Live-turkey sales to Europe cut off

California farms have seen business interrupted by a European ban on U.S. poultry. The European Union halted all U.S. poultry imports, after a poultry disease was found in noncommercial Southern California birds. At least two farms, one in Sonoma County and one in Tulare County, are prevented from selling newly hatched turkeys to Europe. The California Poultry Federation says the ban also prevents squab exports.

Flower growers wait for bulbs

The 10-day West Coast port shutdown disrupted flower production for next Valentine's Day, and now farmers are starting to worry about Easter, too. Even with ports reopened, California growers are still trying to obtain flower bulbs imported from Europe, which were stranded by the shutdown. The bulbs needed to be planted, to assure production of irises, tulips and lilies for Valentine's Day. Growers are also concerned about the bulbs' condition once they arrive.

Air-quality rules will face new challenge

The California Farm Bureau says it will renew its challenge to new air-quality regulations, once the federal government publishes the new rules. An appeals court decided last week that an initial challenge was premature. The government plans to establish a new air-quality permit system for California farmers and ranchers. The Farm Bureau says the system is flawed because it is based on incomplete scientific information.

VW-sized pumpkin wins weigh-off

Four contenders weighed more than a thousand pounds, and an Oregon-grown Atlantic Giant won the annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay yesterday (Monday). The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,173 pounds, setting a record in the annual contest. The winning grower pocketed $5 per pound … or $5,865.

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