But he said the state also needs to move quickly to increase supplies of both power and water. Strawberry growers hear bromide alternatives Faced with reduced yields because of the impending loss of a soil fumigant, California strawberry growers are scratching for alternatives. Farmers use the fumigant methyl bromide to kill soil pests before they plant their crops, but the chemical is being phased out. Researchers who demonstrated alternate materials to a strawberry-growers meeting told farmers the new products will be more expensive and less effective, but are the best available so far. Klamath crops need rain Crops planted to reduce soil erosion in the Klamath Basin need rain soon.
Farmers say the cover crops survived a predicted heat wave last week.
But the plants will soon die for lack of water. Farms along the California-Oregon border face severe erosion because a federal project cut off irrigation last month, reserving all available water for protected fish. Many farmers have planted barley to try to hold the soil in place. Medfly campaign is working Sterile fruit flies continue to hold off the threat of a Medfly infestation in Southern California. It's part of a prevention program to keep the pest out of the state.