Plans for a plant-based covid vaccine are shut down. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It looks like the first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine has withered on the vine. Medicago, the Quebec City, Canada drug manufacturer has announced that it is closing down operations. While Health Canada has approved Medicago’s plant-based vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially …
USDA Developing New Ways to Track COVID in Wild and Domestic Animals
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 …
New Ways to Track COVID in Animals
The USDA is developing new ways to track COVID in wild and domestic animals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. 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 is implementing …
CDC Says Extension Service Helping Rural America Get Vaccinated
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is expressing gratitude to the nation’s Cooperative Extension Service for helping address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in rural America. Extension educators have worked to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. “Rural America continues to get hit hard by COVID, and the lives of families and communities continue to feel the impacts,” …
AgNet Media Interview with US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on COVID-19 in Rural Areas
National leaders are telling rural America to brace for the Omicron surge. While many rural areas have not yet faced a surge like urban areas, it’s likely to happen within the next few weeks. AgNet Media National Correspondent Sabrina Halvorson spoke with US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy about how the surge is affecting rural areas compared to urban. Halvorson: …
Deadline Extended to Apply for Pandemic Support for Organic Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week announced they have extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses was Jan. 7, 2022 but it’s been extended to Feb. 4, 2022. OTECP …
Florida Farmers Grapple with Transportation Problems
(TALLAHASSEE/NSF/Dec. 2, 2021) — While global supply chain issues are reportedly easing, Florida farmers told lawmakers Thursday that perishable items with short shelf lives continue to struggle in being moved from fields to markets. During a meeting of the Senate Agriculture Committee, growers said the industry faces transportation and labor shortages in getting products out of the ground and to …
Agricultural Guestworkers, the Pandemic, and Vaccinations
We’ve all heard stories of how disruptive the impacts of COVID-19 have been on the U.S. agricultural system. While they have been broad and varied, the pandemic has been a big issue when it comes to ag labor. As Rod Bain reports, farm guestworkers and their employers have really been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to vaccination …
Pandemic Assistance Heading to Poultry, Livestock Contract Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Thursday they are starting to issue some $270 million in payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry who applied for Pandemic Assistance. Earlier this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) identified gaps in assistance including in the initial proposal to assist contract growers. “We listened to feedback from producers and stakeholders about impacts …
Stay Vigilant on Handwashing and Hygiene
If you visited any public building or restroom during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have noticed an increased focus on handwashing and hygiene principles reflected in an abundance of signage on doors and in hallways. While it is great that public awareness has increased in the last 18 months, these have always been important principles, especially for all food-related businesses. …