Farmers

Quarterfinal action began with a pair of upsets Friday afternoon at the Farmers Classic at UCLA's L.A. Tennis Center. Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania defeated France's fourth-seeded Nicolas Mahut, 6-4, 6-4, to reach his first ATP tour semifinal. He is the first qualifier to reach the semifinals at the Farmers Classic since Carsten Ball in 2009. Ball advanced to the championship before losing to Sam Querrey. Rajeev Ram advanced with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over third-seeded Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.

SACRAMENTO - California dairy farmers and cheese processors are fighting again over milk prices. It's not Grade A, homogenized, pasteurized milk that's at issue in the state Capitol. Rather, agriculture lobbyists are focused on the price of whey, a milk byproduct probably best known to consumers who've read the Mother Goose nursery rhyme about little Miss Muffet eating her "curds and whey. " Once thrown away as waste, whey has become a valuable commodity, left over from processing cheese and then used in hundreds of foods, including baby formula and protein powder.

The Communist Party approved rural reforms aimed at unleashing the economic power of hundreds of millions of farmers as China looks to home markets as a bulwark against the global financial crisis. The party said it aims to double the annual income of farmers, currently about $590 per person, over the next 12 years. State media reports before a four-day meeting said the Central Committee would review an amendment to give 750 million rural dwellers more freedom to lease or transfer their land, but the final statement did not mention the issue.

Among the most intriguing May peaches are three patented by Alan and Lori Asdoorian of Kingsburg, whose century-old Island Farms lies between two branches of the Kings River, southeast of Fresno. Because of the short period from bloom to harvest, May peaches naturally tend to be small, with only moderately sweet, clingstone flesh and a susceptibility to split pits. But early-season varieties can be lucrative for breeders and farmers, who have striven to find improved selections.

Peruvian farmers upset over a free trade deal with the United States blocked rail service to the famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu and paralyzed vast swaths of the Andean country by halting traffic on key highways. The protests stranded thousands of travelers, including about 400 people who were stuck on the train to the ancient Incan citadel, Peru's top tourist attraction. The Pan-American highway, the major road on the Peruvian coast, was blocked north and south of the capital, Lima, travelers and police said.

More than 160 farmers were arrested when they blocked a key highway and clashed with police in a protest to demand that Congress pass a law to ease their debts, Nicaraguan police said. About 2,000 growers blocked a section of the Pan-American Highway late Monday about 20 miles from the capital. Police spokeswoman Vilma Reyes said 167 people were arrested. Two police officers and one farmer were injured before police reopened the highway, she said. The farmers were pushing a proposal they presented to Congress late in 2008 that would allow them to temporarily suspend debt payments.

Can it be that goji, the supposed legendary miracle fruit of ancient Tibet, is being grown in Dinuba? Nothing is surprising when it comes to this tiny orange berry. Virtually unknown in the United States five years ago, it is now seemingly everywhere, in martinis, granolas, nutritional supplements and even Lindsay Lohan's tanning spray.

Amish farmer Elam Swartzentruber believes he has something better than electricity and technology to help him through the worst drought in more than 50 years: faith and brotherhood. Swartzentruber, better known by his Amish neighbors as "Elam E.," is one of about 30,000 Amish residents in Ohio, 15,000 of them involved in farming. The Amish, a Protestant group formed in a split with the Mennonites in 17th-Century Switzerland, believe in simplicity.

Farmers who have watched helplessly as a mysterious disease wiped out millions of domesticated bees needed to pollinate their almonds, apples and other crops may have an easy solution: make their crops more accessible to wild insects that do the job for free. Not only are they cheaper, they fertilize blossoms with much greater efficiency, new research shows. After observing bees in hundreds of fields on multiple continents, scientists calculated that free-living bees were twice as effective as domesticated honeybees at prompting flowers to produce fruit.

Farmers claim they need to hire undocumented workers under the H-2A visa program because they can't find enough American applicants. Indeed, few Americans apply and those who do, don't work out. Why? ALSO: The new reality at the border Photo gallery: Ted Rall cartoons Goldberg: Is disability the new welfare? Follow Ted Rall on Twitter @TedRall  

WASHINGTON - Monsanto Co. and other companies that patent seeds may prohibit farmers from growing a second crop from their genetically modified seeds, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously. The closely watched decision was a clear victory for agribusiness giants and their biotechnological innovations, which have increased crop yields. But it was a setback for the many disgruntled farmers who have complained about the high cost of these miracle seeds. By a 9-0 vote, the justices decided the patent for a specialized seed outlives the first planting.

