L.A. Times: Think corn is the king of U.S. cash crops? Think again. An analyst is claiming that another C-crop, one also written about by Michael Pollan, is the biggest. Hint: California grows a third of it.[Thanks Rachel!]
San Francisco Chronicle: The E. coli outbreaks have farmers scared of encouraging anything that will attract animal life, although hedgerows and borders are good for restoring wildlife habitat and cutting water pollution. Heartbreakingly, even those that don’t surround crops with a sterile barrier must put out poison for rodents, which predator birds then end up consuming. Why don’t we just grow our food in a lab and get it over with?
The Wall Street Journal: The only reason irradiation isn’t being used to destroy E. coli and save lives is the interference of “special interests” like those pesky organic food advocates. We aren’t subscribers to the WSJ, so we don’t know if this article gets more annoying than its summary…
Wisconsin AgNet: Good news everybody! The USDA has patented a new chlorate-based compound that when added to cattle feed two days before slaughter dramatically knocks out most salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in the animal’s digestive tract. What are chlorates? We’re glad you asked. The salts of chloric acid, they are powerful oxidizers and according to the all-knowing Wikipedia, should be kept away from organics or easily reducible materials. So we guess they won’t be handing them out to people with their fast-food meals.
pioneer Press (via AP): Taco John’s, the other Mexican chain that just went through an E. coli outbreak, wants customers to come back. Among other goodwill gestures, it has offered to pay for victims’ medical bills.
Wine Enthusiast: Olivier Humbrecht of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is the magazine’s Winemaker of the Year. He has followed biodynamic principles since 1998 “because they work.” This Bloomberg article about some biodynamic Oregon vintners will tell you more about the techniques.
Business Week: Former Swift & Co. employees are suing the meatpacking plant for allegedly depressing wages by hiring illegal immigrants.
Des Moines Register: Bush has authorized the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to be awarded to Iowa native Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution.
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