05/05/06 Cinco de Mayo & Gunk in your Gas

Cinco de Mayo & gunk in your gas. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Today is the celebration of Cinco de Mayo or May 5th. Many Americans know it's a day of independence but not much more. As the government deliberates on the immigration issue for our neighbors to the south let's look at what Cinco de Mayo really means. El Cinco de Mayo is a national celebration in Mexico, commemorating the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In 1861, in response to Mexico`s refusal to pay off its debt, Britain, Spain and France sent troops to Mexico. The new democratically-elected government of President Benito Juárez made agreements with the British and the Spanish, who promptly recalled their armies, but the French stayed, thus beginning the period of the French intervention in Mexico. Confident of a quick victory, 6,500 French soldiers marched on to Mexico City to seize the capital before the Mexicans could muster a viable defense. Along their march, the French already encountered stiff resistance before Zaragoza struck out to intercept the invaders. Zaragoza won the battle but lost the war. The French Emperor, upon learning of the failed invasion, immediately dispatched another force, they succeeded in defeating the Mexican army and occupying Mexico City. Archduke Maximillian became Emperor of Mexico. The defeat on May 5th was the catalyst that eventually won Mexico their freedom. Maximilian`s rule was short-lived. Mexican rebels opposed to his rule resisted, seeking the aid of the United States. Once the American Civil War was over, the U.S. military began supplying Mexicans with weapons and ammunition, and by 1867, the rebels finally defeated the French and deposed their puppet Emperor. The Mexican people then reelected Juárez as president. Now, got a piece of diesel equipment that sputters or just doesn`t run right? Are you seeing green gunk when you change your fuel filter? It could be because you`ve got some tiny little creatures living in your fuel tank. Bill Halfman is the University of Wisconsin Ag Extension Educator for Monroe County. HALFMAN: There is certain anaerobic bacteria that will actually live in a diesel fuel tank particularly if it has an accumulation of water in it. And they kind of produce a slimy material that can plug up fuel filters and fuel lines. Occasionally we'll hear about bacteria damaging seals and things like that in the fuel system as well. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.