Category Archives: USDA

Calling him “very good for America’s farmers and ranchers,” the National Pork Producers Council congratulated former Georgia Gov. George “Sonny” Perdue on his confirmation today by the U.S. Senate as the new Secretary of Agriculture. [Source: NPPC, April 24, 2017]

The USDA has posted all the Fiscal Year 2016 quarterly reports for the Influenza A Virus in Swine Surveillance Program on the department’s Swine Health Monitoring Surveillance website.

Registration for the Veterinary Biologics Training Program, May 15-19, 2017 remains open through April 15. Participants can register on a daily basis or for the entire week. If space is available, applications after April 15 will be accepted. Visit the web site http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/IICAB/meetings/may2017.php for detailed information including the daily itinerary, registration deadlines and fees, meals, transportation, and lodging. [Source: IICAB, April 4, 2017]

What GAO Found Since 2011, when GAO last reported on this issue, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has increased veterinary oversight of antibiotics and, with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), has made several improvements in collecting data on antibiotic use in food animals and resistance in bacteria. For example, HHS’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation and guidance for industry recommending changes to drug labels. However, oversight gaps still exist. For example, changes to drug labels do not address long-term and open-ended use of antibiotics for disease prevention because some antibiotics do not define duration of use on their labels. FDA officials told GAO they are seeking public comments on establishing durations of use on labels, but FDA has not clearly defined objectives for closing this gap, which is inconsistent with federal internal control standards. Without doing so, FDA will not know whether it is ensuring judicious use of antibiotics. Moreover, gaps in farm-specific data on antibiotic use and resistance that GAO found in 2011 remain. GAO continues to believe HHS and USDA need to implement a joint on-farm data collection plan as previously recommended. In addition, FDA and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) do not have metrics to assess the impact of actions they have taken, which is inconsistent with leading practices for performance measurement. Without metrics, FDA and APHIS cannot assess the effects of actions taken to manage the use of antibiotics. [Source: Government Accountability Office, March 16, 2017]

If you’re interested in agriculture — and enjoy big-picture, long-range projections — the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a report for you. [Source: AgWeek.com, February 28, 2017, by Jonathan Knutson]

This rule will ensure consumer confidence in the growing organic market by promoting consistency across the organic industry, supporting the continued growth of the organic livestock and poultry sector. (Click to view USDA graphic) [Source: USDA, Posted by Elanor Starmer, AMS Administrator, 1/18/2017]

NIFA is currently operating under a fiscal year (FY) 2017 temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) that provides funds for our discretionary programs through April 28, 2017.

Antimicrobial drugs (antimicrobials) are important for preventing, controlling, and treating diseases that harmful microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) cause in humans, food animals, and plants. These types of drugs include antibiotics, which are types of antimicrobials that specifically kills or inhibits bacteria. [Source: NIFA, November 15, 2016]

The Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) recently added a revised version of Veterinary Services (VS) Memorandum 800.69 (Guidelines for Autogenous Biologics) to its website which may be accessed by clicking through the following link: CVB Newly Published Information. [Source: USDA APHIS Bulletin, November 9, 2016]

In July 2014, USDA’s Veterinary Services (VS) presented a “Veterinary Services Proposed Framework for Response to Emerging Animal Diseases in the United States.” A new document, “Emerging Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan,” expands on the framework and describes the processes by which VS will identify, evaluate, and respond to emerging diseases in animal populations. VS is inviting stakeholders to review and comment on the draft plan. Comments should be e-mailed to VS.SPRS.Feedback@aphis.usda.gov no later than November 1, 2016. The document can be accessed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/program-overview/ct_national_list_reportable_animal_diseases