Tennessee Home & Farm Radio TN Home and Farm Radio

Graduation day is quickly approaching, and there are several positions in the ag industry that needs filled. The interim Dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture discusses their efforts to train students to fill those positions.

USDA put out a new order mandating that all dairy cattle be tested for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza before interstate movement. This comes as eight states have reported cases of dairy cattle having Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Rod Bain explains more about the new order.

A month after Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered in dairy cattle, the risk to humans remains low. Chad Smith tells us the impact of the illness has been minimal.

Smith: The last couple of years have seen outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the spring and fall as temperatures change. However, this year has seen an unusual outbreak of the virus among dairy cattle. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, provides an update.
Nelson: We've seen some positive cases pop up in dairy cattle, and this is a developing situation. This is changing, sometimes it's day by day, sometimes hour by hour. But what we do know so far is that milk is safe to drink. So, the positive tests in dairy cattle showed up around three weeks ago. Since then, we're at about 30 different dairy premises showing positive cases in eight different states.
Smith: Nelson says the impacts on the cattle have been minimal so far.
Nelson: There have been no deaths that are attributed directly to avian influenza. There is some co-morbidity happening where it seems if the symptoms of avian influenza are accompanied by other issues. So, some comorbidity is happening. Overall, we're seeing a 20 to 30 percent decrease in milk production as a result of a slowdown in food and water intake. Any milk from these animals is thrown out, so it's not allowed to enter the supply chain, and animals are recovering after a couple of weeks.
Smith: He wants consumers to know that milk remains safe to drink.
Nelson: Number one, their milk is safe to drink. Sick cows are pulled out of the herd, so their milk is not allowed to enter the supply chain. Further, pasteurization kills both bacteria and viruses. This includes high-path avian influenza, so their milk is safe to drink.
Capps: It’s important to note there have been no reported cases of this type of influenza in dairy cattle in Tennessee. Tennessee State Veterinarian, Dr. Samantha Beaty, issued an order limiting movement of dairy cattle coming from states where there have been positive cases which include Texas, Kansas, Michigan, and New Mexico.For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio – I’m Thomas Capps.

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has announced its next dean, Dr. Paul Plummer, a graduate of the Vet school in 2000.

Farmers are the original Caretakers of planet earth. On this Earth Day that's still the case. New data from EPA proves that Farmers work hard everyday to protect and preserve the earth.

With spring comes warmer weather, and berry picking. The first berry ready for picking in Tennessee this time of year are strawberries. As Denton Parkins of Green Acres Farm explains strawberry picking has come a bit early this year in Volunteer State.