Springtime turns CDA Bugs into a Hot Commodity

Photo: Bindweed Gall Mite
The Colorado Department of Agriculture took an innovative approach to pest control over 60 years ago and established the Palisade Insectary dedicated to the biological control of noxious weeds and pest insects. This is the time of year when there is a high demand for three little bugs.

Bindweed Gall Mites (Aceria malherbae)

The bindweed gall mite is a microscopic, wormlike mite used to suppress the field bindweed. It stunts the growth of the plant and reduces seed production. For more information on the mite and field bindweed, visit http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1215504131010

Leafy Spurge Flea Beetles (Aphthona spp)

The Insectary collects and releases several hundred thousand flea beetle adults every year. The beetles lay eggs on the soil surface and their offspring dig into the soil where they find and feed on the roots of leafy spurge. For information on this beetle and leafy spurge, visit http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1215504130098&pagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout

Toadflax Stem Weevil (Mecinus janthinus)

This weevil has shown good promise for control of Dalmatian toadflax. It is capable of killing a large portion of the above-ground plant by boring into and killing the stems. For more information on the weevil and Dalmatian toadflax, visit http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1215504130978&pagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout

“Many noxious weeds in Colorado devalue rangelands, pose a threat to livestock, compete with crops, crowd out valuable native plants, use precious water and degrade wildlife habitat” said Dr. Dan Bean, CDA’s Insectary manager. “Biocontrol is an inexpensive and environmentally sound method of suppressing the spread of these noxious weeds.”

The Insectary, located in Palisade, is among only a handful of programs across the U.S. that provides farmers, ranchers and resource managers with dozens of species of beneficial insects and mites as tools for use in Integrated Pest Management programs. It produces and releases about 30 different species of biological control agents to combat noxious weeds and insect pests spreading throughout Colorado.

Bugs from the Insectary are available for purchase through CDA’s Request-a-Bug program. For more information on the Palisade Insectary, including how to request a bug, visit http://www.palisadeinsectary.com/. Noxious weed infestation maps are available at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1178305815669

Texas Ag Commissioner helps Texas Ranchers Rebuild after Hurricane Ike

On Saturday, April 25, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples led an effort to rebuild fences on ranches that were hit by Hurricane Ike more than six months ago. Through “Operation New Fences,” Commissioner Staples, state agency officials, local community leaders and volunteers distributed more than $100,000 worth of donated fence posts and barbed wire to nearly 100 ranchers in the Hurricane Ike surge zone in Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty and Orange counties. Each rancher received 250 fence posts and 10 rolls of barbed wire, enough to rebuild a half-mile of fence.

View a slideshow of Operation New Fences here:



“Seven months ago the skies were dark when Hurricane Ike ripped through this region, but today the true spirit of Texas is shining brightly,” Commissioner Staples said. “It is a tribute to our grand state to see these donors and volunteers helping their fellow Texans overcome adversity and build a new future one fence post at a time.“

Watch video of Operation New Fences here:



Commissioner Staples announced “Operation New Fences” last month after learning many ranchers were still leasing pastures for their livestock in other areas of the state because of a lack of resources to rebuild fences destroyed by Hurricane Ike. The Texas Department of Agriculture created a Web page specifically for this effort where producers could sign up for this one-time assistance.

“Operation New Fences” was a successful collaboration among TDA, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, M&J Fertilizer, Fellowship of Christian Farmers International, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Animal Health Commission and many industry associations, including the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Independent Cattlemen’s Association.


More about Hurricane Ike’s Impact on Rural Southeast Texas

Prior to Hurricane Ike’s landfall on Sept. 12, 2008, approximately 30,000 cattle roamed in Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty and Orange counties. Today, only about 7,000 are able to graze the land because of the lack of fences and the high salinity content of the soil. In the days following Hurricane Ike’s landfall, TDA participated in an emergency relief effort called “Operation No Fences” that resulted in the delivery of more than 9,000 hay bales, 165 tons of feed and 400 water troughs for ranchers who were unable to feed their cattle.

