Ag Today Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Case of mad cow disease discovered in Valley [Fresno Bee]

The carcass of a dairy cow slated to be rendered at a Fresno County plant is infected with mad cow disease, federal and plant officials announced Tuesday. The discovery of mad cow disease -- only the fourth in U.S. history and the first in California -- was made during routine testing of a carcass headed to the Baker Commodities plant in Kerman….In announcing the find, federal and state officials were quick to reassure the public that the food supply is safe….The diseased carcass came into Baker's Hanford plant last Wednesday, was tested that day and samples sent to a University of California laboratory. The results came back inconclusive, but further testing at a USDA lab in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the cow was infected.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/24/2812074/case-of-mad-cow-disease-found.html

Buyers of US beef keep importing after mad cow case [Reuters]

Major markets for U.S. beef from Canada to Japan stayed open to imports on Wednesday after the first U.S. discovery of mad cow disease in six years on assurances that rigorous surveillance had safeguarded the food system. U.S. live cattle futures rode back into the black after posting their biggest drop in seven months on Tuesday….Mexico, Korea, Japan, Canada and the European Union said they would continue to import U.S. beef, although two major South Korean retailers halted sales, and chief U.S. Agricultural Trade Negotiator Isi Siddiqui said so far the response was positive….Samples from the infected cow have been sent to laboratories in Canada and Britain for final confirmation, Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said in a statement, adding that the case was unlikely to affect the current USDA "controlled risk" categorization for mad cow disease. "According to USDA statements, the steps taken so far are consistent with OIE standards," it added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/25/us-imports-madcow-idUSBRE83O0BS20120425

Discovery of mad cow in Calif. was stroke of luck [Associated Press]

…The finding, announced Tuesday, is the first new case of the disease in the U.S. since 2006 - and the fact that the discovery was made at all was a stroke of luck. Tests are performed on only a small portion of dead animals brought to the transfer facility near Hanford. The cow had died at one of the region's hundreds of dairies, but hadn't exhibited outward symptoms of the disease: unsteadiness, incoordination, a drastic change in behavior or low milk production, officials said. But when the animal arrived at the facility with a truckload of other dead cows on April 18, its 30-month-plus age and fresh corpse made her eligible for USDA testing….Among the unknowns about the current case is whether the animal died of the disease and whether other cattle in its herd are similarly infected. The name of the dairy where the cow died hasn't been released, and officials haven't said where the cow was born.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4440540/discovery-of-mad-cow-in-calif.html#storylink=misearch

Dianne Feinstein moves bill to increase California water deliveries, dams [McClatchy-Tribune]

The Interior Department would prepare new plans to boost water deliveries and storage in California's Central Valley, potentially under streamlined environmental reviews, under a funding bill approved by a key Senate panel Tuesday. A six-month study, to be updated annually, would examine myriad ways to increase the amount of water that farmers in the region between Chico and Bakersfield get from the federal Central Valley Project. Separately, the Senate bill calls for expeditious completion of feasibility and environmental studies for potential new reservoirs.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4439921/feinstein-moves-bill-to-increase.html#storylink=misearch

Delta canal bill clears first Assembly hurdle [Stockton Record]

In a victory for Delta advocates, a bill requiring a cost-benefit analysis before a peripheral canal or tunnel can be built passed out of a legislative committee Tuesday. Assembly Bill 2421 by Bill Berryhill, R-Stockton, passed the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on a 10-2 vote, despite opposition from a broad coalition of water districts mostly south of the Delta. It was only the first hurdle, however, toward the bill becoming law.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120425/A_NEWS/204250315&cid=sitesearch

Editorial: Take advantage of lull to tackle immigration [Fresno Bee]

With far fewer immigrants illegally coming to the United States because of a lack of jobs, it's a perfect opportunity for the Congress and the president to begin developing significant reforms of the nation's broken immigration system….The Bee's editorial board has long supported comprehensive immigration reform. We acknowledge that in an election year, politics may prevent agreement on this issue. Nevertheless, we think a comprehensive plan should include these elements: Strong border security to limit illegal immigration, as well as making our nation safer from terrorists intent on doing damage in this country. We need a fair guest-worker program for industries that need access to enough domestic labor, such as agriculture. There should be an opportunity for those here illegally to earn legal residency if they meet strict requirements.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/24/2812403/editorial-take-advantage-of-lull.html

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