commissioner

Commissioner Pate Advises Horse Owners to Vaccinate for EEE & West Nile Virus

Dan ADAI, Alabama, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Equine, Livestock, News from Our Sponsors

(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/August 23, 2023) — Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate has announced that a horse has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) by the ADAI’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Auburn. The positive result originated from a horse in Baldwin County. EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than West Nile Virus (WNV). The mortality …

horse protection

USDA Proposal to Strengthen Horse Protection Act

Dan Agri-Business, Equine, Legislative, Livestock, Regulation, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

A proposed rule to strengthen horse protection. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks public input on a proposed rule to strengthen Horse Protection Act (HPA) requirements. Announced last week, the proposed changes aim to eliminate horse soring, a practice that gives horse owners and trainers an unfair advantage in …

recycling

Manure Recycling on the Farm

Dan Beef, Biofuels/Energy, Cattle, Dairy, Environment, Equine, Fertilizer, Greenhouse Gas, Livestock, Pasture, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats, This Land of Ours

It’s another type of recycling on the farm. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers who utilize manure as a fertilizer mostly get the aromatic livestock byproduct from their own operations. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows most manure applied to U.S. cropland, 78 percent, comes from animals raised on the same operation. Meanwhile, 14 percent …

animal-raising claims

USDA Launches Effort to Strengthen Substantiation of Animal-Raising Claims

Dan Beef, Cattle, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, USDA, USDA-ARS, USDA-FSIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday that it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims. This action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy. “Consumers should be able to trust …

agriculture covid

USDA Developing New Ways to Track COVID in Wild and Domestic Animals

Dan Beef, Cattle, Coronavirus, Dairy, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, USDA-APHIS, USDA-ARS

Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are developing new tests to identify and track the COVID virus in wild and domestic animals. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is implementing $300 million to conduct monitoring and surveillance of susceptible animals for the COVID virus. Through the initiative, ARS, in partnership with …

veterinarians

U. S. Needs More Veterinarians

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, This Land of Ours

There’s a shortage of veterinarians in the United States. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation found that there is a shortfall of veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry in rural areas. The report says that shortfall is threatening public health, food safety, and economic growth in communities that depend on agriculture. More than 500 …

disaster recovery

Florida Commissioner Nikki Fried Shares USDA Disaster Assistance Programs for Agricultural Producers, Urges Early Reporting of Losses

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cannabis, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Eggs, Equine, FDACS, Field Crops, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Fruits, Hemp, Herbs, Hydroponics, Industry, Livestock, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables, Weather, Wheat

(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Sep 30, 2022) —  In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is sharing important resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist Florida agricultural producers who suffered losses due to the storm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian that USDA has multiple programs to provide assistance in the wake of …

Florida on Alert as Hurricane Ian Threatens

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Hemp, Herbs, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Peanuts, Pollinators, Poultry, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Weather

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 26, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Floridians to be aware of local evacuation orders as Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen into a “major” storm in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as early as Tuesday. DeSantis said during a media briefing just before noon Monday that Ian will bring heavy rain, strong winds, flash flooding, storm surges …

animal agriculture

Protecting Horses Against West Nile Virus

Dan Equine, Livestock, This Land of Ours

Protecting Horses Against West Nile Virus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Since 1999, more than 25,000 cases of West Nile Virus encephalitis have been reported in horses, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Department Head for Entomology and Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Justin Talley, says West Nile Virus is spread by the …

horses

West Nile Virus Still a Threat to Horses Despite Drought

Dan Equine, Livestock, This Land of Ours

Many parts of the nation are in drought, but that doesn’t mean the end of mosquitos. Find out what that means for your horses, in today’s This Land of Ours. While much of the western U.S. endures widespread drought, people may think mosquito season won’t be as intense. However, just because there’s no rain doesn’t mean there are no mosquitoes. …