News Update
October 17, 2011
AGree Videos Outline Challenges, Opportunities for
Food and Agriculture
A new series of micro-documentary films released today by AGree underscores the complexity of our food and agriculture system and stresses the need to find common ground on food and agriculture issues.
AGree is a long-term initiative that brings together a diverse group of interests to transform U.S. food and agriculture policy through stakeholder outreach and best-in-class research in order to meet the challenges of the future.
The micro-documentaries feature AGree’s four co-chairs, who each discuss the crucial need for solutions to meet the growing challenges facing food and agriculture domestically and internationally. They outline the challenges ahead and advocate for a more inclusive approach to U.S. food and agriculture policy reform that will support feeding and fulfilling the nutritional and health needs of a growing world population, protecting natural resources and strengthening rural communities.
Three new videos feature AGree co-chairs: Gary Hirshberg, chairman, president and “CE-Yo” of Stonyfield Farm; Jim Moseley, former deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under President George W. Bush and Indiana farmer for more than 40 years; and Emmy Simmons, former assistant administrator for economic growth, agriculture and trade at the U.S. Agency for International Development and a board member for several organizations engaged in international agriculture and global development. The first in the micro-documentary series was released in May 2011 to coincide with the launch of AGree and featured AGree co-chair and former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman.
While the co-chairs have diverse backgrounds and perspectives on agriculture and food policies, they each express the need for a greater recognition of the widespread impact of food and agriculture in society and the role our food and agriculture system plays in other pressing issues such as environment, health, economy, energy and national security.
Visit http://www.foodandagpolicy.org to view the micro-documentaries.
Good Biosecurity Practices Important for Livestock Health
For livestock producers, now is a critical time to have good biosecurity practices in place to protect herds from the occurrence and transfer of diseases. Many animals have been traveling to be shown in state and county fairs, and they may bring home more than ribbons. They may harbor parasites or diseases that producers haven’t had on their farms in the past, says David Fernandez, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff (UAPB) Extension livestock specialist.
“Animals at shows, or those purchased from sale barns, have the potential to be exposed to numerous diseases and disease strains from all over the state or country that they have never encountered before, and so have little resistance to them,” he said. “When you bring the animals onto your farm, you may introduce the new disease or parasite into your herd or flock at the same time.”
There are a few simple precautions producers should take to prevent the spread of diseases.
Hygiene
- Keep town clothes (or show clothes) and boots separate from farm clothes
- Thoroughly clean all equipment and vehicles after attending a show or sale
- Restrict visitor and outside vehicle access to your farm
Properly dispose of dead animals.
- Bury under at least 3 feet of earth
- Compost (compost pile must reach a temperature of over 130° F)
- Burn the carcass
- Have a renderer remove the carcass
Quarantine
- Isolate all new or returning animals for 30 days
- Isolate sick animals
- Avoid fenceline contact with neighboring livestock
- Work with your veterinarian to establish a good vaccination program and follow it
- Report disease outbreaks to your veterinarian
“Probably the single most important thing we fail to do as livestock producers is quarantine new or returning animals,” Fernandez said. “You need to have a place where you can house these animals that will prevent them from coming into contact with your livestock for at least 30 days.” Any disease or parasite problems should have become evident by then.
Producers need to conduct tests on new or returning livestock for diseases that do not present signs. Trichomoniasis is one such disease in cattle. All bulls being sold in Arkansas for breeding must now be tested. Other diseases of concern include Johne’s disease in cattle, drug-resistant barberpole worms in sheep and goats, Newcastle disease in poultry, and pasteurellosis or “snuffles” in rabbits.
For more information, contact your local extension agent and ask for the Species Specific Educational Resource Team publications on biosecurity.
Ohio Firm Recalls Ready-to-Eat Beef, Pork Products
E-Z Shop Kitchens Inc., a Fremont, Ohio, establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of ready-to-eat, seasoned beef and shredded pork products because they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The items subject to recall were sold for institutional and/or individual consumer use and are listed below.
The following products are subject to recall:
- 16-ounce (oz.) and 4-pound (lb.) tub containers of “E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SEASONED BEEF” that bear the establishment number “EST. 19665” in the USDA mark of inspection.
- 16-oz and 4-lb. tub containers of “E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SHREDDED PORK WITH BBQ SAUCE” that bear the establishment number “EST. 19665” in the USDA mark of inspection.
- 16-oz. and 4-lb. tub containers of “E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SHREDDED BEEF WITH BBQ SAUCE” that bear the establishment number “P-19665” in the USDA mark of inspection.
All of the products have unknown production dates and were distributed to retail and institutional customers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia between July 1 and Oct. 6.
The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel when following up on a complaint and is the subject of an ongoing investigation. FSIS may take additional regulatory action based on the results of this investigation.
FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that recalled product is no longer available to consumers. If available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.
Consumer and media questions regarding the recall can be directed to the company at 419-334-2667.
Agencies to Host Public Meeting on Preharvest Pathogen Control Strategies
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are hosting a public meeting to seek input on preharvest pathogen control strategies designed to reduce the likelihood that beef will be contaminated with pathogens of public health concern, such as Shiga toxin producing E. coli and Salmonella, during the slaughter process.
The public meeting will take place Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, 1st floor — Oklahoma City Memorial Conference Center, Riverdale, Md. Onsite registration is at 8 a.m. and the meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FSIS will finalize an agenda on or before the meeting and post it on the FSIS web page at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
Preregistration is recommended. To preregister, visit the FSIS web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/.
FSIS will accept comments on this meeting until Jan. 3, 2012. Go to www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments. Comments may be mailed to Docket Clerk, USDA, FSIS Docket Room, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Patriots Plaza 3, Mailstop 3782, Room 163A, Washington, D.C. 20250-3700.
To view the Federal Register notice regarding this meeting, go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-10-14/pdf/2011-26541.pdf.
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