Valley Headlines

Why cows are happy … or not

Ag Net West. Navigating the future of hemp in livestock feed.
Synopsis: The 2018 Farm Bill established a framework for using hemp as feed, but farmers are hesitant. Ingesting products with exposure to CBD leads to liver toxicity and reduced testicular size. They found the same thing in feed made for dogs and cats. The issue of THC retention in dairy products is low but remains as a concern.
MAD Note: But the cows sure seemed more mellow.

Farms.com. US dairy market thrives amid rising prices.
Synopsis: The USDA says American dairies are adding cows as people eat more yogurt, butter and cheese and farmers earn more money. Milk margins are at record level.

Western Farm Press. HPAI is spreading in CA dairy herds.
Synopsis: So far, 41 herds have been found with cows infected with bird flu. “New cases are popping up almost daily,” with four more reported to the CDFA this week. Western United Dairies told Farm Press, “We have quite a few dairies affected right now. When 20, 30 or 40 cows go down at one time, that’s pretty stressful on the farmer.” Farms have begun limiting any visitors, even stacking hay bales in driveways, while issuing protective gear to workers and power-washing equipment.

Farms.com. Milking might spread bird flu between cows.
Synopsis: A paper in the journal Nature this week says milking equipment is a “likely route” for transmission, but more evaluation is needed. Researchers found the H5N1 virus in the mucus of calves who showed no symptoms; but in cows, the first symptoms are often severe mammary gland infections, including fever, mastitis and a loss in yield.

It's not so funny, now

Modesto Bee. School threats resulted in 7 juveniles detained.
Synopsis: At least 7 Stanislaus County juveniles took part in the viral trend of posting threats to shoot up or bomb their schools. The DA’s office noted that law enforcement can track down “virtually anybody who makes a threat against a school.” And, “There’s no such thing as anonymity online.”
MAD Note: I’d like to report the threat of a spanking … maybe 7.

Keep your windows closed

Modesto Bee. Aerial spraying for mosquitoes set again in Modesto, Turlock, other towns.
Synopsis: Ken Carlson reports the East Side Mosquito Abatement District is hard at work in north Modesto (including Vintage Faire mall) and from Empire to Riverbank, targeting 9,400 “mosquito-infested acres.” Turlock Mosquito Abatement District will be busy in Denair, Newman and Turlock on Saturday. “At some point in October, (populations) will crash,” said David Heft, TMAD GM. The poison used is Dibrom in a concentration of 1 ounce per acre. After 33 West Nile cases in 2023, they’re hoping to reduce numbers. Keep your windows closed.

Politics, politics and more politics

Merced Sun-Star. Assembly 27 incumbent has $1.5 million and a GOP challenger; the Bee’s pick.
Synopsis: Opinion writers Juan Esparza Loera and Tad Weber provide a thorough look at the issues and responses from Esmeralda Soria and Joanna Garcia Rose. It’s clear they like both candidates. Bottom line: “Soria has served her district well in her first term and deserves a second term.”

Merced County Times. Mayor Serratto says his work to deliver results takes dedication.
Synopsis: Jonathan Whitaker writes a column applauding Mayor Matthew and his achievements, from incorporating UC Merced to adding 20 city firefighters. While not an endorsement, it is an enthusiastic account of the mayor’s term.

Merced County Times. Boyle intends to build upon progress made to improve city.
Synopsis: Reporter Andrew Hardy writes about Merced Councilwoman Sarah Boyle, who believes she is the most qualified to “address issues that will affect Merced for decades.” She has two challengers in Felipe Rojas and Alex Carrillo. Story ends with a list of endorsements, from Adam Gray to Vern Warnke.

Merced County Times. Cale seeks council reelection in two-person race.
Synopsis: John Cale felt, always recognizable in his derby, wants another term on Atwater’s council.

Merced County Times. Gomez says he will work cooperatively on Atwater council.
Synopsis: Michael Gomez, 29, is challenging Cale. He has an MBA from Stan State and sells real estate.

Merced County Times. Retired chief probation officer seeks Atwater city council seat.
Synopsis: Kalisa Rochester was probation chief for 3 years but retired in November and now teaches at Merced College. She helped start Operation Christmas Star. She is running against Adrian Lopez-Juarez.

