NEWS BRIEFS...
FDA Urges Ban on Antibiotic Use in Livestock
A Federal Drug Administration (FDA) official provided written testimony to a House of Representatives committee July 13, saying the agency supports a proposed measure to ban the use of seven classes of antibiotics in livestock. According to U.S. News and World Report, Joshua Sharfstein, FDA principal deputy commissioner of food and drugs, said feeding antibiotics to healthy animals in order to encourage growth should be stopped, and "farmers should no longer be allowed to use antibiotics in farm animals without the supervision of a veterinarian."
The New York Times reports Sharfstein testified to committee members that routine antibiotic use in livestock leads to the development of bacteria immune to many treatments.
USDA Report Suggests Record Soybean Crop, No. 2 Corn Crop
U.S. farmers this fall will likely harvest their largest soybean crop and the second-largest corn crop ever, according to a Reuters article citing a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report released today.
Farmers face "sharply lower summer price prospects," Reuters reports.
U.S. crop prices have soared to record levels since 2006 but will moderate in the 2009-2010 marketing year, USDA said.
Vilsack Testifies on Ag's Role in Climate Change
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified July 8 to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the role that rural America can play in addressing climate change. According to USDA, Secretary Vilsack discussed the importance of engaging farmers and ranchers in crafting the solution to this critical issue.
"I believe it is crucial that we engage the participation of farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. This issue is too important for agriculture and forestry to sit on the sidelines," Vilsack stated. "A viable carbon offsets market — one that rewards farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for stewardship activities — has the potential to play a very important role in helping America wean itself from foreign oil."
Climate Bill Passes House, Awaits Senate
The "American Clean Energy and Security Act," known as the climate bill or cap-and-trade legislation, narrowly passed the House of Representatives late Friday, June 26.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the House voted 219-212 for the legislation, which calls for broad-sweeping energy standards, including regulations and a credit system for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The bill mandates that 15% of the nation's electricity come from renewable sources by 2020 and seeks to boost industries like wind-generated electricity and solar power, The Wall Street Journal reports. Although recent amendments to the bill ease GHG regulations for ag producers and move oversight of GHG offset credits and their implementation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the USDA, the legislation could still have detrimental effects for some livestock producers, according to Pork magazine.
Study Shows Vegetarians Have Weaker Bones
A joint Australian-Vietnamese study published in the July 2 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed vegetarians' bone density was 5% less than people who include meat in their diets. Vegans had 6% weaker bones. The researchers did not determine whether the lower bone density could be linked to an increased risk of fracture, Meatingplace.com reports.
Researchers reviewed the dietary and bone density status of more than 2,700 people.
Conservationists, Ranchers
Team Up to Protect Rangelands
The California Rangeland Trust has partnered with Panorama Meats Inc. of Vina, Calif., in a joint effort to support the long-term conservation of California's rangelands. Beginning early July, a portion of proceeds from the sale of all Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef sold in California will be contributed to the California Rangeland Trust to assist ongoing work to place conservation easements on working cattle ranches.
The California Rangeland Trust uses conservation easements to protect rangelands from development and other threats through voluntary, legally recorded agreements between the landowner and California Rangeland Trust. More information is available at www.panoramameats.com.
AgriTalk Interviews HSUS President
AgriTalk's Mike Adams sat down with Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) President Wayne Pacelle June 30 for an interview. During the discussion, Pacelle — known in the agriculture sector for his campaigns against many traditional ranching practices — insisted HSUS did not intend to eliminate animal agriculture. He did, however, have plenty to say about the topic. Visit www.agritalk.com to listen to the interview.