Bacon v. Fries

Bacon wins over fries

Bacon wins over fries
Associated Press

LOVELAND, Colo. - There was a tasty race for Colorado senate when voters got to choose between Bacon and Fries.

In the end, Bacon won.

Democrat incumbent Bob Bacon defeated Republican challenger Matt Fries on Tuesday 63 percent to 37 percent to represent the district that encompasses most of Larimer County in northern Colorado.

"I am so pleased that the voters appreciate the work that I have done," Bacon said.

Bacon originally was elected to the seat in 2004 after serving three terms in the state House of Representatives. Fries is a long time education advocate.

Plenty pork left despite piglet theft

Despite the theft of hundreds of piglets from major pig farms in Trinidad, the owners have bounced back and are in a position to supply enough hams and pork products for Christmas.

Three months ago a ring of pig thieves entered several farms and stole the piglets which were being culled for the Christmas season.

Police in the affected areas went into action, and although they did not arrest anyone they were able to suppress the attacks, the owners said

Ian Leong Poi, President of the Pork and Pork Producers Association said recently: "Pig farmers were hit with severe losses and apart from the vigilance of the police the large farms were forced to spend thousands of dollars fencing their properties and setting bright lights throughout the farms."

He added: "We have recovered from the losses but now we are faced with labour shortages. CEPEP is now controlling the labour market and workers are not prepared to work for less than $200 a day." CEPEP is the State-run Community Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme, responsible mainly for maintaining verges.

Leong Poi said several farmers went out of the pig business last year because of the steep increase in the price of pig feed. "When the price went from $80 for a 100 -pound bag to $140, many farmers found it uneconomical to rear pigs for sale."

He said pig production in Trinidad had increased slightly.

"We are now producing about four million pounds of pork a year, that represents an increase of five per cent." Leong Poi said farmers in Trinidad were enjoying the benefit of exporting meat to Guyana and Suriname. He said the sale of hams had already shown an increase over last year's sales.

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Feral pig aerial shooting

Aerial shooting of feral pigs in the Bogan, Culgoa, Barwon, Cuttaburra and Warrego Rivers is planned for last week of November.

The Brewarrina, Bourke and Wanaaring Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPB), the Department of Primary Industries, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Australian Government and the Western Catchment Management Authority are working together to undertake the aerial shoot as part of a $150,000 coordinated feral pig control program.

This is the second phase of the successful program conducted during the 2007-2008 financial year, which involved 200 landholders responsible for 98 individual properties.

Aerial shooting resulted in 584 pigs being shot, 45 traps were built and distributed and 150 tins of poison were distributed to landholders.

The aerial shoot will be held from November 22 to 31 and will start at the Culgoa National Park before heading south along the Darling River and finishing with the Cuttaburra and Warrego River Systems.

Brewarrina RLPB Ranger, Colin Betts, said the shoot will revisit old ground as well as some new areas.

“The Cuttaburra and Warrego River systems are being included this time because the rains earlier in the year resulted in flooding throughout that country has provided ideal breeding conditions for feral pigs,” Mr Betts said.

“We will also revisit some areas that had significant pig populations such as along the Culgoa and some individual hotspots along the Bogan and Barwon Rivers.”

Chair of the Western Catchment Management Authority, Rory Treweeke, said feral pig control improved land condition and water quality.

“Feral pigs can cause significant damage and foul waterways, particularly in fragile areas such as wetlands,” Mr Treweeke said.

“Aerial shooting is an effective method of controlling isolated pockets of pigs, which will prevent reinfestation if landholders are conscientious about follow-up control with baits and/or traps.”

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Ukraine: ban on russian pork

The outbreak of swine fever in Russia last week, that caused 600 pigs to be destroyed, has led to the government of Ukraine imposing a ban on Russian pork from the region. 

The State Committee on Veterinary Medicine spokesman, said “ It is prohibited to bring animals susceptible to African swine fever, as well as the products and raw materials from them into Ukraine territory”.

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Spicy pork sausage found in 'soiled diapers'

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Customs inspectors scored the makings of a barbecue when a 21-year-old South Texas woman declared several soiled baby diapers at a U.S.-Mexico border crossing.

Suspicious of the chunky diapers, inspectors with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the international bridge in Hidalgo found several links of spicy pork sausage, or chorizo, inside. The diapers had been folded to look soiled, according to a customs agency statement.

The Mission resident, who was not identified after the Friday night incident, was fined $300 and her chorizo was seized.

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