CDC: One-third of antibiotic prescriptions unnecessary

At least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in the U.S. are unnecessary, according to new data published May 3 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with Pew Charitable Trusts and other public health and medical experts.

The study analyzed antibiotic use in doctors' offices and emergency departments throughout the U.S.

CDC researchers found that most of these unnecessary antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory conditions caused by viruses - including the common cold, viral sore throat, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections - that do not respond to antibiotics. These 47 million excess prescriptions each year put patients at needless risk for allergic reactions or the potentially deadly diarrhea-causing bacteria Clostridium difficile.

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Drought coverage decreases after previous month's rise

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor reported that during the four-week period ending May 3, 2016, contiguous U.S. drought coverage decreased to 14.56% - down 2.15% from the month prior. Since reaching a 5.5-year minimum of 12.41% on March 15, drought coverage rose to a spring maximum of 17.75% for the lower 48 states on April 12 before falling back to the current coverage of 14.56%.

"Most of the increase and subsequent decrease in drought coverage has been related to the development of short-term drought in parts of the central U.S., followed by wetter weather starting in mid-April," U.S. Department of Agriculture meteriologist Brad Rippey said. "There has also been some further erosion of drought from northern California to the northern Intermountain West."

According to Rippey, a mid- to late-April pattern change brought desperately needed precipitation to the Great Plains and pushed warm, showery weather into the Midwest and mid-Atlantic states. Precipitation in the Plains reversed a short-term drying trend, greatly benefiting winter wheat and putting an end to a spate of wildfires and episodes of blowing dust in Oklahoma and neighboring states.
Purdue, CME launch monthly ag economy confidence 'barometer'

The Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture and the derivatives marketplace CME Group are partnering to produce the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, a monthly measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy.

The introduction of this national economic indicator underscores the importance of the agricultural economy and its participants - food producers and agribusinesses - to the overall U.S. and global economies, Purdue and CME said in announcing the partnership.

"Agriculture is a critical component of the global economy and has been the cornerstone of CME Group's business for nearly 170 years," CME executive chairman and president Terry Duffy said. "By providing financial tools to help producers and agribusiness participants manage the risks they face, they are better able to focus on what they do best: feeding the world. We believe this collaboration with Purdue University to create the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer will provide an essential resource for monitoring the health of the food industry and vital insight into the global economy."

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ADSA News and Happenings


LDHM Conference a Huge Success
Over 600 dairy professionals gathered from May 1 to 4 in Oak Brook, Illinois, for the Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM) conference. The two-and-a-half-day conference provided an initial look at the content planned for the third edition of the Large Dairy Herd Management reference book, being developed as an e-book by the American Dairy Science Association® Foundation.
Authors of the 94 chapters that will be included in the 15 sections of the e-book presented summaries of the planned chapters. Participants were invited to suggest additions, potential enhancements, and clarifications of the content to be included. This input will be used to ensure that the book presents the best and most up-to-date information related to dairy production and management.
Following the conference, Dr. Dave Beede, editor-in-chief of the book, said "We were extremely pleased with the very active engagement and dialogue of attendees with authors and section editors during the presentation sessions, in the hallways, and at the work session to help us with the e-book. Doubtless, the conference catapults us forward to the next phase of the project-to complete the e-book."
In addition to the cutting-edge science and management presentations in the sessions, the meeting provided a great opportunity for networking. Meeting attendees came from 29 countries and 36 states. Seventy-five percent of the participants were from industry, representing 156 companies in 28 countries. Faculty, staff, and students of 42 universities in 9 countries also participated. Thanks are extended to the 26 sponsors who helped to make the conference possible.
Information about the conference and e-book, including the conference program book, is available on the LDHM website http://adsa.org/Meetings/LargeDairyHerdManagement.aspx and on S-PAC® https://spac.adsa.org/. Check the website for details on book chapters, authors, and plans. A Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM) e-Book and Conference Update will be held at the 2016 JAM on Tuesday, July 19, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Publication of the e-book is anticipated in spring 2017.
 
USDA Dedicates $6 Million to Research on Antimicrobial Resistance
On May 2nd, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will be making $6 million available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to support research related to antimicrobial resistance.  Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated that, "Through our Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, USDA is leading the way to better understand how antibiotic resistance develops, find alternatives to antibiotics, and educate people on practices that reduce the need for antibiotics,".  Research supported under this announcement will help advance efforts to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and protect public health.
Applications are due August 3, 2016 and must address one or more of the following areas:
  • Develop novel systems approaches to investigate the ecology of microbial resistance microbes and gene reservoirs in the environment in animals, in crops, in food products, or in farm-raised aquaculture products.
  • Develop, evaluate, and implement effective and sustainable resources and strategies, to include alternative practices, techniques, technologies or tools that mitigate emergence, spread or persistence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens within the agricultural ecosystem, in animals, in crops, and in food.
  • Identify critical control points for mitigating antimicrobial resistance in the pre- and post-harvest food production environment.
  • Design innovative t
  • raining, education, and outreach resources (including web-based resources) that can be adapted by users across the food chain, including policy makers, producers, processors, retailers and consumers.
More details about the program and the Request for Applications can be found here. 
 
