In the coastal areas of Yunlin County’s Dongshi, Sihhu and Taisi townships, white radishes have reached harvest stage. Last year, quite a lot of farmers turned to growing white radishes, because the year before they had seen their other crops become severely damaged by diseases and insects. Yet last year’s weather conditions were surprisingly ideal for white radishes. The result was a crop surplus and a subsequent slump in radish prices, which fell to between NT$2 and NT$3 per kilogram.
This year, white radish prices have increased between sixfold to sevenfold, rising to NT$17 per kilogram. Having lost a great deal of money growing white radishes last year, many farmers switched to a different crop this year. Nonetheless, just when they least expected it, white radish prices have come back, and the chance for making profit has again slipped away.
White radish growers say that although the price has risen, this year’s volume is only half of last year’s. Due to diseases, insect damage and long periods of rain, rotten and chapped white radish can be found everywhere in the radish fields. The profit from radishes is thus still lower than expected.
Photo: Cheng Hsu-kai, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者鄭旭凱
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY Yu-an Tu)
雲林縣東勢、四湖、台西等海線地區正值白蘿蔔採收期。前年因其他作物病蟲害嚴重，不少農民轉而種植較易照顧的白蘿蔔。不料去年因氣候適當，白蘿蔔產量過剩，價格暴跌，每公斤只有二到三元。
今年白蘿蔔價格狂飆六、七倍，漲到每公斤十七元。不少農民在去年種植白蘿蔔慘賠後轉種其他作物，沒想到「抓龜走鱉」，還是沒賺到。
Photo: Cheng Hsu-kai, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者鄭旭凱
菜農表示，白蘿蔔價格雖然大漲，但今年產量只有去年的一半。因病蟲害、連日下雨等因素，田間到處可見腐爛或龜裂的白蘿蔔，利潤並不如想像中高。
(自由時報記者鄭旭凱)
A: And how about the other star signs? B: Libras can benefit from multiple perspectives, Scorpios will be tough as steel and Sagittariuses may travel around. A: Cool, what’s next? B: Capricorns may take the lead, Aquarius may start a new life and Pisces should be well prepared for action. A: I hope we’ll have a lot of good fortune in the Year of the Snake. A: 其他的星座運勢如何？ B: 「天秤座」左右逢源、「天蠍座」百煉成鋼、「射手座」志在四方。 A: 還有呢？ B: 「摩羯座」一馬當先、「水瓶座」脫胎換骨、「雙魚座」蓄勢待發。 A: 希望大家在蛇年能好運旺旺來！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Despite advancements in bicycle security, millions of bicycles are stolen every year. A revolutionary bicycle lock, called “SKUNKLOCK,” takes a proactive approach to deterring thieves. __1__, SKUNKLOCK releases a noxious chemical that could cause would-be thieves to vomit and effectively discourages them from continuing their efforts to steal the bicycle. While conventional locks can be defeated by determined thieves using specialized tools, SKUNKLOCK’s dual approach of physical resistance and chemical deterrence is highly effective, making it a formidable __2__ against bike theft. The U-lock is made of high-tensile carbon steel, which can withstand attempts to break it using brute
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