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5.12.2008

C-FARE & AAEA Present "Environmental Choices Part II" - May 20, 2008

The event will present an overview of economic implications of global climate change as it affects agriculture. Click HERE for more information...

5.9.2008

Lawmakers turn up the heat on ethanol in response to rising food prices

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure to do something about surging food prices, members of Congress are increasingly questioning the government's incentives for corn-based ethanol production, which have been blamed for contributing to the crisis.

5.9.2008

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE ED SCHAFER ON CONGRESS' ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW FARM BILL

"Today, the United States House and Senate announced the completion of a farm bill that unfortunately fails to include much needed reform and increases spending by nearly $20 billion..." Read More

5.9.2008

Lawmakers debate animal-virus research legislation

Washington - Lawmakers are debating legislation to give national security officials full control over whether to move research of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease from an isolated island laboratory to the U.S. mainland near herds of livestock.

3.31.2008

WTO ruling against EU ban on beef with hormones a 'victory': U.S. official
U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab said the World Trade Organization's ruling, announced Monday, that a ban by the European Union on imports of U.S. beef from certain hormone-treated cattle remains scientifically unjustified would be a boon to U.S. beef producers — as well as EU consumers.

"The panel's findings on the EU ban are an important victory for all U.S. farmers and ranchers," Schwab said...

3.26.2008

FASS SPRING FOOD SAFETY SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCED

The FASS Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Safety, Animal Drugs, and Animal Health will hold their annual SPRING FOOD SAFETY SYMPOSIUM on Monday, APRIL 28, 2008 (8:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m.), at the American Farm Bureau Building in Washington, D.C. (address below). The tentative agenda...

2.15.2008

Dr. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA, will provide opening remarks at the CSREES Integrated Competitive Programs Grantsmanship Workshop

The last day to take advantage of the reduced registration fee is March 1, 2008, and the special hotel room rate is only available through February 22, 2008.
REGISTER NOW!

2.14.2008

MEAT PLANT TRAINING SET FOR APRIL 30-MAY 1

The Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) has scheduled another of its popular Meat Plant Welfare Auditor Certification Training courses for April 30-May 1 in Fremont and Schuyler, Nebraska. The first step on the way to becoming a certified meat plant welfare auditor...

1.15.2008

FDA Issues Documents on the Safety of Food from Animal Clones

Agency Concludes that Meat and Milk from Clones of Cattle, Swine, and Goats, and the Offspring of All Clones, are as Safe to Eat as Food from Conventionally Bred Animals.

1.14.2008

AMSA Introduces White Paper on: Low-Oxygen Packaging of Fresh Meat with Carbon Monoxide

Savoy, Illinois, January 10, 2008 - The American Meat Science Association Scientific Information Committee recently completed work on the much anticipated white paper: Low-Oxygen Packaging of Fresh Meat with Carbon Monoxide: Meat Quality, Microbiology, and Safety. The American Meat Science Association commissioned this report to bring...

1.14.2008

EFSA Launches Its Draft Opinion on Animal Cloning for Public Consultation

EFSA is launching a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion on the implications of animal cloning on food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment. The work follows a request from the European Commission (EC) to EFSA for advice on this issue in...

1.9.2008

New Director for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Appointed

On Friday, January 4, 2008, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., announced the appointment of Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D. as the Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

12.19.2007

Top U.S. Cloning Companies Announce New System to Track Cloned Livestock

Program that Allows Accurate Marketing Claims Designed with Input from Entire Food Chain

12.19.2007

BIO: Bio Urges FDA Release of Risk Assessment on Animal Cloning

...“Today, the leading animal cloning companies introduced an animal clone registry program that will track livestock produced through cloning. With this new registry program in place, BIO encourages...

12.19.2007

Call for Nominations for the 2008 Poultry Science Association Awards

Submission deadline March 1, 2008.

12.7.2007

Nancy M. Cox Appointed to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board

Nancy Cox, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture associate dean for research and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, was selected to be a member of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board. The board advises...

11.13.2007

USDA Announces New Funding for Whole Genome Animal Selection

USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service announced that $5 million will be available in Fiscal Year 2008 for a 4-year research project to investigate methods of...

11.6.2007

FDA Unveils Plans to Strengthen the Safety and Security of the U.S. Food Supply

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued its Food Protection Plan (the Plan) -- a comprehensive and integrated strategy to further strengthen the safety of the U.S. food supply. The Plan reflects...

