National Ag Biosecurity Institute Opens at OSU

From Oklahoma State University Press Release

STILLWATER, OK– Call it “Crime Scene Investigation with an agricultural focus”, courtesy of the new National Institute for Microbial Forensics and Food and Agricultural Biosecurity, headquartered at Oklahoma State University.

“Events such as Mad Cow disease, E. coli outbreaks and anthrax contamination of federal mail indicate the relevance of being able to quickly and accurately identify the source and, if applicable, the perpetrator(s) of contamination of agricultural products or disease outbreaks,” said Clarence E. Watson, associate director of OSU’s statewide Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system. Read the full story at the OSU Web site.

Central Texas Beef Cattle Meeting Set for January 22, 2008

From the TSCRA Web site

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service (formerly known as the Texas Cooperative Extension Service) has scheduled their Central Texas Beef Cattle Meeting for Jan. 22, 2008, to be held at the Hood County Reunion Fairgrounds, 701 Reunion Court, in Granbury, TX. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and a meal will be served at 6 p.m., to be followed by a program that will last approximately two hours.

Featured guest speakers include Dr. Ron Gill, Extension beef cattle specialist, who will talk about a simplified approach to controlling feed cost, as well as give a beef cattle market outlook; Dr. Jason Johnson, Extension economist, who will speak about the economics of haying versus grazing and give a fertilizer and hay price outlook; and Mike McCravey with the Texas Beef Council who will give a Beef Checkoff update. Read more on the TSCRA Web site.

FDA Concludes Cloning Food Animals is Safe

From the TSCRA Web site

After years of detailed study and analysis, the Food and Drug Administration has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine, and goats, and the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. There was insufficient information for the agency to reach a conclusion on the safety of food from clones of other animal species, such as sheep.

On January 15, 2008, the FDA issued three documents on animal cloning outlining the agency's regulatory approach – a risk assessment; a risk management plan; and guidance for industry. Read more on the TSCRA Web site.