News Update
December 17, 2013
FDA to Extend Comment Period on
Measure to Further Reduce Trans Fat
in Processed Foods
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to extend the comment period by 60 days, to March 8, 2014, on its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. This extension is being provided in response to numerous stakeholder requests to provide additional time for comments. FDA is expediting publication of a notice in the Federal Register and will issue a Constituent Update when the exact publication date is known.
FDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its preliminary determination Nov. 8, 2013. FDA provided 60 days, until Jan. 7, 2014, for interested persons to provide comments and scientific data pertaining to the notice, including specific issues that FDA sought comments on such as possible alternative approaches, time needed for reformulation, burden on small businesses, and other technical challenges to removal of PHOs from the food supply.
Submit comments electronically to the FDA docket on www.regulations.gov, use docket number FDA-2013-N-1317. To submit comments by mail, send to FDA at Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061 Rockville, MD 20852
All submissions must include the agency name and docket number.
Southeast Cattle Advisor Webinars
Part two of the webinar series presented by The Southeast Cattle Advisor (a collaborative effort between the Extension Services in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama) and the Southern Risk Management Education Center will be tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 18. This meeting will be hosted by the Oglethorpe County Extension Office in Crawford, Ga., from noon-1 p.m., EST. The webinar will also be available online for those unable to attend in person.
Topics include comparing natural service and artificial insemination by Cliff Lamb, the University of Florida; and mobile apps for the breeding season by Lawton Stewart, the University of Georgia. It is suggested to bring a mobile device to go over the mobile applications.
Additionally, more information is available at the website www.secattleadvisor.com on the calendar of events tab. The webinar can be accessed at http://ugalivestock-forages.adobeconnect.com/seca_apps/.
If you missed last week’s webinar over considerations for selecting a synchronization program, by Justin Rhinehart, the University of Tennessee, it can be accessed here.
Agriculture Council of America Announces
Ag Day Poster Art Contest Winner
The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) and Meredith AgriMedia encouraged young artists to celebrate modern agriculture through the 2nd annual National Ag Day Poster Art Contest. A winning original piece of art has been chosen as the Official National Ag Day poster.
Congratulations to Brittany Plachecki, Kansas City Art Institute, for being selected the winner of the contest. Plachecki was selected from among many young artists in the competition. The contest theme was Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and 7 Billion Mouths to Feed. Entries were screened by a nine-member jury and finalists were judged through online voting to determine the winner.
In addition, her artwork and a profile of Plachecki will be prominently featured in Successful Farming magazine and Ag Day correspondence. She will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Meredith AgriMedia. Media releases will also be sent to all Ag Day sponsors and supporters. The artist will receive a portion of the proceeds from limited edition prints and the original artwork will be on display in a public location.
National Ag Day is organized by the ACA. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.
The National Ag Day program encourages every American to understand how food and fiber products are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.
Black Hawk College East Foundation
Inducts Hoge to Wall of Fame
Dan Hoge, ag professor and livestock-judging coach at Black Hawk College East Campus, will be inducted into the Black Hawk College East Foundation’s Wall of Fame at a special ceremony April 4, 2014, at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel in Rock Island, Ill. Hoge’s commitment to developing future leaders in the livestock industry is immeasurable. As a nationally known livestock judge, coach and educator, his experience and devotion to teaching, as well as his dedication to the livestock industry, make him one of the most respected leaders in his field.
For more than 43 years, Hoge has developed and positively influenced more than 4,000 animal science students, including more than 700 young people who have participated on Black Hawk College livestock judging teams. His students have gone on to become leaders in the industry as judges, producers, and educators; with some serving as directors of national livestock associations and publications.
The winning record at Black Hawk College East Campus attracts many students to look at the program today. However, it’s Hoge’s personality, devotion to his students, and commitment to building future leaders of agriculture that causes students to accept their admittance letters and make Black Hawk College East Campus their “home.”
Steve Spivey, chairman of the Black Hawk College East Foundation and a member of the 1975 team, said Hoge’s coaching and teaching style is to take a positive approach with students, emphasizing what a student is doing right before explaining what needs to be done better or needs improvement.
To recognize his impact on the livestock-judging program, the Foundation is establishing an endowed scholarship in his name that will provide financial assistance to livestock judging students for many years to come. The Dan Hoge Livestock Judging Scholarship will be invested with only the interest earnings to be used to fund scholarships for livestock-judging-team students for generations to come.
“As the cost of tuition and fees continues to increase, the level of state, federal and local support of education has remained stagnant or declined,” Spivey said. “Providing financial assistance through merit and need-based scholarships will allow the livestock-judging program to continue to attract the very best students and carry on the tradition of excellence.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Dan Hoge Livestock Judging Scholarship and how you can help make a difference in the lives of future livestock judges, please contact Liz Breedlove, executive director of the Black Hawk College East Foundation, at breedlovel@bhc.edu or 309-854-1715. For information about Hoge’s recognition ceremony, please contact Jimalee Driscoll, Foundation Assistant at driscollj@bhc.edu or 309-854-1718.
Ideas Can Help Family Enjoy True Meaning Of Holidays
Family and consumer scientists at the nation’s land-grant universities, including Ohio State University, offer guidance for parents to help them communicate with their children and instill family values, both during the holidays and at any time of year. Here are some ideas to consider:
- Model the behavior you want to see from your children. It’s not enough to talk the talk. You need to walk the walk — and not at the shopping mall. It will do you no good to tell your children that Christmas should be about families spending quality time together if they see that you are overwhelmed with shopping, gift-wrapping and buying new decorations.
- First listen, and then ask questions. Pay attention to what your children are saying. Don’t be dismissive of their interests, concerns, thoughts and beliefs. Follow up by asking more about their perspectives on the holidays without giving them the third-degree.
- Have fun together. If you enjoy baking, decorating or volunteering during the holidays, ask your kids to join you. Find common interests, especially with teens, and make time to do those things together.
- Think of creative ways to involve children with family traditions. If visiting relatives, encourage them to do a video project to record family members’ reminiscences about their favorite holiday memories. Help younger children develop questions in advance, and let them take turns being the interviewer and camera operator. Or, if you have old family decorations and ornaments, they could record your memories of where they came from and why they’re special. Still photos with a written memory for a scrapbook could work just as well as a video.
- Simplify your schedule. It’s easy to overbook yourself and your family during the holidays. Try to be selective in invitations you accept and activities you plan. It’s important to spend time together, but being involved in a lot of activities that require being at a certain place at a specified time can become stressful. Consider planning family activities at home that are more flexible — arrange for a family evening at home watching old Christmas movies, for example, or playing board games around the dining room table.
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