11.5.2007

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services

Standards and Procedure for the Approval of Proposed Labeling - Fluid Milk, Milk Products and Manufactured Dairy Products

11.5.2007

Agency Seeks Contractor to Review Scientific Literature

The Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom is seeking a contractor to carry out a systematic review of the scientific literature evaluating the nutrient and non-nutrient content of organic food.

11.5.2007

Implementation of the Revised American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia

This Notice provides guidance to Public Health Service (PHS) awardee institutions and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) regarding implementation of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines on Euthanasia.

11.5.2007

FDA Issues an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Revise the Reference Values and Mandatory Nutrient

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking...

11.2.2007

Animal Welfare and Transportation of Animals on International Carriers - USDA APHIS

APHIS intends to begin applying the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations and standards for the human transportation of animals...

10.30.2007

FASS Announces Invitation for Applications for the 2008-2009 Federation of Animal Science Societies Congressional Science Fellowship

The fellow selected will spend one year working as a special legislative assistant on the staff of a member of Congress or of a congressional committee, advising on ...

10.9.2007

Supplement to the 2005 Food Code Updates Food Safety Guidelines

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the Supplement to the 2005 Food Code (Supplement). The Supplement is available at...

9.12.2007

Economic Returns to Public Agricultural Research

Over the last several decades, the U.S. agricultural sector has sustained impressive productivity growth. The Nation's agricultural research system, including Federal-State public research as well as private-sector research, has been a key driver of this growth. Economic analysis finds...

9.12.2007

Antibiotic Resistance Research

In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois report that some genes found in hog waste lagoons are transferred – “like batons” – from one bacterial species to another. The researchers found

9.6.2007

Veterinary Loan Repayment Program Implemented

USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) jointly announce their implementation of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program authorized in 2003 by the...

9.6.2007

Blueprint for USDA Efforts in Agricultural Animal Genomics Released

The USDA Animal Genomics Strategic Planning Task Force has released the Blueprint for USDA Efforts in Agricultural Animal Genomics, a 10-year plan for research, education and extension in animal genomics to improve...

8.24.2007

AAAS Analysis Finds Congress Would Add Billions to FY 2008 R&D Investment

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are poised to add billions of dollars to the fiscal year 2008 research and development (R&D) budget, with much of the proposed new funding targeted for...

8.24.2007

STUDY: COW-POWERED FUEL CELLS GROW SMALLER, MIGHTIER

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cows could one day help to meet the rise in demand for alternative energy sources, say Ohio State University researchers that used microbe-rich fluid from a cow to generate electricity in a small fuel cell...

7.31.2007

Gary L. Cromwell Named Fourth Annual Winner of the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award

Savoy, IL – Gary L. Cromwell, Professor, Department of Animal/Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, was named the fourth annual winner of the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award. The award, jointly presented by the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)...

7.23.2007

The DC Connection: Science Policy, Research Support, and the Professional Animal Scientist

A FASS symposium designed to educate professional animal scientists about the impacts of federal budget proposals on major R&D agencies, to examine historical R&D trends and their impact on U.S. science and engineering, and to discuss the political outlook for R&D in the appropriations process.

Click here to view available presentations.

6.1.2007

Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Developed by USDA ARS Scientists

The USDA Agricultural Research Service has reported that a new vaccine developed by ARS scientists in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a U.S. biopharmaceutical company...

5.17.2007

FASS Food Safety, Animal Drugs, and Animal Health Holds Symposium

The FASS Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Safety, Animal Drugs, and Animal Health held a symposium on May 14, 2007, in Washington, D.C. Several informative presentations were given, including Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for the Food System, presented by Dr. Michael Doyle of the University of Georgia.

Click here to view available presentations

5.2.2007

NIST Nanoscale Science and Technology Center Now Accepting Proposals

New NIST Nanotechnology Research Center now available to " ... university, industry, government and other researchers who need access to state-of-the-art and beyond-state-of-the-art facilities to study a wide range of nanotechnology topics...

5.2.2007

Press Release: Hundreds of Scientists Endorse U.S. FDA Risk Assessment on Livestock Cloning

Sign-On Letter First Step in Federation of Animal Science Societies' Public Education Effort

5.1.2007

European Food Safety Authority is Seeking Public Comments

The European Food Safety Authority is seeking public comments on the "Implications of animal cloning on food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment" - EFSA notes that the European Commission has requested that the agency...

5.1.2007

US Congress - House Committee on Energy and Commerce - Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Food Safety Congressional Hearing Held April 24, titled "Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation's Food Supply?"...