S-PAC Grows Again.
We are pleased to announce the addition of proceedings from the 2016 Florida Dairy Production Conference to S-PAC.  Subscribers now have access to 550 proceedings from 58 of the top dairy and animal related conferences in the world.  You can check out the full lineup at https://spac.adsa.org, If you are not currently a subscriber, just click on "Subscribe to S-PAC" and add it to your information toolbox today.
 
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 1,536 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®.
Ag Processing Inc.
Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition
Dairy Nutrition Plus
Darling International Research
Diamond V
DuPont Pioneer
Global Agri-Trade Corporation
Grande Cheese Company
Kent Nutrition Group
Kraft Heinz Foods
Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Masters Choice
Nutriad, Inc.
Papillon Agricultural Company
Quali Tech, Inc.
Renaissance Nutrition Inc.
Western Pacific Oils LLC
Zoetis
Zook Nutrition & Management Inc.
Calendar of Events
May 10-11, 2016   Applied Dairy Chemistry, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

May 10-11, 2016  Dairy Lab for Improved Quality. The Ohio State University. Columbus, OH. For more information, click here.

May 15-19, 2016  "Membrane & Other Separation Technologies" short course, sponsored by Food Protein R&D Center at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. For registration and more information, click here.

May 18-20, 2016   Minnesota Dairy Health Conference, Crowne Plaza Suites MSP Airport - Mall of America, Bloomington, MN, for registration and more information, click here.

May 20-21, 2016  The Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium: Intersection of Best Practices and Sustainability. Ohio Union at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. For registration and 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
 
May 24-25, 2016  IDFA's 2016 Milk and Cultured Dairy Conference, Omni Severin Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. For more information and registration, click here.

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 7-9, 2016   Cheese Grading Short Course, Babcock Hall, 2605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

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
 
June 21-23, 2016  Precision Dairy Farming 2016, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. 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 2-3, 2016  Milk Pasteurization, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. 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
 
Aug 17-18, 2016  2016 Mid-South Ruminant Nutrition Conference*, Embassy Suites, Grapevine, TX. For registration and more information, click here.

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 13-14, 2016   Master Artisan Short Course Series, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

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

Sept 21-22, 2016  77th Minnesota Nutrition Conference*, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, MN. For more information and registration, click here.

Oct 3-7, 2016   Cheese Tech Short Course, Babcock Hall Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.
 
Oct 4-6, 2016  Introduction to Dairy Processing and Management. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. For more information and registration, click here. 

Oct 4-8, 2016     50th World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI. For more information click here
 
Oct 11-12, 2016  Dairy Ingredient Manufacturing, Babcock Hall, Room 2015, 1605 Linden Dr., 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 13-19, 2016  120th IUSAHA- AAVLD Annual Meeting , Greensboro Sheraton Hotel. Greensboro, NC, For more information click here (Note - date correction)

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 19-20, 2016  HTST Maintenance Workshop. The Ohio State University. Columbus, OH. For more information and registration, click here.  
 
Oct 25-26, 2016   Advance Clean In Place (CIP), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. For more information and registration, 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
 
Oct 25-27, 2016  Pasteurizer Operators Workshop, Penn State University, Food Science Building, Curtain and Bigler Roads, University Park, PA 16802. For details on the workshop and registration information, click here.

Oct 25-30, 2016  American Dairy Goat Assn Convention, Hilton Austin Airport Hotel, Austin, Texas. For more information contact ADGA, P.O. Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160, 828-286-3801. www.ADGA.org

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

Nov 2-4, 2016   Cheese Grading Short Course, Babcock Hall, Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison WI, For more information click here

Nov 7-10, 2016  The Science and Art of Cheese Making Short Course, Rodney A.Erickson Food Science Building, Penn State University, University Park, PA. For more information and registration, click here.

Nov 10-11, 2016     2016 DCRC Annual Meeting, Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel, Columbus, Ohio, For registration and more information click here

Nov 14-16, 2016  Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals*, St. Louis, MO. For more information and registration click here.

Nov 30-Dec 2, 2016   Ice Cream Makers Short Course, Babcock Hall, Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison WI, 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