Category Archives: Just My Thoughts
0, 1, 8, or 2026? How many makes a crisis? (Part 3 of 4)
Laboratory release leads to limited outbreak in England in 2007 Here is the play by play: The first case was a beef herd in Surrey. The diagnosis was confirmed August 3. An immediate nationwide stop movement order on livestock went … Continue reading
0, 1, 8, or 2026? How many makes a crisis? (Part 2 of 4)
One case found in Northern Ireland Less than two weeks after the diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom in 2001, the slaughter of a herd of sheep was ordered in Northern Ireland. Animals had been traced as … Continue reading
0, 1, 8, or 2026? How many makes a crisis? (Part 1 of 4)
Foot-and-mouth disease hoax in New Zealand In 2005 a letter was sent to New Zealand’s minister of agriculture (similar to our federal Secretary of Agriculture) claiming that foot-and-mouth disease had been released on Waiheke Island, a small island just north … Continue reading
Dairy Industry Advisory Committee Public Meeting March 3, 2011
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced a public meeting of the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee (Dairy Committee) to review and approve the final recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on policy issues impacting the dairy industry. The meeting will … Continue reading
Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health (SACAH)
Public participation is the rule for all SACAH meetings. Sign up by email to SACAH.Management@aphis.usda.gov. Comments, suggestions and/or questions for the Committee’s consideration may likewise be submitted. Committee documentation will be posted on this web site and on FIDO.gov.
Learning Without Doing
The farmers I work with tend to be “hands-on” types and learn best by doing. There is a lot to be said for experiential learning–but there are some lessons we are better off learning without doing. When it comes to … Continue reading
Global Events Prompt Local Vigilance
Sometimes I am asked why we should worry about foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the US when we have been free of the disease since 1929. News reports, feature articles, and press releases circulating in recent months provide ample justification. To … Continue reading
UK Livestock Disease Nightmare Began 10 Years Ago
This month marks the 10th anniversary since the diagnosis of FMD in the United Kingdom in February 2001. Several 10th anniversary articles have been published recently. Here is one that poignantly describes the pain and the resilience of those affected. … Continue reading
Behind the 8-ball
In a highly contagious disease event, our official response personnel would be behind a very large 8-ball because the disease moves ahead of our ability to detect it. Everyone needs to recognize that the moment a case of foot-and-mouth disease … Continue reading
FMD closes South Korea markets
South Korea was unable to shake off foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2010. As the third outbreak of the year continues into 2011, the cull in South Korea has now surpassed the total of the 2002 outbreak (160,000) by 4-fold, reaching … Continue reading