5.1.2007

Joint Update: FDA/USDA Trace Adulterated Animal Feed to Poultry

Melamine Contaminated Animal Feed Fed to Poultry in Indiana, according to a Joint FDA/USDA News Release, which states in part that the Agencies have learned that byproducts from pet food manufactured with contaminated wheat gluten imported from China have been used in chicken feed on some farms in the state of Indiana....

5.1.2007

FDA Commissioner Announces New Food Protection Position

David Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P. to work with individual FDA product centers, as well as the Office of Regulatory Affairs to coordinate FDA's food safety and defense assignments and commitments ...

4.26.2007

Senate hearing examines safety, recall of pet food

Testimony focuses on measures to prevent contamination and limit exposure

4.3.2007

Science Advisory Board - Acrylamide Review Panel Nominations Sought -Deadline April 19th

The SAB Acrylamide Review Panel is being asked to comment on the scientific soundness of the draft assessment entitled Toxicological Review of Acrylamide'. The EPA draft document to be reviewed...

2.12.2007

HORSE GENOME ASSEMBLED

Data on Equine Genome Freely Available to Researchers Worldwide

1.12.2007

FASS Statement on FDA Draft Risk Assessment

FASS Statement on FDA Draft Risk Assessment “A Risk-Based Approach to Evaluate Animal Clones and Their Progeny”

1.5.2007

USDA Researchers Evaluate Prion-free Cattle

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) initial results of a research project involving prion-free cattle are now available online at...

12.12.2006

Pathogens in Animal Manure - The Second Educational Webcast on this topic from the Livestock and Poultry Environmental (LPE) Learning Center is set for December 15

Participating in the webcast are Jane Frankenberger, Purdue University; Rob Atwill, University of California Davis; and Chip Simmons, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Public Health...

11.27.2006

Analytical Methods for Avian Influenza H5N1

Inexpensive Test Detects H5N1 Infections Quickly and Accurately...

11.27.2006

RELEASE OF SHEEP GENOME MAP A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR INDUSTRY

DENVER, Colo. - Breeding the right sheep, whether it's for improved wool, more muscle, increased fertility or a better ability to cope with parasites, has been one of the sheep industry's greatest challenges. However, with the November release of a physical DNA map of more than 98 percent of the sheep genome, scientists will be better able to pin-point the genetic controls for these economically important production traits.

11.27.2006

Animal Cloning

Animal Cloning - On November 21, the Food Policy Institute at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, released the Executive Summary of a document, titled "Public Opinion and Media Coverage of Animal Cloning and the Food Supply," FPI Research Report: RR-1106-011.

11.15.2006

"The Economic Development and Current Status of the Sheep Industry in the United States"

The National Academies of Science has scheduled a public meeting for December 6 in Washington, DC of a project of the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Division on Earth and Life Studies on "The Economic Development and Current Status of the Sheep Industry in the United States"

11.8.2006

NSF Seeks Applications for Plant and Animal Research in its Biochemical Engineering (BCE) Program

The National Science Foundation notes that " ... The BCE Program deals with research and education associated with processing and manufacturing of products of economic importance by effectively utilizing renewable resources of biological origin and bioinformatics originating from genomic and proteomic information.

11.8.2006

Survey Data on Acrylamide in Food: Total Diet Study Results

On October 27, the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods, posted an updated "Survey Data on Acrylamide in Food".

11.8.2006

Food Quality and Safety Research in the European Union

On October 30, the European Commission issued a News Release, titled "Food Quality and Safety research: first results from FP6," which reports...

11.7.2006

The USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force has scheduled a public meeting for November 28 through 30, 2006 in Washington, DC

... to continue discussions on air quality issues relating to agriculture ...

10.20.2006

FDA Is Set To Approve Milk, Meat From Clones

Three years after the Food and Drug Administration first hinted that it might permit the sale of milk and meat from cloned animals, prompting public reactions that ranged from curiosity to disgust, the agency is poised to endorse marketing of the mass-produced animals for public consumption.

10.20.2006

Detection of Live Viruses and other Enteric Pathogens in Large Volumes of Water that may be used as sources of Drinking Water

The EPA Office Research and Development is seeking research grant applications by December 5, 2006 in a project...

9.1.2006

Avian Flu/Pandemic Planning at EPA

On August 31, EPA posted on its www site an update to its Avian Flu (Pandemic Flu) Information noting that...

8.31.2006

Disposal of Domestic Birds Infected by Avian Influenza

An Overview of Considerations and Options, dated August 11, 2006 (PDF)

8.31.2006

Use of Hormones in Livestock Production - US/Canada WTO Dispute with EU

On August 29, the World Trade Organization announced that the proceeding of the public hearings to...

