FDA extends comment period on 'natural' definition

The Food & Drug Administration announced in a Dec. 28 Federal Register notice that it is extending the comment period for a docket to receive information and comments on the use of the term "natural" in the labeling of human food products, including foods that are genetically engineered or contain ingredients produced through the use of genetic engineering. A notice requesting comments on this topic first appeared in the Nov. 12 Federal Register.

FDA initially established Feb. 10, 2016, as the deadline for the submission of comments but is now extending that deadline to May 10, 2016, to allow interested parties additional time to submit comments.
Southwest dairies hit hard by Goliath

Winter Storm Goliath packed a powerful punch to the heart of the Texas dairy industry that will be felt well into the future, from a reduction in the state's milk supply to dairy financial losses to the emotional impact on farmers of losing their animals, according to Darren Turley, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD).

New Mexico dairies were also hit hard but specific losses were still in the process of being determined.

"Like all agriculture, dairy producers always operate at the mercy of Mother Nature," Turley said. "With Goliath, she dealt a particularly harsh and costly blow to the area's dairy producers, from the death of thousands of livestock they spend so much time caring for to a loss of milk production both over the weekend and in the future."

It wasn't until this past Tuesday that many dairy producers in the primary impact area - from Lubbock west to Muleshoe and north to Friona (roughly areas south of Interstate 40) - were able to safely walk among their cows and survey the situation, said Turley, who has talked to many of the producers in the region.
FSIS eases COOL restrictions

Following Congress' inclusion in the omnibus spending bill of a full repeal of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety & Inspection Service released a notice to its inspection program personnel to make them aware of the changes to the law.

On Dec. 18, the secretary of agriculture announced that the Agricultural Marketing Service's COOL regulations for muscle cuts of beef and pork and ground beef and pork will no longer be enforced at the retail level.
The notice said FSIS inspectors no longer need to take "any independent action on enforcement of these rules other than to notify their supervisor if they have concerns."

Separately, FSIS is developing guidance for federally inspected establishments to geographic claims they may wish to make on beef and pork muscle cuts and ground products now that the COOL regulations are no longer being enforced.
Ecologist finds another cause of antibiotic resistance

While the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has prompted the medical community, non-profit organizations, public health officials and the national media to focus on the dangers of misusing and overusing antibiotics, the University of Georgia's J. Vaun McArthur is concerned that there's more to the problem than the misuse of common medications.

McArthur, a senior research ecologist with the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Odum School of Ecology, believes environmental contaminants may be partly to blame for the rise in bacterial resistance, and he tested this hypothesis in streams on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site.

The 310-square mile site near Aiken, S.C., east of the Savannah River, was closed to the public in the early 1950s to produce materials used in nuclear weapons. This production led to legacy waste, or contamination, in limited areas of the site. This waste impacted some of the streams in the industrial areas.
ADSA News and Happenings
ADSA® says "It's Not too Late to Renew (or Join)"
While the New Year has begun, if you forgot to renew your ADSA membership you can still do it.  We have highlighted many of the benefits of membership in recent weeks such as the Discover Conferences, S-PAC, networking opportunities, the Large Dairy Herd Management Conference, member savings  and more in addition to our top rated Journal of Dairy Science.  Be sure that you continue to receive them through the coming year by renewing today. If you are not already a member we hope that you find the many ADSA benefits of interest.  Now is a great time to join and take advantage of all these member benefits and joining. In order to serve our members, and potential members more efficiently, we are continuing to offer online dues renewal. We look forward to your membership and participation through the coming year If you are not yet a member, now is a great time to join and begin gaining all the benefits of membership.  Click here to join or
 
A Present from ADSA to begin the New Year
The ADSA® Board is pleased to announce that the Journal of Dairy Science will have new sections beginning with the January 2016 issue. We invite you to view the new sections by browsing the January issue, which has been made freely accessible to all readers.
The journal has expanded from four science sections to six subsections in dairy foods and six subsections in dairy production to further distinguish content.
The Table of Contents will feature subsections for the first time. Dairy Foods, the section that receives the most submissions, will now be subdivided into six, more specific content areas: Processing and Engineering; Chemistry and Materials Science; Microbiology and Safety; Bioactivity and Human Health; Sensory Analysis; and Resources and Environment.
The new dairy production sections include Physiology; Management and Economics; Health, Behavior, and Well-being; Animal Nutrition; Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics; and Resources and Environment. Our Industry Today will be renamed Dairy Industry Today, but its scope will remain the same.
Thank you to Dr. Matthew Lucy, editor-in-chief; the Section Editors, and the Journal Management Committee for their work to refine the journal sections. Read the full press release.
Sincerely,
Susan E. Duncan, PhD, RD
ADSA President
 
LDHM Conference Registration is Open
Registration is now open for the Large Dairy Herd Management conference to be held May 1-4, 2016 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center in Oak Brook, IL.  This conference is designed to provide an opportunity for authors to obtain feedback on the chapter papers developed for the Large Dairy Herd Management e-Book. The program will be designed so attendees can participate in the sessions of most interest to them. It includes 96 sessions that are organized around the 15 e-Book sections. For a full list of topics and editors visit the conference website.  Key stakeholders in the international dairy science community will want to be a part of the conversation about the above topics that impact large dairy herd management. This includes but is not limited to dairy extension specialists, researchers, dairy educators, consultants, allied industry representatives, and dairy producers. A range of sponsorship opportunities are available as well.
  
