High-end restaurants shun commercial purveyors for domestic farms (The Arizona Republic) Although it can be costly for restaurants to purchase meats and produce from boutique farms, ranches and diaries, most take that chance to ensure customer safety and satisfaction{b} Where to (and why) buy locally [News Source]

Grass-fed animals are healthier (Rapid City Journal) “To love and appreciate the Rocky Mountains, you only open your eyes, but to love and appreciate the prairie, you must open your soul.” [News Source]

Blood banks nationwide face shortages (MSNBC) American blood banks experienced one of their driest summers in history this year, the extreme of a seasonal drought that is leading some experts to question the growing list of safety criteria for blood donors. [News Source]

Blood shortage puts safety measures in question (Reuters via Yahoo! News) On a Friday afternoon in August, a few donors trickle in to the Baltimore Red Cross donation room, filling only a small fraction of the dozen or so steel-blue beds. [News Source]

Rockland AM Report (The Journal News) - A 17-year-old Pomona man was arrested Friday morning on charges of unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, officials said. According to Ramapo police, the man was released on his own recognizance and is expected to appear in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 24. [News Source]

Premise registration continues on plan (Iowa Farmer) Editor’s note: On Nov.. 22, the Bush administration pledged not to make a planned National Animal Identification System mandatory. However, that has not derailed movement toward a voluntary tracking system. [News Source]