News Update
December 30, 2013
FDA to Extend Comment Period on Measure to Further Reduce Trans Fat in Processed Foods
The Federal Register notice extending the comment period on FDA’s 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 is on display and will publish on Dec. 31. FDA issued a Constituent Update on Dec. 17 notifying the public that it had made the decision to extend the comment period and that publication of a Federal Register notice was being expedited.
The comment period is being extended by 60 days, to March 8, 2014. This extension is being provided in response to numerous stakeholder requests to provide additional time for comments.
FDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its preliminary determination on Nov.r 8. 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 Ln., Rm. 1061 Rockville, MD 20852. All submissions must include the agency name and docket number.
Protect Your Pets During Cold Weather
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reminds pet owners in a new podcast that winter weather brings a host of potential hazards for pets, but with some preparation pets can be healthy and comfortable until the spring thaw.
“Most pet owners seem to worry about their pets overheating in the summer, but tend to overlook the dangers of cold weather. Their fur coats don’t always provide the necessary protection from the cold, particularly for small animals when the weather becomes extremely cold,” explains Douglas Aspros, immediate past president of the AVMA. “When it does get cold, pay close attention for signs of cold stress. They are likely to shiver initially, and may become lethargic if they become very cold.”
Aspros recommended, first and foremost, bringing pets indoors during colder weather. Getting animals out of the wind can do a great deal to help keep pets warm and safe.
Listen to the podcast at www.avmamedia.org/display.asp?sid=553&NAME=Cold_Weather_Pet_Safety.
For more information on pet health, please visit www.avma.org.
Dependable Information for Beginning Farmers –
Where Can It Be Found?
When beginning farmers have questions, they have lots of places to seek answers: a local Extension educator, an experienced neighbor or family member, a business selling farm supplies, a wholesale purchaser or farm market manager, or maybe even Google™. The nationwide university Extension system is an excellent source of unbiased, research-based information on a wide variety of agricultural topics.
Everything from minimizing soil compaction to selecting adapted pepper varieties can be found online. If you want to limit your search to information from universities and other educational institutions, be sure to add the phrase “site:.edu” when searching. If you want to ask a question online, try the extension “Ask an Expert” function available on the Michigan State University Extension website. Your question will be directed to someone likely to provide a helpful response. Check out the recent article “Finding accurate information on the Internet“ by MSU Extension educator Faith Cullens.
Another option is to seek more formal learning opportunities. Some of these are available as online classes or “webinars.” MSU Extension educators conducted beginning farmer webinars in 2012 and 2013. There were three general webinars offered in 2012 including sessions on farm business basics, animal-based enterprises and plant-based enterprises. You can access the 2012 beginning farmer webinars online.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Texas A&M Researchers to Study Cowpea
Drought and Heat Tolerance
Cowpeas, known as black-eyed peas in the U.S., are an important and versatile food legume grown in more than 80 countries. Texas A&M University scientists are working to map the genes controlling drought and heat tolerance in recent varieties.
New and improved varieties of cowpeas have numerous adaptive traits of agronomic importance, such as 60-70 day maturity, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, aphid resistance and low phosphorus tolerance, said Meiping Zhang, Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate research scientist in College Station.
Under a National Institute for Food and Agriculture grant of $500,000, Zhang and other Texas A&M scientists will take advantage of the recently developed DNA sequencing technology to map and ultimately clone the genes controlling drought and heat tolerance for molecular studies and deployment of these genes in other crops, she said.
Joining Zhang on the project are Hongbin Zhang, Texas A&M professor of plant genomics and systems biology and director of the Laboratory for Plant Genomics and Molecular Genetics; B.B. Singh, a visiting scholar and cowpea breeder with the Texas A&M soil and crop sciences department; and Dirk Hays, Texas A&M associate professor of physiological and molecular genetics, all in College Station.
The goal of the study is to develop single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP markers, the latest DNA marker technology, enabling efficient manipulation of heat and drought tolerances in cowpeas and related species, Zhang said.
For more information, please view the full release here.
2014 Commodity Outlook for Texas
Hinges on Rainfall, Demand
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists recently provided 2014 projections for major commodities produced in Texas, with many pointing to past drought conditions as a key factor in making or breaking a crop.
The Plains region of Texas and part of South Texas were dealt a severe blow in 2013 with drought conditions. However, AgriLife Extension economists say if positive weather patterns develop and lead to periods of timely rainfall, there’s reason for optimism for the 2014 crop year. Livestock markets are also projected to continue to show strength, particularly beef cattle, as inventory levels have yet to recover from lows not seen since the 1950s.
Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grains marketing economist in College Station, said 2013 brought record supplies of corn and wheat, but demand remains strong.
“With another year of good growing conditions, look for lower prices,” he said. “But given the strong demand base, look for higher prices on any production concerns.”
Welch said U.S. farmers produced a record corn crop in 2013 of 14 billion bushels.
“In the current marketing year, supply is outpacing demand, resulting in estimated carryover stocks of 1.8 billion bushels,” he said. “This is twice the level of carryover stocks after the drought reduced crop in 2012. In response to this buildup in stocks, the season average farm price for corn is estimated at $4.40 per bushel, down from $6.89 last year.”
Looking ahead to 2014, Welch said the demand base for grain remains strong.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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