Would you like to help the animal and dairy science community and attend the 2017 ADSA Annual Meeting for free?
Referrals are the most tried-and-true way businesses grow, and the same is true for FASS. Do you know a colleague working with an animal science group that is in need of high-quality, cost-effective support services? Help them out by referring them to Jamie Ritter, FASS Executive Director at jamier@assochq.org .
Help them benefit from the shared resource concept and the 264 years of collective experience the FASS staff have in working with non-profit animal science organizations. If your referral becomes a FASS customer prior to June 1, 2017, ADSA will comp your registration to the 2017 ADSA Annual Meeting that will be held June 25 to 28, 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA.  It's win-win-win. For more information about services offered by FASS, click here.
 
Are You Part of ADSA® on Linked In
Our ADSA Linked In group continues to grow. We now include 1,475 members from around the world, are you one of them? It's a great place to get information and network with other dairy professionals from around the world.  Check it out here.
Thanks to our Corporate Sustaining Members
                                 We appreciate your ongoing support of ADSA and the Journal of Dairy Science®.
Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition
Elanco Animal Health
Diamond V Mills 
Kent Nutrition
Grande Cheese Co.
Kraft Foods
GEA Farm Technologies 
BioZyme Inc.
Darling International Research
Quali Tech
Zook Nutrition & Management
Zinpro
DuPont Pioneer
Zoetis
West Central
Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Ag Processing
Renaissance Nutrition
Global Agri-Trade Corp.
Masters Choice
Papillon Agricultural Co.
Nutriad 
Calendar of Events
Jan 12, 2016     Cornell University - Vat Pasteurization Workshop, Sohha Savory Yogurt, Astoria, NY, For more information contact Rob Ralyea 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker 607-255-7098, click here for registration
 
Jan 5, 2016     Diagnosing and Monitoring Ketosis in Dairy Herds- Webinar with Dr. Garrett Oetzel, University of Wisconsin-Madison, For more information and to register click here
 
Jan 18-19, 2016     Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference: The Riverside Hotel, Boise Idaho, visit the http://www.pnwanc.org/
 
Jan 19, 2016     Hyperketonemia Treatment at the Individual Cow and Herd Level- Webinar with Dr. Jessica McArt, Cornell University, For more information and to register click here
 
Jan. 20-21, 2016      Antimicrobial Stewardship: Policy, Education and Economics Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, D.C,  Fore more information click here.
 
Feb 15-17, 2016      Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium*,  Gainesville, FL, For more information click here.
 
Feb 16-18, 2016     Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Training - Preventive Controls for Human Food, Stocking Hall Conference Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, For more information contact:  Kim Bukowski, Ph 607-254-3313 or Louise Felker, Ph 607-255-7098
 
Feb 17-19, 2016 Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge: hosted by UW Platteville and Southwest Technical College in Platteville, WI For more information, visit the Dairy Challenge web site
 
Feb 17-19, 2016     2016 Southwest Nutrition Conference, Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference, Tempe, AZ, For more information click here
 
Feb 17-19, 2016     VSFA Convention and VT DASC "Cow College"*, Roanoke, VA, For more information click here
 
Feb 23, 2016  Vermont Dairy Producers Conference, For more information click here
 
Feb 23-24, 2016     Specialty Cheese Course, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, NY, For more information contact Rob Ralyea 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker 607-255-7098
 
Feb. 25-26, 2016      USDA Ag Outlook Conference - Transforming Agriculture: Blending Technology and Tradition, Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel,  Arlington, VA,  for information about the Forum and to register, go to www.usda.gov/oce/forum/.
 