8.31.2006

"Opportunities and Challenges in Agricultural Biotechnology: The Decade Ahead"

is the title of a report that was released on August 30 by the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), which...

8.23.2006

EPA Regulation of Air Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations

On August 22, EPA issued a News Release, titled "EPA Takes Important Step in Controlling Air Pollution from Farm Country Animal Feeding Operations," which states...

8.15.2006

Bioenergy Fuels Research - $5.7 Million in DoE and USDA Grant Funds Awarded

… the award of nine grants totaling $5.7 million for biobased fuels research that are intended to accelerate the development of alternative fuel resources ...

7.21.2006

Harvard Assessment Released

An update to the Harvard risk assessment on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is now available online...

7.10.2006

Nutrient Data on Pork Updated

"Nutrient Data on Pork Updated" is the title of a June 26 USDA Agricultural Research Service News Release which states in part that ARS that day ...

6.29.2006

David H. Baker Named Third Annual Winner of the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award

Savoy, IL - David H. Baker, professor emeritus of nutrition and University Scholar, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, has been named the third annual winner of the FASS-AFIA New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award.

6.23.2006

EPA Regulation of Manure Management at Confined Animal Feeding Operations

On June 22, EPA issued a News Release, titled "Rule Proposed to Control Effluent from Large Animal Feedlots," which states in part that " ...

6.14.2006

BSE in North America - Economic Impacts

On June 9, the USDA Economic Research Service released a report, titled "An Economic Chronology of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in North America...

6.13.2006

Use of Distillers' Grains in Livestock Feed

The USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service seeks public comments within 30 days of June 9 on the paperwork...

6.7.2006

USDA Issues Final Revisions of its National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a Final Rule, titled "National Organic Program - Revisions to Livestock Standards Based on Court Order (Harvey v. Johanns) and 2005 Amendment to the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA)" which...

5.24.2006

Mastitis Control in Dairy Herds

An Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-led team has combined specific DNA segments from two different sources to produce a novel antimicrobial protein.

5.24.2006

WHO Suspects Human Bird Flu Transmission

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Indonesian man who died of bird flu after nursing his sick son may have caught the virus in a case of direct human-to-human transmission...

5.19.2006

USDA TO RECONSIDER GRASS-FED DEFINITION

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting comments on a revised proposed voluntary standard for a grass (forage) fed marketing claim.

5.16.2006

Role of Migratory Birds in the Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

A qualitative risk assessment was conducted to determine 1) the likelihood of introduction of Asian lineage H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus by migratory birds...

5.16.2006

Scientists need to consider the public interest for research results

Scientists should consider the public interest when deciding whether, when and how to communicate their research results, according to a report

5.9.2006

A "National Strategy for Agriculture" was released on May 8 by the US Environmental Protection Agency

The strategy is intended to " ... initiate a closer partnership with agriculture in fulfilling the agency's mission of protecting human health and the environment ..."

5.5.2006

U.S. Discusses Adding Avian Strain to Influenza Vaccine

SINGAPORE -- U.S. public-health officials are considering an unorthodox use of a familiar tool -- the seasonal-flu shot -- as a hedge against a possible pandemic outbreak of avian influenza in humans...

5.4.2006

Avian Influenza Action Group to Coordinate U.S. International Effort

The Department of State has established a new Action Group to coordinate United States preparedness and response to avian influenza and the threat of a global human influenza pandemic. The Action Group reports...

5.4.2006

Fact Sheet: Advancing the Nation's Preparedness for Pandemic Influenza

The Bush Administration Announced The Implementation Plan For The National Strategy For Pandemic Influenza. The President's Homeland Security Advisor, Frances Townsend...

5.4.2006

Listen to Science's Special Influenza Podcast from 21 April, 2006

5.4.2006

CAST Releases New Commentary Evaluating Impacts of an Avian Influenza Outbreak on International Trade

4.4.2006

Deadline Approaching for the FASS–American Feed Industry Association New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award. All nominations due by April 28, 2006.

2.28.2006

Abstract submission deadline approaching for the 2006 FDA Science Forum: A Century of FDA Science: Pioneering the Future of Public Health

1.19.2006

CAST Communication from Dr. John Bonner

1.16.2006

Congressional Science Fellow and Scientific Liaison Director Positions Announced

9.1.2005

Federation of Animal Science Societies Announces New CEO, Dr. Jerome Baker