Robert Pore's Ag Blog

Go ahead and indulge at the salad bar. "Rabbit food" is nutritious for people, too.

A new UCLA/Louisiana State University study of dietary data on more than 17,500 men and women finds consumption of salad and raw vegetables correlates with higher concentrations of folic acid, vitamins C and E, lycopene and alpha and beta carotene in the bloodstream.

Published in the September edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study also suggests that each serving of salad consumed correlates with a 165 percent higher likelihood of meeting recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin C in women and 119 percent greater likelihood in men.

The study is the first to examine the relationship between normal salad consumption and nutrient levels in the bloodstream, and also the first to examine the dietary adequacy of salad consumption using the latest nutritional guidelines of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

The findings blunt concerns about the human body's ability to absorb nutrients from raw vegetables, as well as concern that the structure and characteristics of some plants undercut nutritional value.

"The consistently higher levels of certain nutrients in the bloodstream of salad-eaters suggest these important components of a healthy diet are being well-absorbed from salad," said Lenore Arab, visiting professor of epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health and co-author of the study with L. Joseph Su, assistant professor at the LSU School of Public Health.

"The findings endorse consumption of salad and raw vegetables as an effective strategy for increasing intake of important nutrients. Unfortunately, we also found daily salad consumption is not the norm in any group, and is even less prevalent among African Americans," Arab said.

"We have so many food choices in this county. Increasing vegetable consumption is a wise strategy for composing a nutrient rich diet," she added. "In fact, our findings suggest that eating just one serving of salad or raw vegetables per day significantly boosts the likelihood of meeting the recommended daily intake of certain nutrients."

The study examined the relationship between reported salad consumption and blood serum nutrient levels, as well as dietary adequacy in pre- and post-menopausal women and men of comparable ages. The research team analyzed dietary data from 9,406 women and 8,282 men ages 18 to 45 and 55-plus contained in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III conducted in 1988-94.

Salad consumption was based on reported intake of salad, raw vegetables and salad dressing. Laboratory measurements determined levels of nutrients in blood serum. Associations between salad consumption and serum nutrient levels were determined using statistical regression models. Measurements were adjusted to account for age, exercise, anti-cholesterol medication, smoking and other variables.

LINCOLN — Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a series of forums (including on set for Grand Island) to share information on the proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and provide opportunities for public comment.

The first of three forums will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 6, beginning at 1 p.m. MT, at the Gering Civic Center, located at 1050 M St. in Gering.

"These forums will provide an important opportunity for farmers, ranchers and all Nebraskans to weigh-in on the issues related to Nebraska's potential participation in the Platte River agreement," said Gov. Dave Heineman. "Many years of hard work have gone into the production of this compromise, but with the costs and ramifications becoming clearer, we want to hear from Nebraskans about their hopes and concerns regarding the program."

Each forum will begin with a presentation on the proposed program and its projected costs by a DNR representative and comments from federal representatives. Several members of the governance committee involved in the development of the Platte River proposal and other interested parties have been invited to make brief statements. For the Gering meeting, the speakers will include a representative of program supporters from the Panhandle; Don Adams with Nebraskans First; Don Kraus, General Manager of the Central Nebraska Public Power District; Duane Hovorka with the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, and Ron Cacek, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District.

The opportunity for public comments and questions will follow. DNR Acting Director Ann Bleed will moderate each of the forums.

Bleed said, "This is a policy intended to meet the needs of Nebraska's producers, its rural communities and the environment, but it cannot succeed without input from the public."

Two additional forums have been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. CT, at the Fonner Park 4-H Building Café in Grand Island, 700 E. Stolley Park Rd., and Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. CT, at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln, 1040 P St.

LINCOLN - Farmers and ranchers met at the Nebraska State Fair yesterday to sound-off on the writing of the new farm bill as part of the National Farmers Union's nationwide Farm Bill Listening Sessions.

Nebraska Farmers Union led the session, in which producers emphasized the need to protect the farm safety net and for Congress to craft policy which allows producers to get a fair price from the marketplace.

"Once again, we were told there is a dire need for emergency disaster assistance now," Buis said. "Participants also support adopting permanent disaster assistance that would assist producers during times of natural disasters without having to rely on ad hoc assistance or the political climate in Washington, D.C."

The Nebraska farmers and ranchers also said they would like to see government promote fair and open markets for commodities, and policies that encourage competition. They also discussed the need to keep Farm Service Administration (FSA) offices open, so that they can assist producers during these difficult times of rising input costs and low commodity prices.

Attendees at the listening session, held in Lincoln, expressed a strong preference for extending the 2002 Farm Bill for a year or two until the economic, political and international trade climate is conducive to improving on an already good piece of legislation. They emphasized the importance of farm bill programs that encourage conservation, and protect dairy farmers if milk prices fall too low.

"There was strong support for a farmer-owned strategic grain reserve to protect the interests of livestock producers, ethanol plants, and consumers while giving farmers a marketing tool to increase disastrously low grain prices," Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen said.

There was overwhelming support for increasing incentives to bring renewable energy and rural development together, and enable rural communities to own renewable energy production so that the profits can improve the quality of life there.

NFU is holding the listening sessions because it believes that the answers to questions of farm policy lie with those who live and work in rural America. NFU documented the comments heard in Illinois, and will bring them to Congress in September along with the data gathered at other listening sessions.