Fishermen selling their own catch at Southern California farmers markets are vanishing. An attractive alternative is Community Seafood, a "community-supported fishery" that started selling last Sunday at the Santa Monica Main Street farmers market . Founded by two marine scientists, Sarah Rathbone and Kim Selkoe, it seeks to support local fisheries and provide ultra-fresh, sustainably caught fish to subscribers. Rathbone, the owner, is the fiancée of Charlie Graham, who formerly sold crabs and spiny lobsters at the Santa Monica market.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For decades this rural basin has battled over the Klamath River's most precious resource: water that sustains fish, irrigates farms and powers the hydroelectric dams that block one of the largest salmon runs on the West Coast. Now, one of the nation's fiercest water wars is on the verge of erupting again. New water rights have given a group of Oregon Indian tribes an upper hand just as the region plunges into a severe drought . Farmers and wildlife refuges could be soon cut off by the Klamath Tribes, which in March were granted the Upper Klamath Basin's oldest water rights to the lake and tributaries that feed the mighty river flowing from arid southern Oregon to the foggy redwoods of the Northern California coast.

In some ways farmers markets are a natural fit at universities, where many students crave healthful, local and organic produce. However, schools are largely closed during summer, the busiest season for markets, and the managers - if students run the market - move on regularly, when they graduate. Such are the challenges at the recently established UCLA market, which is small and operates just twice each academic quarter but is a hit with students and staff. It's sponsored by Associated Students UCLA , a student-controlled nonprofit, and managed by volunteers from E3 , a student environmental organization.

Used to watch that terrific show "Twin Peaks," and I remember the Kyle MacLachlan character saying we should all treat ourselves to a little something - or someone - every day. In his case, it was a nice piece of pie. In my case, it's a cheeseburger, though I try to restrict myself to maybe one a week, for my doctor noted recently that instead of blood, I now have window putty running through my veins and maybe I should ease off a little on...

Traditionally, working folk dreamed of retiring to California to grow citrus, or more recently wine grapes, but these days the second career crop of choice appears to be artisanal olive oil. Fresh, local oil is all the rage; universities and industry groups help guide aspiring growers, and once their groves start bearing, many sell at farmers markets, where they earn premium prices and enjoy schmoozing with shoppers. Mark Mooring of Buon Gusto Farms followed an unusual version of this path, from starting the Los Angeles Police Department K-9 Platoon to growing olives in Ventura, where he produces richly flavored, award-winning oils.

SACRAMENTO - Except for illegal immigrants, no group has more at stake in the national fight over immigration reform than California farmers. "It doesn't pay to plant a product if you can't harvest it," notes Mark Teixeira of Santa Maria, who says he had to let 22 acres of vegetables rot last year because he couldn't find enough field hands to gather the crop. "That hurts. " As security has tightened along the California-Mexican border, the flow of illegal immigrant labor into the nation's most productive agriculture state has slowed significantly, farm interests say. "It's very difficult to find crews compared to three or four years ago," reports Greg Wegis, a fifth-generation Kern County farmer who grows cherries, almonds, pistachios and tomatoes, among other crops.

Four years ago, Andrew Meeks literally bet the farm on chickens. Now he fears he made a losing bet. His three massive chicken houses are empty, and a "For Sale" sign has sprouted out front. Meeks, a contract chicken farmer, borrowed nearly half a million dollars to refurbish his 25-acre farm, putting up as collateral his home, the farm and virtually everything else he owns. But the company that provided his chickens and paid him to raise the birds canceled his contract.

Round 1 of the 2013 NFL draft is Thursday night, beginning at 5 PDT. Rounds 2 and 3 start at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Rounds 4-7 begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Live television coverage will be on ESPN and NFL Network. No., Team, Player, Pos., School, Comment 1. KANSAS CITY: Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M Eric Fisher could go first, but Joeckel has more big-game experience. If Andy Reid goes defense, it will be Star Lotulelei. 2. JACKSONVILLE: Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan Modern draft has never gone tackle-tackle, but making the sexy pick isn't always a franchise maker.

Oliver Woolley raises pigs north of San Diego and has been selling Mangalitsa pork at his tiny Peads & Barnettsafter stall at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. That includes Mangalitsa pork chops, shoulder, leg roast, ground pork and spare ribs, among other parts. Now he'll be selling jars of lard rendered by Jessica Koslow's Sqirl cafe.  The Mangalitsa pig is a Hungarian breed known for the quality of its fat (the name means "hog with a lot of lard"), and Koslow has been making Mangalitsa lard -- creamy, porky lard -- for her East Hollywood cafe since she received her first half-pig from Woolley.