Kentucky Proud takes the lead at 2009 Derby Breakfast.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 27, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Visitors to the 2009 Kentucky Derby Breakfast on May 2 can enjoy Kentucky Proud foods – and take some home with them.

Kentucky Proud vendors will offer sauces, sweets, cheeses, herbs, mushrooms and other products for sale during the annual event at the state Capitol. A farmers’ market also is scheduled to be offered.

“The Kentucky Derby Breakfast attracts visitors from all over the state to celebrate ‘the greatest two minutes in sports’ and enjoy a hearty breakfast on our beautiful Capitol grounds,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “I invite all Kentuckians to attend the Derby Breakfast, and while you’re here, visit the Kentucky Proud vendors and the farmers’ market. When you buy Kentucky Proud, you’re buying food you can serve your families with confidence while helping Kentucky producers make a living.”

The Derby Breakfast will include Kentucky Proud items such as Penn’s Country Ham, Purnell’s Sausage and assorted muffins made with Weisenberger Mill flour. Kentucky Department of Parks employees also will serve boneless fried chicken breast, juice, coffee and water. Cost is $1 for each item except coffee and water.

Visitors to the Derby Breakfast also can experience a hot air balloon ride (weather permitting), enjoy live entertainment, see and purchase Kentucky arts and crafts, tour the Capitol, and take part in children’s activities. The Derby Breakfast is 8 a.m.-noon EDT. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

Visit Kentucky Proud here.

Visit the 2009 Governor's Derby Celebration page here.

Commissioner Farmer blasts FDA over new rule that will harm American animal agriculture.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer today blasted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for imposing an enhanced animal feed ban rule that will create severe economic and environmental hardship for Kentucky livestock producers, businesses and consumers.

“I am disappointed that the FDA and out-of-touch Washington bureaucrats have made the decision to become enemies of animal agriculture,” Commissioner Farmer said. “The new rule will put many small family farmers, renderers, haulers and associated businesses out of business. I understand that we need to minimize the risk of mad cow disease in the United States. But the risk is already extremely low, the controls that are already in place work very well, and there are better ways to achieve what the FDA wants to do. They simply chose not to listen.

“The FDA’s own announcement said some of the comments they received talked about a heightened risk of mad cow disease from imports of live cattle from Canada. Doesn’t it make more sense to restrict imports from countries with a higher risk of mad cow disease than to destroy American animal agriculture?”

The FDA today announced that an enhanced feed ban rule will take effect on Monday. The agency set a compliance date of Oct. 26 to allow renderers additional time to comply with the rule.

Officials and livestock industry leaders fear the new rule could make it difficult, if not impossible, for many producers to dispose of carcasses properly. Means of disposal other than rendering, such as composting, incineration and digesting, are expensive and impractical. The state no longer is able to provide grants to counties for dead animal removal because of lack of funding.

“The FDA doesn’t have the resources to efficiently or effectively enforce this rule. They can’t keep up with the responsibilities they already have,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Producers can’t afford the additional costs the final rule will impose on them. The state doesn’t have the resources to dispose of tens of millions of pounds of animal carcasses. The FDA simply did not give enough consideration to the unintended consequences of the new rule.

“Washington succeeded in killing the tobacco quota program, and now they’re going after animal agriculture,” Commissioner Farmer continued. “The FDA threw out sound science and common sense when it made this rule.”

Commissioner Farmer said he is continuing to work with Kentucky’s congressional delegation to find a solution that will protect Kentucky’s livestock industry while also protecting consumers and the environment.

“This isn’t over,” Commissioner Farmer said.

