June 3, 2009 at 9:17 am
· Filed under Ag Biosecurity, H1N1 Influenza, Science & Education
Martin Enserink and Jocelyn Kaiser
Published in SCIENCE: VOLUME 324:703-705,2009
If and when a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu hits, vaccines might be the world’s best hope for softening the blow. But major uncertainties cloud the prospects for vaccines against the new strain. No pandemic vaccine yet exists, and it is unclear how much vaccine would have to be available, and by what time, to have any impact. Should manufacturers halt the production of seasonal influenza vaccine to focus on a pandemic version, and if so, when? And is there any way to ensure that people around the world have an equal chance to get the new vaccine? Read the rest of this entry »
May 13, 2009 at 11:15 am
· Filed under Ag Biosecurity, H1N1 Influenza, Science & Education, The Food System
From the World Health Organization
Assessing the Severity of an Influenza Pandemic
The major determinant of the severity of an influenza pandemic, as measured by the number of cases of severe illness and deaths it causes, is the inherent virulence of the virus. However, many other factors influence the overall severity of a pandemic’s impact.
Read the rest of this entry »
May 6, 2009 at 10:33 am
· Filed under Agricultural Biotechnology, H1N1 Influenza, The Food System
Terry D. Etherton
A recent Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Media Release about the detection of A/H1N1 virus in pigs in Canada is presented below. The release also was distributed by ProMED.
As a point of interest, ProMED is one of the largest publicly available emerging disease and outbreak reporting systems in the World. Currently, ProMED posts are read by over 50,000 subscribers in over 187 countries. Read the rest of this entry »
May 4, 2009 at 4:38 pm
· Filed under Ag Biosecurity, H1N1 Influenza, The Food System, The Food System and Bioterrorism
Bob Mikesell, Ph.D.
Senior Instructor
Department of Dairy and Animal Science
Introduction
In light of the H1N1 (formerly known as swine flu) virus outbreak, consumers should have an understanding of the influenza virus from a pork producer perspective, and the steps that US swine producers routinely utilize to keep pigs healthy. Read the rest of this entry »
May 1, 2009 at 8:32 am
· Filed under Biofuels, Science & Education, The Food System
William Henning
Emeritus Professor of Animal and Food Science
Penn State University
Dr. Henning had a letter posted in USA Today combating myths about beef and global warming.
Here is Dr. Henning’s letter. Read the rest of this entry »
April 28, 2009 at 5:58 pm
· Filed under Ag Biosecurity, H1N1 Influenza, The Food System
Jacob Werner, VMD
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Dairy and Animal Science
Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals and Wildlife
Animal Resource Program
Penn State University
With the media reporting increased numbers of swine flu cases daily, it is time for the swine industry to maintain and, perhaps, expand the strict biosecurity procedures already in place. Read the rest of this entry »
March 10, 2009 at 1:55 pm
· Filed under Agricultural Biotechnology, Consumer Attitudes About Biotechnology, Science & Education, The Food System
Terry D. Etherton
As readers of my blog have observed, I have not posted a blog for a few months. About all that could be written about the battle over application of rbST in the dairy industry in the United States, and defending the freedom of dairy farmers to use safe and effective technologies has been discussed. The stories currently being written by opponents of this biotechnology are simply a rehash of a rehash…nothing new. This all has been chronicled in Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Read the rest of this entry »
October 31, 2008 at 4:39 pm
· Filed under Agricultural Biotechnology, Consumer Attitudes About Biotechnology, Science & Education
Washington, D.C. - An International Food Information Council (IFIC) report released Thursday, October 23 concludes that 84% of Americans have favorable or neutral impressions of agricultural plant biotechnology, while less than 16% hold an unfavorable impression. Read the rest of this entry »
October 16, 2008 at 5:03 pm
· Filed under The Food System
Cole Hons
Penn State Outreach
UNIVERSITY PARK — For more than six years, Bradford County dairy producer Glen Gorrell has relied on Penn State Extension to help him run a profitable business. Through Extension’s Dairy Alliance program, Gorrell has long benefited from useful tips on labor management and financial stewardship at his Smithfield dairy. Over the past year, though, Penn State has helped increase Gorrell’s bottom line in a new way — by helping him keep his 570 dairy cows healthier and more productive. Read the rest of this entry »
October 6, 2008 at 10:28 am
· Filed under Agricultural Biotechnology, Consumer Attitudes About Biotechnology, Science & Education, rbST Public Discussion
Terry D. Etherton
Not long ago, I got an invitation to speak at the annual 2009 Dairy Forum sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). It was tempting to say “yes”… the meeting is being held at a dandy upscale hotel on the Disney World property in Florida, and in January, 2009! I, however, had a schedule conflict and couldn’t accept the invitation.
Good thing, however, given the title of the session I was invited to speak at was entitled “Labeling - War of Words”. Read the rest of this entry »
