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2B Daily News – Saturday, November 19, 2011 Agriculture & farm FRESNO — U.S. tree nut growers are receiving good news just in time for the holidays. Tree nut sales to remain strong A report issued Thursday by Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group projects nut prices will remain competitive in the coming years. The information arrives as operations are wrapping up another banner harvest for most tree nut varieties. The report credits China's ongoing demand for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts as the driving force behind increasing prices and yields in the United States. As China's once largely agrarian country transforms its economy from export-driven to consumer- driven, the country's urban middle class finds itself with more purchasing power to afford premium products like those of U.S. tree nuts. Additionally, an expanding world- wide health and wellness movement has found fertile ground in China, where such nuts play a key role in bal- anced nutrition. "The Chinese government is promoting an economy that is favorable for many U.S. exports, especially tree nuts," said the report's author, Karen Halliburton Barber, assistant vice president and senior agricultural analyst with the Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group in Fresno. "As the Chinese middle class grows, so will the demand for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts. This is good news for growers here in the U.S." The increased demand comes with risks. Those risks include the threat of a strengthening U.S. dollar that could raise the costs of the export items, some of which would be passed on to Chinese consumers who may shy away from increased prices. Barber notes that while this is a concern, premium imported tree nuts are already being purchased by higher income segments of the population who are more likely to be able to absorb the higher prices. Additionally, the report cautions about the threat of China turning to suppliers from countries such as Turkey, India, Ukraine or South Africa to fill its tree nut needs, espe- cially if the U.S. cannot keep pace with short-term demand. Furthermore, China is strengthening its own production of walnuts and, to a lesser extent, almonds; though increasing numbers of Chinese consumers prefer U.S. walnuts to Chi- nese-grown, due to taste differences resulting from harvest- ing and storage practices. Overall, the report signals a good outlook for growers despite these risks; however, U.S. processors face a different set of circumstances. The report provides individual outlook profiles for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts, includ- ing each nut's challenges and opportunities. The study also touches on other global export markets and their effect on the short-, medium- and long-term demand for U.S. tree nuts. The first day of brand- ing at Antelope Creek Cattle Company was cloudy and cool, but the ropers kept the ground crew busy as they brand- ed more than 200 calves that day. The cow herd is basi- cally Angus cross-bred, since like most all Tehama County cattle the cows used to be Hereford, but when Angus bulls are used the calves are black usually with a white face. The more generations of Angus being used to sire the calves, the blacker the cow herd becomes. Branding day starts before sun-up because you need to have your horse saddled and at the corrals by 7 a. m. as the group rides out to gather a pasture. The cows are separated from the calves. And calves are put in a pen. I missed the "winteriz- ing" of the cows with their pre-breeding shots since I waited until the temperature was above 50 degrees this year. Jim Edwards and Greg Weber set up the branding iron heater with propane tank, placing the three pilot wheel branding irons in the flames to heat. With so many calves to be branded, the irons were rotated so Jim would always have a hot iron and he could quickly apply the brand, replace the branding iron and grab another iron for the next calf. They set out the bucket of water for the "calf fries," sharpened the knives with whetstone, and assembled the vaccines and syringes. The ropers are divided into teams or groups of four or five with about 25 calves per sec- tion, and the work began. Roping the first section were: Jody Brown, Alex Meroshnekoff, Chuck Morris, Travis Root, Willie Staggs. Second group were Danny Brown, home from college for the weekend; Chris Cunning- ham, 12-year-old Body Davies, Cole Robinson. Third pen had Don Brown, Casey Merosh- nekoff, Harry McClure and Logan Robinson rop- ing. Fourth pen was roped ranch Branding at Antelope Creek the risk for the average working teenager — say the proposals will not impact current exemp- tions for children of farm- ers working on family operations. Exemptions for such children are "leg- islative and nothing in (these new regulations) would disturb that partic- ular legislative provi- sion," said Michael Han- cock, DOL assistant administrator for policy. For other farm-work- ing youths, however, the proposed rules – which have not been updated since the 1970 Fair