expense. From the Western Plant Health Assn. annual meeting: http://westernfarmpress.com/print/government/water-quality-regulations-costly-growers?page=4
Possible Eco-Terrorists Attack Genetically Modified Papayas On The Big Island
Hawaiian legislators introduced a bill that would require all genetically modified trees to be cut down. An apparent eco-terrorist act, damaging $30,000 in papaya trees, followed. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/ecoterrorism-papayas-hawaii_n_4013292.html
Why the agriculture industry hates Chipotle
Chipotle launches a media campaign to educate consumers to buy only organic, sustainably grown, locally sourced, hormone-, antibiotic- and GMO-free products. It does so by skewering conventional ag. http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/chipotle-scarecrow-ad-integrity-agriculture-97763.html