News Update
Nov. 17, 2008

Taiwan has no plans to ease import restrictions on U.S. beef

Taiwan’s Department of Health (DOH) said Friday that existing restrictions on U.S. beef imports will remain in place, despite a recent U.S. call for Taiwan to fully open its market, according to Taiwan News. (See Call for Taiwan to open to U.S. beef slowing trade talks, Meatingplace.com, Nov. 12, 2008.)

According to DOH Minister Yeh Ching-chuan, the DOH has no plans to review the restrictions, which restricts U.S. beef product imports to boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old.

Taiwan banned U.S. beef in early 2004 and again in June 2005 after separate cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were confirmed in U.S.-raised cattle, but Taipei later allowed the entry of boneless beef from young cattle when it determined such meat would not pose a health risk.

— Release provided by Meatingplace.com.

Leading Scientists From Around the World Headed to Kansas for Symposium on Combating Deadly Infectious Diseases

In yet another sign of Kansas’ leadership in addressing global challenges in the animal and human health sectors, an estimated 150 scientists from around the globe are coming together this week at Kansas State University (K-State) for an international symposium on zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

On Nov. 13-14, researchers and clinicians from as far away as Japan, Israel, The Netherlands, Italy, France and Scotland will focus on increasing the interaction between medical, veterinary, academic, and government institutions to ensure early detection and prevention capability to combat animal diseases that could eventually jump to people.

Symposium organizer Juergen Richt of K-State said improved cross-sector collaboration in animal and human health was urgently needed in light of the seriousness of emerging global disease threats.

“Events in the last decade have taught us that we are, now, more than ever before vulnerable to fatal zoonotic diseases,” Richt said. “It is imperative that future research activities focus on solutions to these problems arising at the interphase between animals and humans.”

Richt is a KBA eminent scholar and Kansas Regents distinguished professor who moved to K-State this year after a seven-year tenure as a lead scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Animal Disease Center.

KBA president Tom Thornton said Richt’s symposium highlights Kansas’ expertise in protecting the food supply, agriculture economy, and human health.

“Our research expertise, our world-class infrastructure, such as the Biosecurity Research Institute, and our selection as a finalist for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility demonstrate our deep commitment to addressing global bioscience challenges,” Thornton said. “Today, we proudly support Dr. Richt’s work to bring scientific leaders together for an effective ‘one medicine, one health’ approach to defeating dangerous pathogens facing both animals and humans. This is a critically important goal.”

The Kansas Bioscience Authority is a $581-million initiative created by the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to expand Kansas’ world-class research capacity and bioscience clusters; support the growth of bioscience startups; and stimulate industrial expansion and attraction.

For more information contact: Cheryl May of K-State, 1-785-532-6415; or Chad Bettes of the Kansas Bioscience Authority, 1-913-397-8300.

Amarillo Farm and Ranch Management Symposium scheduled for Dec. 3

The Amarillo Farm and Ranch Management Symposium will be Dec. 3 in conjunction with the Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show at the Amarillo Civic Center.

This year, the symposium offering continuing education units has been moved from the traditional last day of the farm show to Wednesday, said Galen Chandler, Texas AgriLife Extension Service regional program director for agriculture and natural resources.

The management symposium will follow the annual Texas Commodity Symposium, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Grand Plaza. The management symposium registration will begin at 1:30 p.m., Chandler said.
Registration for continuing education units will also be allowed during the morning commodity symposium, but the three credits will only be given to those attending the afternoon portion, he said.

Topics of discussion include:

• Wheat Fertility Management and Weed Control, Todd Baughman, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Vernon.
• Feral Hog Management, Ken Cearley, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Canyon.
• Composting Large Livestock, Brent Auvermann, AgriLife Extension agricultural engineering specialist, Amarillo.
• Pesticide Laws and Regulations, Lavon Harmon, Texas Department of Agriculture.

The meeting will adjourn at 5:15 p.m. with the handing out of continuing education units.

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension.

— compiled by Tosha Powell, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.