Feb 25-27, 2016 Western Regional Dairy Challenge: hosted by College of the Sequoias in Tulare, CA  For more information, visit the Dairy Challenge web site
 
March 7-8, 2016     NYS Cheese Manufacturers' Association Meeting, Double Tree Hotel, Syracuse, NY, For more information contact  Janene Lucia, Ph
607-227-5833
 
Mar. 8 - 11, 2016      34th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar*, for more information click here
 
Mar 14 - 16, 2016     Midwest Meeting ADSA® Midwest Branch and ASAS Midwestern Section, Des Moines, IA
 
Mar 30-31, 2016     Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Workshop, Cornell University.  For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
April 5-7, 2016     Membrane Filtration, Separation, and Concentration Technologies, Cornell University, For more information contact Steve Murphy, Ph: 607-255-2893 or Louise Felker, Ph: 607-255-709
 
April 7-9, 2016 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge & Academy: hosted by the Northeast Region in Syracuse, NY For more information, visit the Dairy Challenge web site
 
April 12-14, 2016     (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop in Association with NYS Agric. & Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Steve Murphy, Ph: 607-255-2893 or Louise Felker , PH: 607-255-7098
 
Apr18 - 20, 2016     Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Grand Wayne Center,  Fort Wayne, IN, For more information click here
 
May 1-4, 2016     Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM) Conference, Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, Oak Brook, IL, For more information click here
 
May 24-25, 2016     Basic Dairy Science & Sanitation Workshop, Online and Cornell University,  For more information contact Kim Bukowski Ph: 607-254-3313 or Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 7-8, 2016     Science of Yogurt & Fermented Dairy Products Workshop (Basic), On-line and Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 15-16, 2016     4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, Grand River Center, Dubuque, IA, contact Jim Salfer, U of MN, salfe001@umn.edu
 
June 20-24, 2016 13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis*, Nantes, France, For more information click here
 
July 2-9, 2016  American Dairy Goat Association National Show, Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg, PA. For more information contact ADGA, PO Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160, 828-286-3801 www.ADGA.org.
 
July 3-8, 2016     World Buiatrics Congress 2016, Convention Centre Dublin, Ireland, For more information click here.
 
July 12-14, 2016     High Temperature Short Time (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop
in association with NYS Agriculture and Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
July 18-21, 2016     Certified Milk Inspector's School in Association with NY State
Agriculture & Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098, Course Syllabus  , Required Course of NYS-CMIs
 
July 19-23, 2016  ADSA- ASAS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)*, Salt Lake City, UT, for more information click here
 
July 24-28, 2016     2016 National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference (AM/PIC)
Little Rock, AR, For more information click here
 
Aug 15-18, 2016     Food Safety Systems (HACCP) and Implementing SQF, Cornell University, For more information contact Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Sept 11-13, 2016     NYS Cheese Manufacturers' Assoc. Annual Fall Meeting, Harbor Hotel, Watkins Glen NY, For more information contact Janene Lucia, Ph: 607-227-5833
 
Sept 14-15, 2016     Advanced Fluid Milk Cornell University, For more information contact Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Sept 20-22, 2016      NYS Association for Food Protection Annual Conference/FDA NE Regional Update, Doubletree Hotel Syracuse, NY For more information contact Janene Lucia, Ph: 607-227-5833
 
Oct 4-8, 2016     50th World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI. For more information click here
 
Oct 11-13, 2016     High Temperature Short Time (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop, Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Oct 19-20, 2016     Advanced Cheese Making, Cornell University, For more information contact Rob Ralyea Ph: 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker Ph:  607-255-7098
 
Oct 20-26, 2016     120th IUSAHA- AAVLD Annual Meeting , Greensboro Sheraton Hotel. Greensboro, NC, For more information click here
 
Oct 25-26, 2016     Vat Pasteurization/Basic Cheese Making Workshop, On-line and Cornell University, For more information contact Rob Ralyea Ph: 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker Ph:  607-255-7098
 
Nov 1-4, 2016    31st ADSA Discover Conference: Big Data Dairy Management,  Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, Oak Brook, IL, For more information click here
 
Dec 6-7, 2016     Food Safety Plans for Artisan and Farmstead Processors, Online & Hands-On Location TBD, For more information contact Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 25-28, 2017 2017 ADSA Annual Conference and Tradeshow, Pittsburgh, PA.  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.
 
 
ADSA Membership Benefits                                 
                                           
Did you know that your ADSA Professional Membership provides you with:

*        Electronic access to the Journal of Dairy Science®

*        Joint Annual Meeting at member rates

*        Discover Conferences at member rates

*        S-PAC: Free access to JAM and ADSA divisional abstracts

*        S-PAC subscription at member rates

*        Access to recorded symposia library                                                                       

*        ADSA News (association newsletter)

*        ADSA Dair e-news (ADSA industry newsletter)

*        Access to member directory

*        Peer recognition through ADSA and Foundation Award Program

*        Discounted page charges in Journal of Dairy Science®

*        A strong voice of advocacy for the animal sciences, animal agriculture and agriculture research

*        Broad author recognition through ADSA/Elsevier press release program

*        Linked In and You Tube sites for ADSA

*        Quality networking with academic and industry professionals

*        Travel awards for all graduate students attending Discover Conferences

*        Opportunity to serve peers via committee and officer positions

 
For more information on your benefits please visit: http://www.adsa.org/join.asp
To join now and gain these member benefits, visit: http://www.adsa.org/join.asp
American Dairy Science Association
1800 South Oak St., Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
Email: adsa@assochg.org