Labor Standards Act – would add new restrictions and flat-out bans. Among them: • No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to work with animals when pain is being inflicted, such as branding, castrat- ing, vaccinating, etc. • No one under the age Courtesy photo Nine-year-old Cole Bunting was holding down a calf at the Antelope Creek Cattle Co. branding. As you can see the safety of Cole was the cowboys' first concern. by Dave Bennetts, Wyatt Brown, J D Bringelson, and Cliff Cunningham. Fifth section was Tracey and Walt Brown, 9-year- old Cole Bunting, Blaine Davies and Bodie Rob- bins. Jim Edwards branded Jean Barton every calf with the pilot wheel brand on the left rib. Castrating was Greg Weber and collecting the calf fries were under 16 years of age, Molly Murphy, Bridget Brown, Brook Juarez, and Kaylee Ogier. Ear- marking was Walt Brown. Nanc y Weber, Tracey Brown, Jaycee Bennetts, Amanda Brown Slatter and others did the vaccinating to keep the calves healthy with 8 way to prevent blackleg, a dewormer, to prevent res- piratory diseases and a shot with vitamins and minerals. If they weren't roping they were working with the ground crew of Chase Root, Zane Kittle, Lester Gonzales, Chris Bartlett, Tyler Reed, Deacon Mur- phy. Chef Ron and Lauana Weber had prepared 25 pounds barbecued tri tip and 5 racks barbecued pork ribs to go with the beans and chili beans, coleslaw, green salad and potato salad, rolls, chips and bean dip. The lunch was concluded with apple pie, pumpkin pie, cookies and pumpkin crunch. The branding contin- ued after lunch. *** Parents of young peo- ple are urged to comment on this bill before Dec. 1. Instructions for submit- ting comments on new Child Labor Regulations 29 CFR Parts 570 and 579 / Child Labor Regu- lations, Orders and State- ments of Interpretation; Child Labor Violations; Civil Money Penalties; Proposed Rule FEDER- AL REGISTER / VOL. 76 , NO. 171 / FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 / PROPOSED RULES Read the entire docu- ment by Googling federal register Vol. 76, No. 171 ag youth. "Don't let the spin fool you." You may submit com- ments, identified by RIN 1235-AA06, by either one of the following methods: • Electronic com- ments: through the Feder- al eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.g ov. Follow the instruc- tions for submitting com- ments. • Mail: Wage and Hour Gift Shop Sale 20% OFF ALWAYS selected gift items LIC #808524 Call For Free Information Toll-Free (800) 464-1403 or (530) 365-1403 6183 MEISTER WAY ANDERSON, CA 96007 (530) 365-1403 • (800) 464-1403 Red Bluff Garden Center 527-0886 766 Antelope Blvd. (Next to the Fairground) COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Division, U.S. Depart- ment of Labor, Room S- 3502, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washing- ton, DC 20210. Long in the works, the Department Of Labor is set to release proposed updates to child labor regulations aimed at safe- ty concerns in agricul- ture-related jobs. DOL officials — who claim the fatality rate for teenagers working in agriculture is four times greater than of 16 would be allowed to work on a ladder or a scaffold over 6 feet high (current restriction is 20 feet). • No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to work in a pen with an uncastrated male animal over 6 months old. • Currently, hired workers under the age of 16 are not allowed to operate combines, corn pickers, etc. The proposal would prohibit those under 16 from using all power-driven machines to do ag work, including tractors, pressure hoses, battery operated tools, air tools. That includes ATVs. • No one under 18 would be allowed to work in stockyards, grain ele- vators, feedlots, livestock exchanges and auctions. This could mean junior livestock auctions at county fair. • Children under 16 years of age could not work with a grandparent, relative or friend at a branding, or on a farm, since it is not the parent. Even grandparents would not qualify to offer work, unless they have become "a person stand- ing in the place of" the parent. To do any work legally, the youth would need to live with the grandparent for at least a month. But if the child commutes to the farm (walks next door), it would be against the rules to let him or her to work on the grandparent's farm. "No one, particularly parents, want to put kids at risk. Hardworking farmers and ranchers have enough to worry about without federal bureaucrats imposing senseless rules from Washington," said Rep. Denny Rehberg, chair- man of the Appropria- tions Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Department of Labor, who sent a bipartisan let- ter with 77 other mem- bers of Congress request- ing such an extension. The comment period will now end Dec. 11. Jean Barton can be reached at jbarton@theskybeam.co m. The North State's premier supplier of stoves STOVE JUNCTION The Over 25 years of experience NOW OPEN! Sales • Service • Installation *Wood Stoves * Pellet Stoves * Gas Stoves Tues-Sat 9am-5pm Closed Sunday & Monday 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff www.thestovejunction.com 530-528-2221 Fax 530-528-2229