Merced County Times. Adrian Lopez-Juarez running for Atwater City Council, District 2.
Synopsis: Adrian Lopez-Juarez is a 31-year-old farmworker raised in District 2. If elected he promises to serve only one term.

Patterson Irrigator. Dominic Farinha, District C.
Synopsis: Jessica Wilkinson provides another in a series of candidate profiles and Q&As. Farinha is running to retain his District C seat against Kendra Mora. He is seeking a fifth term.

Two candidates for Patterson chief

Patterson Irrigator. Police chief candidates talk to community.
Synopsis: Jessica Wilkinson writes about the two candidates for head of police services, which are provided by the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office. Residents met Lt. Casey Hill and Lt. Brock Condit. There is a change in chiefs every 4 years, about the length of time Joshua Clayton has served. He called it “a healthy process.” City leaders will recommend a new chief.

Gallo brings Mezcal to market

Modesto Bee. Gallo’s latest liquor product is a ‘journey through Mexico’ and is growing in popularity.
Synopsis: E.&J. Gallo is importing Mescal Derrumbes, a Mezcal liquor called the “ancestor of tequila.” It’s made from agave, buried in a pit and burned. The deal with Gallo will help “all the mezcaleros families” says Derrumbes founder Esteban Morales. Expect to pay $40 to $100 per bottle.

Careful with those antibiotics

Ag Daily. Data puts dollar amounts on damaging potential of antimicrobial resistance.
Synopsis: The UN looked at data from 200 countries, noting that feeding cattle antibiotics is jeopardizing the food security of 2 billion people and will likely result in increased healthcare costs of $159 billion annually by 2050. Worse, overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of “superbugs” that are resistant to our current drug regimens. Putting $1 into research today will result in $28 in savings. American farmers say they have cut antibiotic use except to treat illness. Researchers want separate meds for animals.

AI definition: Ag indifference

American Prospect. Water not a problem with AI; data centers are nothing compared to farms.
Synopsis: American Prospect’s managing editor Ryan Cooper defends the use of water to cool servers used in answering the billions of requests made of Artificial Intelligence each day. Cooper writes: “It is true that data centers use some water, but there is a great deal of missing context.” While failing to say how much water is used in each request, he then writes: “The real water wasters: Farmers, especially livestock feed.” He says diverting “just 10 percent of Nebraska irrigation water” would be enough for every single American to use GPT-4 about 24 times a day.
MAD Take: I’m not sure who Ryan Cooper is, but I’m absolutely certain that he should spend more time Googling his facts and a little less time offering idiotic analogies. First, it is estimated that each AI request requires 1.5 liters of water for cooling servers. Second, he never explains what diverting 10% of Nebraska’s irrigation water would cost. With 10% less water, there will be 10% less harvest. In Nebraska, that’s about 170 million bushels of corn, 3.7 million bushels of wheat and 26 million bushels of soybeans. Add it up, and it’s $970 million to the families of Nebraska. What do you get for that water now used to cool computers? Cute cat graphics, deep-fake political ads and more musings from Cooper. Whatever AI provides, you can’t eat it. Ryan wrote a book about the “Dumbest Questions in Politics.” His sequel should be “The Dumbest Answers in Agriculture.”

History of Pride in Modesto

Modesto Bee. A look into Stanislaus County’s rich LGBTQ history.
Synopsis: MoPride – aka, Central Valley Pride Center – is celebrating its 10^th anniversary as a non-profit. There will be a celebration in Graceada Park on Saturday. Much of the research in this story was done by Keith Highiet and David Seymour; they traced the community from poet James Broughton through Mel Nomann, John Crabb, Christina and the Owl Club. Modesto’s first gay bar was the Mustang Club, run by Florence “Shirley” Owens, followed by the Brave Bull, who once hosted Harvey Milk and Divine.

Sounds like a great party

Merced County Times. A time of happiness, prosperity, well-being.
Synopsis: Jonathan Whitaker writes about the annual Punjabi celebration of Teeyan da Mela at Lake Yosemite last Saturday. The holiday marks the onset of monsoon season when women return to their familial homes to receive gifts from parents. Now it’s more of a day to dress up, sing, dance, laugh and eat well. It is also a “symbol of women empowerment” in the Punjabi community.