SENATORS URGE INCLUSION OF AGJOBS IN FARM BILL

Senators Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, are urging the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee to include the AgJOBS bill as part of the 2007 Farm Bill.

In a July 10 letter addressed to Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., they said the legislation needed to be added to the larger measure because the Senate had failed to invoke cloture on the comprehensive immigration bill, and farmers need a legal, stable workforce.

“We understand that you will soon mark up the 2007 Farm Bill and we intend to work with you to include AgJOBS as part of this bill,” the letter concluded. AgJOBS would help provide the agricultural industry with a reliable workforce and would implement needed reforms to the H-2A temporary farmworker visa program.

On the House side of farm bill developments, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., told Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., that he cannot support a farm bill that does not contain sufficient funding for specialty crops.

Cardoza also met July 12 with members of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, telling the group that he is working to secure additional mandatory funding for specialty crops.

Cardoza, who chairs the Agriculture Horticulture and Organic Subcommittee, is seen as one House member who “must be satisfied on specialty crop issues,” Congressional Quarterly reported.
Cardoza, along with Florida Republican Adam Putnam and others, introduced the EAT Healthy America Act in March, which would increase USDA conservation, research, rural development, and marketing programs to the benefit of specialty crop growers.

 

DIET RICH IN VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS MAY HELP PREVENT TEENAGE ACNE

Two independent medical studies conducted this year strongly suggest that diet plays a role in the development of teenage acne, and that a low-glycemic diet may rapidly reduce acne lesions. A low-glycemic diet is one that trades carbohydrates such as white breads and white pastas and rice with those made of whole wheat, and includes foods such as fruits and vegetables. These foods break down more slowly than other carbohydrates, releasing glucose into the bloodstream more gradually, thus preventing insulin levels from rising quickly.

The first study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and examined the dietary habits of 43 young males. The second study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, was an extension of the first study and evaluated specific hormones associated with acne and glycemic control.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/health/story.asp?id=331978

 

 

 

TKM FARMS’ TOM BASORE PASSES AWAY

The patriarch of TKM-Bengard Farms, Tom Basore, passed away early July 8 after a brave battle with cancer. He was the father of Toby, Kevin, Michael, Brian and Stephen Basore, all of whom are involved in running the family lettuce operation based in Belle Glade, Fla.

Mr. Basore’s funeral took place July 13 in Stockbridge, Mich., but a memorial service has also been planned for July 19 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Belle Glade.

The family has established an athletic scholarship in Mr. Basore’s name through the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation. Those who wish to make donations may make checks payable to TKM Farms, Inc. Athletic Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 39, Belle Glade, FL 33430.

FFVA extends its sincere sympathies to the Basore family.

 

AG EXPO, INDIAN RIVER CITRUS SEMINAR UNVEIL WEB SITE

Florida Grower magazine announced July 3 the launch of www.flgevents.com, a new one-stop information gateway to two of Florida’s leading agriculture events – the Florida Ag Expo and Indian River Citrus Seminar.

The site features information and advance online registration for the Ag Expo, Dec. 6 and 7 in Balm, and the Indian River Citrus Seminar, Jan. 23 and 24 in Fort Pierce.