News Update

News Update
October 9, 2008

Minnesota’s Split State Status Approved

Three years after detecting bovine tuberculosis (TB) in northwest Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Minnesota’s Split State Status effective Oct. 10, 2008. With the approval of Split State Status, a large part of the state will upgrade its classification to Modified Accredited Advanced (MAA), and a smaller section of northwestern Minnesota will remain at the Modified Accredited (MA) classification. This status will help the state target its resources where they are most needed, while also saving producers outside the affected area from the additional testing requirements that accompany MA status.

Herds in the MA Zone will still be subject to the more stringent shipping and testing restrictions. To view a map or review the testing and shipping requirements, please visit the state’s bovine TB website at www.mntbfree.com.

As a condition of the approval, the State must complete a round of targeted testing in the MAA zone within the next 12 months. Producers selected to participate will be contacted soon. In addition to the testing, all farms in the MA Zone will undergo a wildlife evaluation and create a plan to prevent livestock from having contact with wildlife.

— Adapted from a Minnesota Board of Animal Health release

Rising Cost of Food Rates High on List of Consumer Concerns

New research shows the rising cost of food is among the three greatest consumer concerns in the United States today.

The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) surveyed more than 2,000 consumers and asked them to rate their level of concern on a variety of issues. Respondents indicated they were “very concerned” about not only rising food costs but rising energy costs and the state of the U.S. economy. The survey showed 60 percent of the respondents are more concerned about food prices today than they were a year ago.

“I believe this is the highest level of concern about the cost of food that we’ve seen in some time, certainly since World War II,” said Charlie Arnot, the chief executive officer (CEO) of CFI. “The food system must address these concerns to maintain consumer trust and confidence in our ability to provide the safe, abundant and affordable food consumers expect.”

To accomplish this, Arnot believes the food system must engage in dialogue with stakeholders along every step of the food system, including farmers, food companies, processors, retailers, restaurants, consumers, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

“The key to a sustainable food system is balance,” Arnot said. “Our organization believes that sustainability includes practices that are ethically grounded, scientifically verified and economically viable. When those three elements operate in balance, and we establish proactive and beneficial dialogue up and down the chain, our food system can be supported by stakeholders and operate successfully.”

Additional results from CFI’s survey related to personal finance, the economy and the food system include:

47% of respondents strongly agreed with the statement “With the increase in food prices, we tend to eat out less than one year ago.”
39% of respondents strongly agreed with the statement “With the increase in food prices, I am more likely to buy less expensive cuts of meat.”
36% of respondents strongly disagreed with the statement “With the increase in food prices, I buy more canned fruits and vegetables instead of fresh.”
23% strongly agreed that U.S. food is amongst the most affordable in the world today.

For a complete summary of the research results, contact Jim Fallon, Center for Food Integrity, at 913-461-3475, or via email at jim.fallon@foodintegrity.org.

Make Safety Priority as Motorists, Farmers Share Roads This Fall

Autumn is here. Time to hit the roads for festivals, pumpkin picking and fall foliage. Now is also the time for field crop harvest, and more motorists will be encountering farm equipment on rural roads, increasing the potential for accidents.

Dee Jepsen, an Ohio State University Extension state safety leader, emphasizes the importance of road safety as farmers and motorists share the road during harvest season.

“Harvest season generally is a time when there is an increase in collisions between farm equipment and other vehicles,” Jepsen said. “Vehicle collisions are often the result of the speed differential between slower-moving farm equipment and passenger cars and trucks. Many times the passenger vehicle driver simply doesn’t have enough time to react if they do not recognize the farm equipment soon enough.”

Farmers can take steps to enhance farm machinery visibility.

Before traveling on public roads remember to:

Lock brake pedals.
Adjust mirrors for good vision.
Make sure that all warning flashers, lights, and slow moving vehicle (SMV) emblems are in proper operating condition, clean, and easily visible. If they are covered with dust, wipe them off before leaving the field.
Check tire inflation pressures. Inflate the tires to the maximum recommended pressure for long-distance travel.

When traveling on public roads:

Watch for potholes or obstacles that could tip the tractor.
Listen for cars. Often vehicles will rapidly approach from the rear at three to four times the speed of the tractor.
Stay alert at all times to avoid a serious accident. Do not use the cell phone or two-way radio while operating equipment on public roads.
Keep a constant lookout for pedestrians, animals, mailboxes, steep ditch embankments and other roadway obstacles.
Slow down for sharp curves or when going down a hill.
Consider using an escort vehicle to follow behind.

Be cognizant of high traffic times, usually mornings and late afternoons. While it often is impossible to avoid operating on the roads during these times, it may be possible to limit road transportation.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.