News Update

News Update
Nov. 20, 2007

FSIS Scales Back Scrutiny of Canadian Meat

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised an initiative to test and hold Canadian meat and poultry products. FSIS enacted a program Nov. 9 whereby the agency doubled the amount of testing for salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 and held the Canadian products pending results.

The agency maintained the additional testing, but resolved to eliminate the hold requirement following preliminary data from audits and testing, an FSIS official told MeatingPlace.com.

Some reports have suggested that costs incurred by industry members on both sides of the border associated with holding product past its shelf life was responsible for the revised initiative.

Canadian meat and livestock trade with the United States still faces several other challenges, including a plea by Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-Calf USA) to a South Dakota judge for an injunction to stop the trade of live cattle older than 30 months of age. USDA officially resumed such trade Nov. 19.

John Masswohl, director of government and international relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association told MeatingPlace that Canadian cattle producers are waiting for a final decision before risking the money to try to ship cattle across a possibly closed border.

— Adapted from a MeatingPlace.com report.

Second Case of HN51 Found on UK Turkey Farm

A second case of the deadly HN51 strain of avian influenza has been found in turkeys on a farm in the Norfolk/Suffolk border, the United Kingdom’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced Nov. 19.

The farm was one of four where culls were taking place because of fears of “dangerous contact” with the initial case at Redgrave Park Farm, which was discovered last week.

The same company operated five farms, with staff moving among the farms. All 9,000 turkeys have already been culled at the new infected premises, which is outside the original protection zone but inside the wider restricted area put into place after confirmation of the first outbreak.

Though the birds appeared healthy when they were first inspected, they subsequently tested positive for HN51, which officials believe indicates the infection was in its early stages. A DEFRA official urged poultry keepers in the area to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease to the local animal health office.

Officials are still awaiting results following culls at two other farms in Norfolk.

— Adapted from a report on 24dash.com.

Planning for a Return to the Family Farm

Individuals thinking about returning to the family farm or ranch, or children thinking about returning are encouraged to attend a two-session program at the Radisson Fossil Creek in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Planning the Return to the Farm/Ranch,” a program offered by the Texas Cooperative Extension, is scheduled for two sessions: Jan. 18-19 and Feb. 22-23.

The program helps inform individuals on the issues and alternatives before making a commitment to returning to the family business, according to Danny Klinefelter, Extension economist.

Planning for the future is key for any successful business, Klinefelter says, and this program will show how to use appropriate agreements and business arrangements to keep family disagreements from turning into legal battles over issues that could have been avoided by better planning and communication.

The program can benefit a family whose child is planning to return to the farm or ranch within one or two years, Klinefelter says.

Registration is $750 per family up to four people. The fee includes a copy of the book, Building Effective Management Systems. Materials, breaks and lunches throughout the program will be provided. A block of rooms is available at the Radisson Fossil Creek for $85 per night.

To register visit http://rttf.tamu.edu.

— Release from the Texas A&M University Agricultural News Service.

South Dakota Stockgrowers Schedule Quarterly Meeting

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association will have its November quarterly meeting in Winner, S.D., at the Holiday Inn Express Nov. 28-29. Registration begins at 10 a.m. (Central Time) with the first committee meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited.

Noon luncheon attendees will enjoy presentations by local FFA students. The featured speaker will be R-CALF USA Vice President Randy Stevenson, Wheatland, Wyo. In addition to a report on the litigation concerning the over-30-month age (OTM) rule, Stevenson will also provide an update on the progress of the Farm Bill.

— Adapted from a South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Release.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc. (API)