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1. Deer kill under way in Meridian Township [MI]
Dawn Parker
Lansing State Journal
June 4, 2015
MERIDIAN TWP. - Less than a week after officials announced a diseased deer was found in Meridian Township, sharpshooters began killing deer in the township Wednesday.
The shooting is focused on a 2-mile radius from the intersection of Marsh and Haslett roads. The deer with chronic wasting disease -- the first such wild deer found in Michigan -- was discovered near there about a month ago. State officials didn't announce the find until last week.
It's not clear how many deer the state plans to kill or who is killing them. DNR deer management specialist Chad Stewart referred those questions to USDA Wildlife Services, which did not return a message seeking comment. It's also unclear how many deer are in the township, but township Manager Frank Walsh said there is no immediate plan to conduct a count.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/nbrh5fs
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2. Kandiyohi County Records Minnesota's 40th Bird Flu Case
By The Associated Press
WJON.com
June 5, 2015
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The top turkey producing county in the country's top turkey state has recorded its 40th case of bird flu.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health on Friday said the state's latest presumed positive detection is a turkey farm in Kandiyohi County, which has seen more avian influenza outbreaks than any other in the state. The new flock size is still being determined.
Bird flu has now affected 108 Minnesota turkey and chicken farms in 23 counties, costing producers nearly 8.9 million birds.
Full text:
http://wjon.com/kandiyohi-county-records-minnesotas-40th-bird-flu-case/
See Also:
USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Five Flocks in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
June 5, 2015
WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in five additional flocks in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time. CDC considers the risk to the general public from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.
USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI H5N2 in the following counties and states:
Renville County, Minnesota (June 4, 2015) 4
15,000 chickens
7th detection in this county
Renville County, Minnesota (June 4, 2015) 2
4,800 turkeys
8th detection in this county
Sac County, Iowa (June 4, 2015)
42,200 turkeys
8th detection in this county
Hamilton County, Iowa (June 4, 2015)
19,600 turkeys
4th detection in this county
Dixon County, Nebraska (June 4, 2015)
Backyard Flock (numbers pending)
6th detection in this county
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1080e06
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3. Out-of-State Birds Restricted from Participating in Illinois Fairs
By: WIFR Newsroom
WIFR.com
June 5, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois animal health officials have announced that out-of-state birds will not be allowed to compete in Illinois events, including county fairs, FFA and 4-H fairs, Illinois State Fair, and the DuQuoin State Fair until further notice due to the bird flu outbreak affecting several states.
To date, avian influenza has not been detected in Illinois.
"The Department is taking a proactive approach to the threat of avian influenza. This decision not only protects the poultry industry, but it also guarantees our state's youth the opportunity to show livestock at our many county fairs and at both state fairs," said Director Philip Nelson.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/py7hujr
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4. Sundberg to lead new Swine Health Information Center
Feedstuffs
June 3, 2015
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced today[June 3] at the 2015 World Pork Expo that Dr. Paul Sundberg, currently vice president of science and technology for National Pork Board (NPB), has been named director of the new Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The center, a collaborative effort between NPPC, NPB and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), will focus its efforts on implementing industry preparedness for disease challenges that could affect U.S. swine herds.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Sundberg said, adding that the center provides an unprecedented opportunity for the pork industry to improve swine health in the U.S.
Prior to his role at NPB, Sundberg joined NPPC in 1994 as director of veterinary issues. Previously, he spent nine years in private practice as owner of a veterinary clinic in Madison, Neb. In 1990, he left the practice to pursue further education as part of the faculty of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa.
Dr. Sundberg attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology. He completed his veterinary medicine curriculum and master's degree in clinical science/preventive medicine at Iowa State University. He is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and is a past-president of the College. He also has a doctorate degree in veterinary microbiology with a specialty in preventive medicine from Iowa State University.
Dr. Sundberg has represented the U.S. pork industry during World Health Organization (WHO) consultations on antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance, within the International Meat Secretariat and in discussions on a variety of topics with the European Union, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, China, Japan and others. He is a member of the U.S. delegation to the OIE's 75th, 76th, and 77th General Sessions.
Sundberg will remain with NPB through the end of June, after which he'll begin his role at SHIC.
Source:
http://feedstuffs.com/story-sundberg-lead-new-swine-health-information-center-45-128373
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5. North Carolina Adopts Law Banning Secret Filming of Livestock's Treatment
Legislators override veto of 'ag gag' law, to chagrin of animal-rights groups
By Tennille Tracy
The Wall Street Journal
June 3, 2015
North Carolina lawmakers passed a law Wednesday trying to prevent animal-rights activists from surreptitiously filming alleged abuses of animals on farms and ranches, overriding a veto issued by the state's governor on Friday.
Both the House and Senate passed the law by more than the 60% majority needed to override a veto, making North Carolina the latest state to adopt an "ag gag" law.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/nh8wdwy
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6. Canada, Mexico responds to COOL
Feedstuffs
June 4, 2015
Canada and Mexico will seek World Trade Organization (WTO) authorization to impose retaliatory measures against exports to their countries.
Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade, and Gerry Ritz, Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, jointly with Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, Mexico's Secretary of Economy, and Enrique Mart�nez y Mart�nez, Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, today issued the following statement on the two countries' next steps at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States' country of origin labelling (COOL) measure:
"On May 18, 2015, the WTO once again confirmed Canada and Mexico's long-standing position that the United States' mandatory COOL requirements for beef and pork are discriminatory and are a violation of the United States' international trade obligations.
"The amended COOL measure, which causes Canadian and Mexican livestock and meat to be segregated from those of U.S. origin, is damaging to North America's supply chain and is harmful to producers and processors in all three countries.
"In light of the WTO's final decision and due to the fact that this blatantly protectionist measure remains in place, our governments today are asking the WTO for a special Dispute Settlement Body meeting to request retaliation rights against the United States, to take place on June 17.
"Canada will request authorization from the WTO to impose over C$3 billion in retaliatory measures against the U.S., while Mexico will seek authorization for over US$653 million.
Full text:
http://feedstuffs.com/story-canada-mexico-responds-cool-45-128449
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7. Considering Legal Protection For Landfills [IA]
KIWARadio.com
June 5, 2015
Des Moines, Iowa - The Iowa Legislature is working on new liability protections for government-owned landfills, such as the one near Sheldon that accept the dead carcasses from poultry operations that have been hit by bird flu. Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm, a Democrat from Cresco, says it's a protection for taxpayers who would have to pick up the tab if their local landfill is sued.
More than 30 million chickens and turkeys have had to be killed in Iowa due to the bird flu outbreak. All of the turkeys and some chickens are being composted in their barns. Some dead chickens are being buried just outside on the farms. Some are being burned and others are being shipped to landfills.
Full text:
http://kiwaradio.com/local-news/considering-legal-protection-for-landfills/
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