Crops

Air pollution is contributing heavily to the decimation of forests in the nation's coastal mountain ranges and causing billions of dollars in damage to Midwestern crops, researchers said Thursday in a report urging sharp cutbacks in fossil fuel use.

Farmers in California's Central Valley got too much of a good thing this spring, as heavy rains and cool weather damaged fruit trees and caused costly delays for cotton planting. The pea-sized hail dumped by storms in April and early May scarred peaches and nectarines. Cherries soaked up the rain, swelled up and split. Pima cotton, a long-fibered, premium variety that can fetch high prices was planted nearly a month too late, when it was planted at all.

Canola may become an economic lifesaver for farmers in the South and Midwest as the low-fat cooking oil squeezed from the plant's seeds becomes more popular with health-conscious consumers. Canola oil is lower in saturated fat than other popular cooking oils, including coconut, soybean and corn oils, experts say. Saturated fat has been linked to cholesterol, a substance that can contribute to clogged arteries and heart disease.

Strawberry and avocado crops were damaged by cold weather that moved through Mexico last week, but other Mexican fruit crops sustained only minimal damage, federal agriculture officials said. Preliminary inspections around the country showed that up to 7,000 tons of the strawberry harvest in the west-central state of Michoacan could be lost, the commission said. The cold already has affected 20% to 50% of the avocado crop, the commission added.

North Korea, already suffering severe food shortages, said heavy rain this week caused major damage to its crops. Flood water submerged thousands of acres of farmland as well as 30,000 houses and public buildings, a radio report said. "Harvest is hardly expected from those fields," the radio said. "Even some loss of human lives was reported." It did not elaborate. As much as 16 inches of torrential rain poured down on Kangwon and Hamkyong provinces Tuesday and Wednesday, the report said.

Food makers stung by recalls involving biotech corn products say the government shouldn't approve any other genetically engineered crops unless there is a way to test for them. Last fall, the industry was thrown into disarray when a variety of biotech corn that wasn't approved for human consumption was found in taco shells. "We've learned a lot of lessons, that's the bottom line," said Lisa Katic, director of scientific and nutrition policy for the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

Not all of California's most promising newcomers are people. Lost in a sea of more conventional bounty, 3,000 acres of a seed-bearing plant called canola are growing in the Yolo County area near Sacramento. Three thousand acres isn't much, but keep watching. Brassica napus is one of the most promising new crops in California. It makes one of the healthiest cooking oils around, and it takes just a fraction of the water required by many other major crops grown in the region.

Federal and state officials have scheduled a meeting this week with apprehensive California farmers amid mounting reports that the nation's new immigration law is creating a drought of farm workers and threatening millions of dollars of ripe produce. From Fresno to the San Joaquin and Santa Clara valleys, growers are worried over a decrease in the number of migrant workers--estimated by some at 30%--that they say is the result of the new law.

A tiny fly is responsible for destroying tons of olives in Northern California. The olive fly, which swept through Southern California five years ago, was found in crops in Napa and Sonoma counties this fall. Although the flies have been a longtime problem in Europe, they have appeared relatively recently in California. Traps this year caught 10 times more this year than they did a year ago. Growers tried to control the pests by spraying, but many got to the fruit too late.

"Every cucumber in the state of Florida is gone, from what I understand," Tom Burgin, a produce broker in Plant City, said after a devastating weekend freeze caused some of the worst crop damage in a decade for central Florida vegetable growers. Cold-sensitive crops--cucumbers, watermelons and squash--suffered severe damage. For tomatoes, it was also the worst freeze in 10 years, said Bill Butler, a vegetable broker in Hillsborough who ships to major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles.