News Update
June 3, 2016
BVD Prevention
Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an animal health challenge gaining attention in the beef industry. The virus is known to mutate and change rapidly, and infected calves are the main source of transmission in the cattle population.
BVD is associated with several outcomes, including serious reproductive and respiratory issues and death loss in calves. Lee Jones, University of Georgia Extension veterinarian, offers cattle producers advice for preventing and controlling BVD in their herd populations.
“Control of BVD has two parts: one is biosecurity. If we don’t have it in our herd, keep it out,” Jones states. “If we [do] have it our herd, how can we contain it? And then obviously the animal’s immune system is going to be an important part of this.”
Jones says eliminating exposure to BVD can be accomplished by either having a closed herd or testing all herd additions for BVD.
Testing for BVD gives producers either confidence that BVD is not present in the herd or lets an owner know of a problem, says Jones.
Learn more about BVD from Jones by tuning into this week’s The Angus Report.
Ag Safety Grants of up to $20,000
Offered by National Children’s Center
Proposals are now being accepted for mini-grants up to $20,000 to support small-scale projects and pilot studies that address prevention of childhood agricultural disease and injury. The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety plans to award three grants. The application deadline is Aug. 17, 2016.
Since 2002, 52 projects have been funded though the National Children’s Center. This year’s funding priorities will be given to projects that:
- Identify and/or address emerging trends in agriculture that may pose risks to children, such as drones, robotics, community-based agriculture, urban agriculture and agritourism.
- Address issues pertaining to barriers, motivators and interventions for keeping young children out of the farm worksite.
- Address vulnerable populations, such as immigrant workers’ children, Anabaptists, African Americans and Native Americans.
For information on eligibility, how to improve your chances of being funded, submitting a proposal and other frequently asked questions, go to www.marshfieldresearch.org/nccrahs/mini-grants, or contact Marsha Salzwedel, M.S., salzwedel.marsha@mcrf.mfldclin.edu; 715-389-5226 or 1-800-662-6900 option 8.
New Leadership Begins at the Board of Animal Health
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has named Beth Thompson as its new executive director and state veterinarian. Thompson was selected by the five-member board to succeed Bill Hartmann, who is retiring after leading the agency for 15 years. Thompson’s first effective day as the state veterinarian and executive director of the board was June 2, 2016.
Thompson has served as an assistant director and senior veterinarian since 2008. She holds both a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School and a juris doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law. Her work and expertise at the board has centered on pigs and the state’s swine industry. However, she has a broad background in animal health and all aspects of animal and crop agriculture.
Thompson is the ninth executive director and first woman to hold the position in the board’s 113-year history. Executive directors are appointed annually by board members.
For more information, please view the full Board of Animal Health news release online.
Meat Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2016
The Meat Industry Hall of Fame is proud to announce the members of the class of 2016. The class was selected from a distinguished list of nominees and a record number of votes were cast by current members of the Hall of Fame and the organization’s board of trustees.
Members of the class of 2016 are Clayton Yeutter, U.S. secretary of agriculture (1989-1991) and counselor to the President (1992); Chuck Hendryx, vice president, meat, H-E-B Grocery Company; Joe Sebranek, professor, Iowa State University (ISU); Sam Stein, founder and chairman, Chef's Pantry and Sam Stein Associates; Joe Cordray, professor and extension meat specialist, ISU; Sam Kane, founder, Sam Kane Beef Processors; and C. Larry Pope, president and CEO, Smithfield Foods. The 2016 induction ceremony will take place on Jan. 31, 2017 during the International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
To be qualified for nomination to the Hall of Fame, candidates must have contributed significant innovation, achieved notable business success or otherwise positively impacted their organization, institution or larger industry segment.
For more information, please view the full news release online.
2016 Hay & Forage Expo to Focus on Education
The Hay & Forage Expo returns to central Iowa for the 30th annual event. The show is scheduled for June 22-23 at the Central Iowa Expo facility located just east of Boone, Iowa. The Central Iowa Expo site is also the host for the 2016 Farm Progress Show, which will be in late August.
The Hay & Forage Expo has been known as a premier place to see the latest hay and forage equipment, and an expanded list of programs has been added to the agenda for this year’s show.
“Farmers who attend the Hay & Forage Expo love the demonstrations and enjoy watching the equipment in action. We wanted to expand on that and offer educational programs, as well,” says Matt Jungmann, events manager for Penton Agriculture. “Two of our education programs are hot topics in agriculture: drones and the weather. Producers want to use drones to improve field scouting, and we want to help them understand the regulations and restrictions of this type of technology. Weather is always a crucial subject for farmers, and they want to learn about weather trends and how they will affect the growing season.”
For more information, please view the full Expo news release online.
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