U.S. loses COOL WTO challenge

 The United States has lost its latest attempt to defend the mandatory country-of-origin labeling law, according to individuals familiar with the World Trade Organization final ruling on the case, which was brought by Mexico and Canada.

 

The two previously won a challenge in the WTO court in 2012 so the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated the labeling requirements in May 2013 in hopes of making the law compliant with international trade rules.

 

In July, the WTO decision was provided to the governments, but will not be made public until it's translated which could be weeks, possibly months. The Wall Street Journal reported that three sources familiar with the WTO ruling said the final ruling "will be in favor of Canada and Mexico."

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Manure shouldn't be regulated like human waste

Livestock manure is a nutrient-packed resource that should not be categorized, classified or regulated in the same way as human waste, according to Dr. Pius Ndegwa, Washington State University Biological Systems Engineering School associate professor and livestock manure specialist.

He explained that the main difference between human waste and livestock manure is that human waste contains pathogenic organisms and heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium and mercury in sewage sludge. These potentially dangerous substances are not found in livestock manure, he said.

The Environmental Protection Agency "makes clear scientific distinctions between livestock manure and human waste, where a significant number and variety of harmful pathogenic organisms and disease-causing agents can be found," Ndegwa said. "For anyone who understands the nature of the two waste streams, there is no scientific basis for classifying livestock manure nutrients the same as sewage sludge as the latter pose significantly higher potential threats to the environment and human health.

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More news and commentary

Iowa Food & Family Project shows fairgoers where food comes from

Innovation Center offers companies ability to develop future foods

Food among top three expenses of raising kids
Trees, shrubs invading grasslands, diminish cattle production
Rancho owner, employees charged with meat scandal

Dates to Note:

Aug 25-29, 2014   -  European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) Annual Meeting *, Copenhagen, Denmark For more information click here

 Aug 25-29, 2014   -   9^th International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium (9^th RRS), Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro, Obihiro City, Hokkaido, Japan For more information please click here

Aug. 27, 2014   -   Artisan/Farmstead Food Safety Workshop, Ithaca, NY,  Innovation Center for US Dairy, hosted by American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Cornell University For more information and registration visit: http://www.usdairy.com/events  and scroll down to the event.

Sept. 7-9, 2014  -  NYS Cheese Manufacturers' Association Annual Fall Meeting, Sagamore on Lake George, Bolton Landing, NY. Contact Janene Lucia 607-255-2892

Sept 8-12, 2014   -  Joint ISNH/ISRP International Conference   - : Harnessing the Ecology and Physiology of Herbivores, National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia.  For more information, click here. 

Sept. 16-18, 2014   -  NYS Association for Food Protection Annual Conference, Syracuse, NY. For more information click here

Sept. 17 - 18, 2014  -  75th Annual Minnesota Nutrition Conference*, Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, Prior Lake, MN For more information click here

Sept 18 - 20, 2014  -  American Association of Bovine Practitioners Annual Conference,* in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  For more information click here.

Sept. 23-25, 2014  -   Cultured Dairy Products Short Course, Food Science Building,University Park, Pennsylvania, for more information visit http://agsci.psu.edu/cultured-dairy

Sept 30-Oct 4, 2014  -  World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI.  For more information click here

Oct. 6-8, 2014   -   11th International Symposium on Milk Genomics and Human Health, Aarhus, Denmark. For more information click here.

 

Oct 6-9, 2014  -  28th Discover Conference on Food Animal Agriculture - Starch for Ruminants, Northern Illinois University Conference Center, Naperville, IL, for more information click here

 

Oct. 8-9, 2014  -  Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference*, The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information click here

 

Oct.14-16, 2014  -   High Temperature Short Time(HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Click here for the Course Syllabus. For more information contact Steve Murphy 607-255-2893 or Janene Lucia 607-255-2892

Oct 16-22, 2014   -  U.S. Animal Health Association 118th Annual Meeting*, Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center. For more information click here

 

Oct. 18-25, 2014   -  American Dairy Goat Association Annual Meeting & Convention, DoubleTree by Hilton, Portland, Maine. For more info, call 828-286-3801 or click here.

Oct 21-23, 2014   -  CornellNutrition Conference for Feed Manufacturers *, for more information click here

Oct 21-23, 2014  -  Pasteurizer Operators Workshop, Penn State University, Food Science Building, University Park, PA, for registration and more information click here

Oct 27, 2014   -   Vat Pasteurization Workshop, Stocking Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. For more information and registration click here

Oct 28-29, 2014   -  Basic Cheese Making Workshop, Stocking Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. For more information and registration click here

Nov. 4, 2014  -   Artisan/Farmstead Food Safety Workshop, Kansas City, MO,Innovation Center for US Dairy, hosted by Midwest Dairy Association and Dairy Practices Council For more information and registration visit: http://www.usdairy.com/events  and scroll down to the event.

Nov 10-13, 2014   -  The Science and Art of Cheese Making Short Course, Penn State University, Food Science Building, University Park, PA, for registration and more information click here

Nov. 12-13, 2014   -  Pennsylvania Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop*, Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA, For more information, click here.

Nov 12-14, 2014 - The Dairyland Initiative Workshop - Stoney Creek Inn, La Crosse, WI.
 - Nov 12: Improving Calf Barn Air Quality through Positive Pressure Tube Systems and Barn Design
 - Nov 13: Positive Pressure Tube Design for Ventilation & Heat Abatement of Milking Center Holding Areas
 - Nov 14: Planning New & Remodeling Existing Housing for Dairy Cows
For more information, check the online brochure, for online registration click here.

Nov, 13-14, 2014   -  DCRC (Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council) Annual Meeting. Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT. For more information click here. 

Dec. 8-9, 2014  The Last Food Mile Conference, Philadelphia, PA. For more information, click here.

 

Jan. 4-10, 2015 - Ice Cream Short Course, The Nittany Lion Inn, State College, PA, For more information visit http://agsci.psu.edu/ice-cream

 

Jan. 24-25, 2015 - Ice Cream 101: Introduction to Frozen Dessert, Food Science Building, University Park, PA.  For more information visit http://agsci.psu.edu/ice-cream-101

 

Mar 23-26, 2015    NIAA Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN For more information click here

 

Mar 30-Apr 1, 2015   2015 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Meeting*, Madison, WI For more information click here.

 

Mar 30 - Apr 3, 2015    From Waste to Worth: Advancing Sustainability in Animal Agriculture- Seattle, WA. For more information  click here.

 

April 20-22, 2015    Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Grand Wayne Center, Ft. Wayne, IN. For more information, click here.

July 12-16, 2015    2015 ADSA- ASAS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)*, Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando, FL. For more information click here

 

June 20-24, 2016  13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis*, Nantes, France, For more information click here

 

*An S-PAC Partner Conference

If your organization's conference isn't among the ever growing list that contribute proceedings and presentations to S-PAC®, ask your conference organizer to contact Ken Olson for more information about the benefits of participation.

If you would like to have an event included in the "Dates to Note," please contact Ken Olson.