Bunt Praises Farmers 9 Anti-Bioterrorism Efforts HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Chairman of the House Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee Rep. Raymond Bunt (R-Montgomery) gave a thumbs up to the Commonwealth’s agri cultural industry as members have taken added steps to protect the state’s livestock and crops. “Signs of bioterrorism can come in many forms,” Bunt said. “By farmers and agricultural workers educating themselves about dangers and preventative measures, we are saving time, money and a possible disaster if an act of terror should occur here in Pennsylvania.” Farmers are changing their farming practices by tightening how livestock graze, placing new animals in quarantine, wearing disposable boots, using correct handling procedures and quality assurance methods, and placing locks on buildings that house ani mals. Veneman Chooses Members Of New Advisory Committee WASHINGTON, D.C. Sec retary of Agriculture Ann M. Ve neman recently announced ap pointments to the new Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture. Ap pointees will serve one- or two year terms, and may be reap pointed to serve up to six consec utive years. “This committee will take a forward look at agriculture bio technology and will serve as an important resource as USDA ad dresses emerging issues related to this field,” said Veneman. “I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise to serve on this committee.” The committee is charged with examining the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and agriculture system and pro viding guidance to USDA on pressing individual issues related to the application of biotechnolo gy in agriculture. The Committee is composed of 18 members from 14 states, the District of Columbia and Mexico. The members represent the bio technology industry, the seed in dustry, farmers, environmental and consumer organizations, aca derrtia and international plant re Agricultural Generators % Detroit Deisel Spectrum flfljp he Automatic PTO Generators L.P. Gas, Diesel 25 to 135 KW Units Natural Gas Generators In Stock! 5 to 2,000 KW Service - Rental - New & Used Units In Stock! Power Generation Systems Specialists 330 Founderwhite Road, Lebanon, PA 17042 Call Leonard Martin 717-273-4544 Fax: 717-273-5186 e-mail: imartln@pennpowersystems.com Members of the dairy industry have introduced a new safety procedure that allows milk tank er drivers to attach a tamper-re sistant plastic seal with a number on the top of the tanker opening. The driver then writes the num ber in the manifest, and delivers the load to the processing plant. There, workers check the seals and compare corresponding numbers. Busted seals or mis matched numbers could result in the entire load of milk being dis carded. “These safety seals are an ex cellent form of protection, and they don’t hinder or slow drivers from completing scheduled stops,” Bunt said. “This is a low cost way to protect consumers and the dairy industry.” Bunt said consumers would not see any increase in costs for the new safety measure at their local grocery store. The Mary- search centers, the food industry, product shippers and traders. The appointments were pub lished in the Federal Register April 14. Patricia A. Layton, Professor, Department of Forest Resources, Clemson University, South Caro lina will serve as Chair of the Ad visory Committee on Biotechno logy and 21st Century Agriculture. The other members of the Committee are: Daryl D. Buss, Dean, School of Veterinary Med icine, University of Wisconsin, at Madison, Wisconsin; Leon C. Corzine, Farmer, and Chairman, Biotechnology Working Group, National Com Growers Associa tion, in Illinois; Carole Cramer, Professor, Virginia Tech, and Chief Scientific Officer, Crop- Tech Corporation, in Virginia; Richard T. Crowder, Chief Exec utive Officer, American Seed Trade Association, in Virginia; Michael D. Dykes, Vice Presi dent, Government Affairs, Mon santo Company, in Washington, D.C.; Juan C. Enriquez-Cabot, Director, Life Sciences Project, Harvard Business School, in Massachusetts; Randal W. Gi roux, Staff Scientist, Cargill, Inc., in Minnesota. Also, Duane Grant, Farmer land and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative made the switch to protective seals two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Regional officials from agricul ture, emergency planning and other agencies have been working hard since before Sept. 11 to pre pare for deadly outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth disease. Agencies and organizations in cluding veterinarians, state po lice, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, county extension officers, the Pennsylvania Emer gency Management Agency (PEMA) and Pennsylvania De partment of Agriculture, as well as representatives from the Fed eral Emergency Agency (FEMA) and the United States Depart ment of Agriculture, have been meeting regularly to discuss what actions and safety measures should be implemented to protect our nation’s agricultural security. Since the terrorist attacks. and Member, National Associa tion of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Inc. Biotechnology Com mittee, in Idaho; David A. Hoi sington, Director, Applied Bio technology Center and Bioinformatics, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in Mexico City, Mexico; Gregory A. Jaffe, Co-Director, Biotechnology Proj ect, Center for Science in the Public Interest, in Washington, D.C.; David C. Magnus, Assist ant Professor, Center for Bioe thics, University of Pennsylvania, in Pennsylvania; Terry