The final rule prohibits the use of certain cattle-derived materials from being used in any animal feed. The cattle materials prohibited in animal feed (CMPAF) include the brains and spinal cords of cattle 30 months old and older; the entire carcass of cattle 30 months old and older not inspected and passed for human consumption from which the brains and spinal cords were not removed; the entire carcass of cattle that test positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE); and other materials.

Western Kentucky backyard flocks test negative for avian influenza.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 9, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

Gwenda Bond

(502) 564-6786 ext. 3325








FRANKFORT, Ky. — Backyard poultry flocks near the western Kentucky poultry farm where avian influenza was discovered tested negative on initial testing for the disease, State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout announced today. Additional tests are pending.



The non-pathogenic or low-pathogenic strain that was detected last week poses minimal risk to human health and is not the high-pathogenic strain associated with human and poultry deaths in other countries.



State animal health workers took samples from poultry in backyard flocks within a two-mile radius of the farm, which produces hatching eggs for Perdue Farms Inc. The farm will remain under quarantine until the poultry houses on the farm are cleaned and disinfected, Dr. Stout said.



The state is developing plans to expand the testing radius for backyard flocks to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), Dr. Stout said. “We will take all necessary steps to assure residents, consumers and international trading partners that the disease has been contained and eradicated,” he said.



Dr. Stout pointed out that animal health workers wear personal protective equipment to conduct the testing to comply with routine protocol established by federal and state authorities.



Dr. Kraig E. Humbaugh of the Kentucky Department for Public Health stressed that there is no evidence that the disease has been transmitted from birds to humans in this outbreak and there never has been documented human-to-human transmission of low-pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. Dr. Humbaugh advised that eggs and poultry products for human consumption always should be cooked to recommended temperatures.



The Barren River District Health Department and the Lincoln Trail District Health Department are working in collaboration with the Kentucky Department for Public Health to follow up on any potential human exposure to low-pathogenic avian influenza.



The disease was detected as a result of testing by Perdue and state and national laboratories after a minor drop in egg production was noticed last month. No virus has been isolated and no poultry at the farm died or became sick because of the disease.



Avian influenza is a virus that affects domestic poultry and some wild birds. It is spread to healthy birds by direct contact with infected birds or infected material, often through feces from infected birds. Avian influenza is not transmitted through eggs. Low-pathogenic avian influenza causes little if any illness in poultry and is rarely fatal to poultry.

Texas Ag Commissioner Visits Iraq and Romania to Encourage Trade

At the end of March, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Staples headed to Iraq and Romania for an agricultural trade and development mission. The purpose of his trip was to expand the exportation of Texas products overseas, as well as help rebuild the areas’ agricultural economies.

On March 22, he started his trip to Iraq as an invitee of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M and guest of the Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations - Iraq. Commissioner Staples met with General Ray Odierno, the Commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq in Al Faw Palace.


Commissioner Staples also toured the Case-New Holland assembly plant in the Iskandariah Industrial Complex, northern Babil Province, Iraq. The plant manufactures tractors, greenhouse frames, irrigation systems, farm trailers and other farm implements.


One of the highlights of Commissioner Staples’ trip was meeting with Texas soldiers of the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion stationed in Iraq.



Between meetings, Commissioner Staples found time to say hello to some children in the International Zone of Baghdad.



Commissioner Staples also visited the Karbala Greenhouse Extension and talked with Iraqi agricultural experts.


Then on March 30, Commissioner Staples traveled with the non-profit Emanuel Agriculture Development Organization to Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania.

There, Commissioner Staples made a presentation to business students on how lucrative farming can be to both the producer and the economy.


While in Romania, he and his assistant, Cody McGregor, visited the Romanian Parliament Building in Bucharest. It is the second-largest office building in the world, after the Pentagon.


Commissioner Staples met with the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, senators and university and academia representatives.

He also met with officials at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, including officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service.


Watch a slideshow of Commissioner Staples travels to Iraq and Romania here:

Colorado Department of Agriculture Uses Technology to Connect Colorado Producers with Israeli Buyers

With tough economic times, travelling across the globe may not be an option for Colorado companies interested in selling products to buyers in Israel. However, with the power of new technology, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is connecting producers with buyers from around the world.

