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USDA'S Novel Cell Line Identifies All Foot-and-Mouth Virus Serotypes

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON-U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists have developed a new cell line that rapidly and accurately detects foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which causes a highly contagious and economically devastating disease in cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. The cell line was created by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the ...

Farm-raised Salmon Retains Healthy Omega-3s When Baked

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

U.S. producers of farm-raised salmon are working hard to help fill today's growing demand for seafood. Now U.S.D.A. (USDA) nutritionist Susan Raatz, physiologist Matthew Picklo, and cooperators have found that farm-raised Atlantic salmon maintains its healthy levels of omega-3 fat...

Olive Oil Assays May Help Assure Authenticity

Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

When the label on a bottle of olive oil misrepresents what's inside, shoppers may not be getting what they thought they paid for. Mislabeling is also of concern to chefs, retailers, and America's olive growers and olive oil processors-especially those newly entering the domestic olive oil market. They face tough international competition: An estimated 98 percent of all olive oil consumed in the U.S. is imported. Help may be on the way in the form of lab assays developed by ...

U.S.D.A. and E.P.A. Release New Report on Honey Bee Health

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON -- The U.S.D.A. (USDA) and the E.P.A. (EPA) today released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. "There is an important link between the health of American agriculture and the health of our honeybees for our country's long term agricultural productivity," said Agriculture D...

New Yeast Strain Could Lower Costs for Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

A new strain of yeast that could help streamline cellulosic ethanol costs and production has been developed by U.S.D.A. (USDA) researchers. This work, which supports the U.S.D.A. priority of developing new sources of bioenergy, was conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the agency's N...

MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA, E.P.A. and Stakeholders to Discuss New Report on Honey Bee Health

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON -- Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of the U.S.D.A. (USDA) and Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator of the E.P.A. (EPA), alongside top scientists and stakeholders, will host a conference call tomorrow to discuss a new report on the factors contributing to decline in honey bee health in the United States. The report summarizes the latest science and emerging research on honey bee health, as discussed at The National Stakeholder Conference on Honey Bee Health in October 2...

Pig Stress Syndrome Linked to Huge Gene

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

A defect in a gene called dystrophin is the cause of a newly discovered stress syndrome in pigs, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have found. Stress-related issues like transportation cost the U.S. swine industry an estimated $50 million a year. Producers as well as researchers have long suspected that undetected stress-related syndromes are affecting the health and well-being of pigs. This not...

2 Approaches for Optimizing Water Productivity

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

U.S.D.A. (USDA) researchers in Bushland, Texas, are helping farmers make the most of their water supplies in a region where they depend on the Ogallala Aquifer, a massive underground reservoir under constant threat of overuse. Steve Evett, ...

Improved Vitamin B12 Test May Help Young and Old Alike

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

In the United States, the very young and the elderly are among the groups at risk of becoming deficient in vitamin B12, an essential nutrient. Now, a team of U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists led by research chemist John W. Newman has developed and tested an improved method for measuring an indicator of the body's stores of B12 in blood. Importantly, t...

User-Friendly Plan Updates Phosphorus Management

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

A more comprehensive and consistent system for modeling phosphorus loss is now available, thanks to work by scientists at the U.S.D.A. (USDA). This research, led by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist Peter Vadas, supports the U.S.D.A. priority of promoting international food security...

MEDIA ADVISORY: E.P.A. Senior Agricultural Counselor Speaks on Agriculture, Environmental Issues

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON -- Today Sarah Bittleman, the E.P.A.'s (EPA) senior Agricultural Counselor to the E.P.A. Administrator will speak on a conference call to agriculture trade press publications. She will discuss her background and her role at E.P.A. as an advisor to the Acting Administrator on ways environmental policy may impact growers and the greater agriculture community. WHO: Sarah Bittleman, senior Agricultural Counselor to the E.P.A. Acting Administrator W...

Researchers Determine Beneficial Compounds in Whole-grain Rice Varieties

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists and cooperators have provided knowledge about the chemical composition and potential bioavailability of nutritious compounds in a representative group of 5 colorful rice varieties. The findings could help breeders select for these traits from among 18,000 rice samples, called accessions, at the National Small Grains Collection in Aberdeen, Id...

New Technology Sheds Light on Crop Tissues

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

A U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientist in California has opened a window into the vascular networks of a number of crops by adapting computed tomography (CT) scan technology to the study of plants. Andrew McElrone, a plant physiologist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Davis, Calif., is u...

Opening a Window into Vector-borne Viruses

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists in Ithaca, N.Y., are collaborating on development of a technology that could lead to new ways of disrupting how insects transmit viruses to crops. Michelle Cilia and Stewart Gray at the Agricult...

E.P.A. To Hold 2nd Budget Call Due to Earlier Technical Difficulties

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - Due to technical difficulties on the two p.m. call, the E.P.A. (EPA) is scheduling another call for credentialed reporters to ask questions about President's suggested Fiscal Year 2014 budget for EPA, at 3:15 p.m. EST today, Wednesday. Members of the media interested in participating should dial in 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call at (877) 317-0679 and give the conference Idaho number 35962514. The name of the call is the President's Budget Announce...

EPA’s FY 2014 Budget Suggestion Maintains the Strength of Federal, State, and Tribal ...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - Today the Obama Administration suggested a Fiscal Year 2014 (FY 2014) budget of $8.153 billion for the E.P.A. (EPA). This request is $296 million below the EPA's budget for Fiscal Year 2012. "EPA's FY 2014 budget reflects our firm commitment to keeping American communities across our country healthy and clean, while also taking into consideration the difficult fiscal situation and the declining resources of state, local and tribal programs," said E.P.A. Acting A...

Delivering a Virus that Gets Rid of House Flies

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists have found an effective method to infect house flies with a virus that stops the flies from reproducing. House flies can transmit hundreds of animal and human pathogens like Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Shigella bacteria, which cause foodborne illnesses. Insecticides are used to help control flies, but the pests can develop resistance to chemicals. Entomologist ...

Irrigation Wastewater Can Help Salvage Damaged Soils

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

Studies at the U.S.D.A. (USDA) that examined the long-term sustainability of degraded water reuse have demonstrated that irrigation wastewater can be used to revive non-productive saline and sodic soils in California's San Joaquin Valley. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientist Dennis Cor...

Identifying Johne's Disease with Accuracy

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0100

Detecting the costly, contagious Johne's disease in cattle is now easier, thanks to U.S.D.A. (USDA) scientists. Johne's disease, also known as Paratuberculosis, is estimated to cost the U.S. dairy industry in excess of $220 million each year. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other animals, causing diarrhea, reduced feed intake, weight loss and sometimes death. Microbiologist ...

Alaska seafood processors settle with E.P.A. for Clean Water Act waste discharge violations

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0100

(Seattle--March 28, 2013) 2 seafood processors operating in Alaskan waters failed to comply with Clean Water Act permits that regulate seafood waste discharges, according to settlement agreements with the E.P.A.. Aleutian Leader Fisheries and Salamatof Seafoods agreed to settle the violations with E.P.A. in separate agreements and pay fines. "Clean Water Act permits protect Alaska's important marine habitat and the ocean food chain," said Jeff KenKnight, manager of the National Pol...