L. Med ley, Vice President, Global Regu latory Affairs, DuPont Agricul ture and Nutrition, in Delaware; Margaret G. Mellon, Director, Food and Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, in Washington, D.C; Ronald D. Olson, Vice President, Grain Op erations, General Mills, in Minne sota; Jerome B. Slocum, Farmer and General Manager, North Mississippi Grain Company, in Mississippi; Keith C. Triebwas ser. Manager, Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs, The Procter and Gamble Company, in Ohio; and Lisa W. Zannoni, Head, Global Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, BASF Plant Science, in New Jersey. vffsamAg incorporated CONSIDERING EXPANDING YOUR FARM OPERATION? Team Ag’s Engineers and Nutrient Management Planners will give you the professional support you need for your expansion, regarding CAFO, Nutrient Management and local permits. Cali us today for an estimate. TeamAg, Inc. 901 Dawn Avenue, Ephrata, PA 17522 717-721-6795 * Site Surveys * Grant Writing * Site Engineering and Manure Systems Design * Nutrient Management Planning * Precision Agriculture * CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) Permits * Natural Resources Management * Crop Management/Scouting/Soil Testing www.TeamAglnc.com Email: TeamAg@TeamAglnc.com —-Lancaster Farming,‘Saturday, July 5, 2003-A3B these agencies have met periodi cally to expand their focus to in clude more foreign animal dis eases, bioterrorism and other agricultural issues. Some ways to prevent or con trol disease outbreaks include; • Limit access to farm to one gated road, and keep gate, and all unused buildings locked at all times. • Control rodents and birds that may live in bams, especially feed rooms. • Monitor visits and visitors, and do not take_ visitors to live stock areas or bams unnecessari- • Train employees to recog nize common disease signs and patterns. • Wash hands after being in livestock areas, use clean overalls and disposable boots or rubber boots (clean and disinfect rubber boots after each farm visit). • Isolate all new animals. • Call veterinarian immedi ately if unusual illness or signs of disease are found. • Avoid transfer of dirt, mud State Hereford Association Leadership Gathers In Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. On April 12, 29 state Hereford asso ciation leaders convened in Kan sas City for the first State Officer Leadership Workshop sponsored by the American Hereford Asso ciation (AHA). State leaders joined the AHA Board of Directors and staff for a day filled with idea exchanges that proved to be productive and educational. Round table discussion groups were formed addressing ques tions about recruiting new mem bers, state priorities and working with state cattlemens associa tions to promote the breed. Dr. Bob Kropp, Oklahoma State University, moderated the event. Dr. Dan Moser, AHAs Animal Breeding Consultant from Kan sas State University, addressed the attributes of the Hereford cow, giving the association lead ers exciting information to use in their promotion of Herefords at the state level. After much research, Moser concluded, the ability of the Hereford cow to thrive in tough conditions and return pregnant or manure by vehicles, and close ly watch vehicles carrying live stock at all times. In addition to the added ship ping protection, Pennsylvania’s agricultural community has taken several steps to protect livestock and vegetation grown for public consumption since the events of Sept. 11 and a near breakout of foot-and-mouth dis ease. In addition to farmers learning about ways to keep their liveli hood safe, 4-H students and Fu ture Farmers of America (FFA) members have begun learning about biosecurity measures. “The life of the farmer has drastically changed,” Bunt said. “Now we need to teach the farm ers of tomorrow how they can protect their future.” The state legislature took sig nificant steps during the 2002-2003 session to aid farmers in the protection of crops and livestock, with the passage of a bill to provide for criminal and civil penalties for crop destruc tion. year after year proves to be the biggest asset the breed has to offer the commercial cow-calf industry. Mosers most exciting finding was based on results from the USDA Germplasm Evaluation Program conducted at the USDA Meat & Animal Research facility in Clay Center, Neb. USDA found that the Hereford females produced the highest pregnancy rate when compared to all other breed groups. Hereford females expressed a 96 percent pregnancy rate compared to 86 percent for Angus, 87 percent for Red Angus, 91 percent for Sim mental, 78 percent for Gelbvieh, 83 percent for Limousin, and 94 percent for Charolais. Part of the conference was spent learning from successful state association leaders. Jack and Lyn Chastain, Texas Here ford Association, Kay Morgan, Nebraska Hereford Association and JoAnne Rogers, Texas Polled Hereford Association, shared with other leaders some of their experi- ences they face in their associa tions and how they work to promote Herefords in the state. Chastains discussed trade show promotion and in their monthly publication. Morgan and Rogers gave an overview of coordinating and print ing a monthly state newsletter and told of the benefits of a commu nication piece like this to inform the membership. Johnny Woolfolk, Tennessee Hereford As sociation, Tom Granzow and Tom Krauss repre sentatives from the Kan sas Hereford Associa tion, shared with the members what is involv ed in hosting a success ful state feeder calf sale.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers