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1. EHV-1 Confirmed in Martin County, Florida
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
March 1, 2016
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported March 1 that a horse in Martin Country, Florida, has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
The EDCC stated that on Feb. 29, the affected horse was confirmed positive for neurotrophic EHV 1 and was exhibiting consistent clinical signs.
"The entire facility has been placed under quarantine with the index case placed in isolation earlier in the day," the EDCC statement read. "The horse was imported from Virginia and traveled with additional horses that off-loaded in South Carolina. Both Virginia and South Carolina have been notified and (these premises were placed) under quarantine."
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2. Lawmakers Assess Possibility of Agroterrorist Attack on US
By: Amanda Vicinanzo, Online Managing Editor
Homeland Security Today
March 2, 2016
The House Committee on Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee held a hearing on Friday to examine the risk the nation faces from a terrorist attack or natural disruption of the US agriculture sector, and whether the public and private sectors are prepared to respond to these threats.
US food and agriculture accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation's economic activity, contributed $835 billion to the US gross domestic product in 2014, and is responsible for one out of every 12 US jobs, according to Subcommittee Chairman Martha McSally (R-AZ). Consequently, an agroterrorist attack could have significant economic repercussions.
"An intentional attack or natural disruption of US agriculture or food, therefore, would present a serious threat to this nation and cause major economic damages on a number of levels," McSally stated. "There will be costs related to containing disease and destruction of livestock, compensating farmers for loss of agricultural commodities and losses in other related industries, and trade embargoes imposed by other nations."
For example, an August 2015 outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest cost Iowa alone 1.5 million turkeys and thirty million layers and pullets, which cost the state an estimated $658 million. In addition to lost production, suppliers and vendors saw a reduced income, which in turn resulted in fewer household purchases, hurting the sales of other businesses.
According to Dr. Brian R. Williams, an Agricultural Economist from Mississippi State University, a study commissioned by Iowa Farm Bureau, this multiplier effect resulted in a total economic impact of $1.2 billion to the state of Iowa's economy, including 8,444 lost jobs.
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3. Update on EHV-1 Virus at Sunland Park Racetrack [NM]
New Mexico Livestock Board News Release
March 1, 2016
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - To simplify our reporting on the rapidly-changing EHV-1 virus outbreak at the Sunland Park Racetrack, we will update the list below regularly with the most current information. While the situation warrants, we will also e-mail blast this information as it is updated.
Number of horses diagnosed positive for the EHV-1 virus to-date: 73 in New Mexico and 2 in Texas.
Number of horses released today from the isolation barn: 6
Number of exposed barns remaining: 1
List of facilities within the quarantine perimeter:
Sunland Park Racetrack (Frontera Training Center has been released as of 3/1/2016)
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4. Prevalence of deadly deer disease increasing in some parts of Kansas
By Michael Pearce
Wichita Eagle
March 1, 2016
The gradual spread of chronic wasting disease from northwest Kansas east continues at a gradual, predictable rate.
But prevalence of the disease, which is always fatal to deer, within that area has increased tremendously, according to samples tested from deer last fall and this winter.
"We had 53 positives this year and collected about 700 samples," said Shane Hesting, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism wildlife disease coordinator. "That means our sample size has gone down and our positives have gone way up."
The results were mostly from northwest and north-central Kansas, with a few deer tested from other parts of the state that appeared to be ill.
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5. Phase II of NAHMS Equine 2015-16 Study to Begin
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
March 1, 2016
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that Phase II of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Equine 2015-16 study will resume in May. This is NAHMS' third national study of the U.S. equine industry.
A stakeholder announcement issued Feb. 23 explained that the second phase of the study was postponed because of last year's highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, which led to the largest response to an animal disease emergency in U.S. history. The response required the USDA to temporarily reassign personnel that had been tasked with collecting data for Phase 2 of the study. These personnel are now available to collect the data.
The Equine 2015-16 study is designed to provide participants, industry members, and animal health officials with information on the nation's equine population that will serve as a basis for education, service, and research related to equine health and management. The survey is also designed to provide new and valuable information regarding industry trends. For more information on the study, see USDA to Begin Equine Study This Spring.
[http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35502/usda-to-begin-equine-study-this-spring]
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6. General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Solicitation for Membership
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)
Notices
Page 10568
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04378]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0103
General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Solicitation for Membership
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for membership.
SUMMARY: We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for the election of regional membership, a member-at-large, and alternates to the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
DATES: Consideration will be given to nominations received on or before June 15, 2016.
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General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Meeting
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)
Notices
Pages 10568-10569
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04379]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket No. APHIS-2015-0104
General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Meeting
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: We are giving notice of a meeting of the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
DATES: The General Conference Committee meeting will be held on August 30, 2016-September 1, 2016, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The General Conference Committee meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE., Bellevue, WA 98004.
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7. Removal of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling Requirements for Beef and Pork Muscle Cuts, Ground Beef, and Ground Pork
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 10755-10761
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04609]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 65
Document No. AMS-LPS-16-0002
RIN 0581-AD29
Removal of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling Requirements for Beef and Pork Muscle Cuts, Ground Beef, and Ground Pork
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations to remove muscle cut beef and pork, and ground beef and pork from mandatory COOL requirements. The COOL regulations are issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act). The Agency is issuing this rule to conform with amendments to the Act contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.
DATES: This final rule is effective on March 2, 2016.
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