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1. INFORM: Environmental Impact Statement for Mass Carcass Disposal and an Environmental Assessment for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
August 14, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comments on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for mass carcass management. Additionally, APHIS is also publishing an environmental assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
The draft EIS is available at:
The EA and FONSI are available at:
The full announcement may be viewed here*.
Source:
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2. Livestock disease spreading north into Dakotas [VS - edited]
Associated Press
The Capital Journal
August 14, 2015
BISMARCK - A highly contagious livestock disease that has spread from southern states as far north as South Dakota has officials concerned in North Dakota, where the illness hasn't been diagnosed for nearly eight decades.
Horses and cattle infected with vesicular stomatitis have been found this year in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona and South Dakota. Infected animals become lame, have difficulty eating and lose weight. Cases in South Dakota have grown from two late last month to 13 either confirmed or suspected, mostly in the Black Hills region, State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven said.
"Not since 1982 has it been identified in South Dakota," he said.
North Dakota officials say there is no indication of the disease being present in the state since 1937. The Board of Animal Health has implemented expanded requirements for livestock imports from states with vesicular stomatitis to try to keep out the disease, which spreads through biting insects, direct contact with infected animals and contact with contaminated equipment.
A certificate of veterinary inspection that has always been required now must include a statement that the animal hasn't originated from an area with the disease and shows no sign of it. It also must include the inspecting veterinarian's permit number, so North Dakota officials can communicate with the vet if needed.
"It's to protect (animals) and minimize the impacts of the disease," said State Veterinarian Susan Keller.
The disease appears to be cyclical and officials don't completely understand why it is so prevalent this year, though Oedekoven said ideal environmental conditions for biting flies and midges are a likely reason.
South Dakota also implemented stricter livestock import requirements when the disease surfaced in nearby states, but those didn't keep the disease out. The state's Animal Industry Board is stressing good sanitation and biosecurity measures among animal owners to help prevent a widespread outbreak.
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3. Colorado VS: 70 Premises in 10 Counties Quarantined
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
August 14, 2015
As of Aug. 12, the Colorado Department of Agriculture's (CDA) state veterinarian's office has 70 locations in 10 counties under quarantine after horses, mules, and cattle herds tested positive for vesicular stomatitis (VS).
County /Number of Currently Quarantined Premises /Number of Quarantines Released
Archuleta 4/2
Chaffee 1 /-
Conejos 1/-
Delta 15 / 2
La Plata 5 / 1
Larimer 18 / 3
Mesa 3 /1
Montezuma 2 / 2
Montrose 19 / 2
Weld 2 / -
Totals 70 / 13
"This outbreak is not contained to one specific area of the state," said State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. "I encourage all livestock owners to be aware of their county status and take the proper precautions to prevent insect populations on their property." Full text: ********
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4. Orange County Horse is First Case of West Nile Virus in Virginia in 2015
By: WHSV Newsroom
WHSV.com
August 14, 2015
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced on Friday the state's first positive case of West Nile Virus.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced on Friday the state's first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse in 2015.
The horse, a five-year-old Choctaw mare, is from Orange County. The horse was not currently vaccinated for the virus.
The onset of WNV symptoms started August 3, 2015. The horse was treated at an equine veterinary hospital in Charlottesville and discharged when its symptoms improved.
Dr. Joe Garvin, head of VDACS' Office of Laboratory Services, urges horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV. "WNV is a mosquito-borne disease," he said, "and we generally start seeing our first cases in August and September. The disease is preventable by vaccination, as is Eastern Equine Encephalitis, so many veterinarians recommend vaccination at least yearly, and in mosquito-prone areas, every six months." He adds that mosquito season in Virginia can run through November.
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5. JBS doesn't see Brazil beef exports to U.S. before 2016
Reuters
August 14, 2015
Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA expects fresh beef exports to the United States to begin no earlier than 2016, later than the Brazilian government predicted, Chief Executive Officer Wesley Batista said on Friday.
An agreement between the two countries was signed in June, when Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff visited Washington, but Batista said it would take time to work through bureaucratic approvals and overcome resistance from U.S. cattle producers.
"I never thought this would be an easy, simple deal," Batista told analysts on a call to discuss second-quarter earnings. JBS is the world's largest beef exporter.
Brazil's agriculture ministry had said exports could begin in August for the first time in 15 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture took the first steps towards allowing imports in late June, but additional actions are required.
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6. Inspectors' challenge to poultry rules dismissed
Mateusz Perkowski
Capital Press
August 14, 2015
A lawsuit filed by federal meat inspectors that alleged new USDA poultry inspection rules are unlawful has been dismissed by a federal judge.
The case is the second legal challenge against the regulations to be thrown out of court this year.
Under the new rules, which USDA approved in 2014, fewer inspectors are assigned to visually examining carcasses and the speed of inspections is increased.
The revised National Poultry Inspection System regulations allow more screening to conducted by slaughterhouse employees, while federal inspectors are geared toward preventing contamination.
However, the union representing inspectors claimed the changes would reduce food safety and make consumers - including inspectors - more susceptible to disease from eating chicken.
U.S. District Judge Ketanji Jackson has found that the plaintiffs failed to show they have the legal standing to oppose the regulations in federal court.
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7. Call for Nominations for the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)
Notices
Pages 48910-48911
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20080]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO260000.L10600000.PC0000.LXSIADVSBD00]
Call for Nominations for the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to solicit public nominations for three positions on the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board (Board). The Board provides advice concerning the management, protection, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands administered by the
Department of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and by the Department of Agriculture through the U.S. Forest Service.
DATES: Nominations must be post marked or submitted to the address listed below no later than September 28, 2015.
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