News Update

News Update
April 20, 2007

State Legislator Calls For Cloning Label

California State Senator Carole Migden (D–San Francisco/Marin) has unveiled legislation requiring milk and meat products from cloned animals that are intended for human consumption to be clearly labeled.

Migden said the legislation is necessary given the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) preliminary approval late last year of meat and milk products from cloned animals.

According to a statement issued by Migden, if the FDA confirms its decision after the public comment period ends in May, food products from cloned animals can soon be introduced into the food chain.

E. coli, Salmonella Levels On Rise

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report last week showing a leveling of cases for some foodborne infections after a period of decline. For others, incidences of infection, which had declined, appear to be returning to earlier levels.

The findings are from 2006 data reported to the CDC as part of the agency’s Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (also known as FoodNet). FoodNet monitors foodborne disease and related epidemiologic studies to help health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases in the United States.

According to FoodNet data, there continues to be little change in the incidence of Salmonella cases, and it appears progress made in 2003 and 2004 in reducing the number of cases of with E. coli O157 infections has been lost. Vibrio infections, which are often related to the consumption of raw shellfish like oysters, have increased to the highest level since FoodNet began conducting surveillance.

Consumers can reduce their risk for foodborne illness by following safe food-handling recommendations and by avoiding the consumption of unpasteurized milk, raw or undercooked oysters, raw or undercooked eggs, raw or undercooked ground beef, and undercooked poultry. The risk for foodborne illness can also be decreased by choosing in-shell pasteurized eggs, irradiated ground meat, and high pressure-treated oysters.

The full report, “Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food – 10 States, United States, 2006” is available online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr. To learn more about FoodNet, visit www.cdc.gov/foodnet. To learn more about foodborne infections, visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm.

— Adapted from a CDC release.

Trees Damaged By Ice Storms Can Make Comebacks

Homeowners should wait to cut down trees damaged by ice storms this past winter. Recent injury from the Easter freeze will make it difficult to determine the extent of winter injury to your trees, said a University of Missouri (MU) horticulturalist.

“It is difficult to predict how many of the storm-damaged trees will respond. Unless they are an obvious hazard, it may be wise to wait for a year or two before removing trees that appear to have been hit hard,” Chris Starbuck said. “Some trees that look hopeless may recover surprisingly quickly.”

Ice storms can cause several types of tree injury. The most common damage is simply broken branches. Most trees can recover from this type of injury fairly well, Starbuck said. When small- or medium-sized branches break off the main trunk, the tree forms a protective barrier of wound tissue. Lateral branches may grow from the remaining portion of the original branch and produce new foliage.

The most serious damage — breaks or splits on the main trunk and on massive branches — usually occurs on large, mature trees. This sort of damage also is found on silver maples and other trees where the branches grow at a narrow angle from the trunk, Starbuck said. While not causing rapid tree death, such damage exposes large areas of wood to decay, which can progress rapidly and make the tree susceptible to further storm damage.

“A rule of thumb often mentioned by tree experts is that a tree that has lost less than 50% of its branches stands a reasonably good chance of recovering,” he said.

Trees bent over by a storm can sometimes be straightened by staking them upright. However, the tree may develop longitudinal cracks and splits that may not be obvious but serve as entry points for insects and diseases, Starbuck said. Even trees that appear to straighten up with a few months are susceptible to this sort of damage.

— Article provided by MU Extension.

National Value-Added Agriculture Conference Coming to Kentucky

The University of Kentucky (UK) Cooperative Extension Service and UK agricultural economics department will host the ninth annual National Value-Added Agriculture Conference at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel June 3-5.

The conference is aimed at resource providers, counselors, and practitioners who mentor entrepreneurs in value-added agricultural business ventures. Topics will focus on three main tracks — “Value Added in Community Development,” “Bio-Economy” and “Toolbox Tips for Value-Added Entrepreneurs.”

Those attending will have a chance to experience Kentucky value-added items during “A Taste of Kentucky” at the Kentucky Horse Park. A tradeshow, featuring value-added research and industry exhibits, will be open from 6 p.m. June 3 to 12 p.m. June 5.

Registration for the conference is $125 per person by May 15. After May 15, the fee increases to $160. Make checks payable to the University of Kentucky and mail to UK Ag Econ/Value Added Conference, C/O Jennifer Hunter, 320 C.E. Barnhart Building, Lexington, KY, 40526-0276, or fax registrations and credit card information to 859-225-9043.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions, Inc.