In March several Colorado companies gathered in a conference room to meet food buyers from Israel, not in person, but through a webinar. Representatives from Colorado companies talked to buyers in Israel through a computer link that included presentations and Israeli store pictures. One Colorado company even accessed the presentation from South America while he was on a buying trip. This seminar was the first step in connecting Colorado producers with supermarket buyers in Israel.

Now that the foundation has been laid, it is time to get Colorado products to buyers to sample. In April and May the Colorado Department of Agriculture will coordinate efforts to ship products to Israel for a product showcase.

Companies are first asked to have their products and company included in a list of products to be reviewed by the USDA team in Israel. The team will review products and gauge interest from importers.
Companies will then ship products to Israel for a showcase to importers. CDA will arrange shipping via U.S. Embassy mailing address allowing producers to ship samples at domestic postage rates.

Finally, companies will attend the Video Center sampling. Producers will be in Denver on a video connection while the importers and USDA staff are in Tel Aviv sampling products.

“Thanks to the age of technology, producers can export their products without having to travel to foreign countries; this helps Colorado producers and consumers in Israel,” said Tim Larsen, CDA’s International Marketing Specialist. “You can have your products shown to top Israeli food importers while you are in a Colorado studio watching their reaction and talking to them about your products!”

Despite of the global economic slowdown, agricultural and food imports to Israel in 2008 increased 30% compared 2007 (from $3.4 billion to $4.4 billion), $1.81 billion (41%) were food and beverages products. In addition, the depreciating U.S. dollar combined with good economic growth in Israel has increased the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture and stimulated demand for American food and agricultural products.

Colorado’s processed food exports grew over 36 percent in the past two years, and many of Colorado’s products match the list of best export prospects from the USDA staff in Israel. In 2008, agricultural and food imports to Israel from the U.S. increased 30 percent to a total of $1.81 billion. While there is a small market for non-kosher items, those certified as kosher make up 60-70 percent of the Israeli market.

Avian influenza found on Kentucky poultry farm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 3, 2009

For more information contact:
bill.clary@ky.gov

(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — State and federal authorities are investigating a finding of suspected non-pathogenic or low-pathogenic avian influenza in a single broiler/breeder poultry farm in western Kentucky. The strain poses minimal risk to human health and is not the high-pathogenic strain associated with human and poultry deaths in other countries.

State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout has quarantined the farm, which produces hatching eggs for Perdue Farms Inc. Perdue plans to depopulate 20,000 chickens in two houses on the farm.

“The state and federal government and Perdue are acting aggressively to contain and eliminate the disease,” Dr. Stout said. “There is no evidence that any infected poultry are in the human food supply as a result of this infection. We will do what is necessary to minimize the disruption to overseas trade.”

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is conducting surveillance on backyard flocks within a two-mile radius of the farm.

A minimal drop in egg production at the farm was noticed in mid-March. Perdue’s veterinary services laboratory took samples from chickens at the farm and found antibodies for avian influenza. Testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, resulted in a presumptive positive finding for the H7 strain. Subsequent testing by NVSL and the Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville confirmed the finding.

No virus has been isolated and no poultry deaths have been found in connection with the infection.

“I have been in constant contact with state, federal and industry officials since this came to light,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “The people of Kentucky and our trading partners should rest assured that we are doing everything possible to address the situation.”

Avian influenza is a virus that affects domestic poultry and some wild birds. It is spread to healthy birds by direct contact with infected birds or infected material, often through feces from infected birds. Avian influenza is not transmitted through eggs. Low-pathogenic avian influenza causes little if any illness in poultry and is rarely fatal to poultry.

Visit the State Veterinarian's office here.

Visit KDA's avian influenza page here.

More avian influenza news is here.