Content about health & disease

The Chicago Public Schools took a public policy stance in 2011 by serving local, antibiotic chicken in 473 of its schools. This action makes the statement that consumers have a preference for food that is free of antibiotics and is locally grown. Independent of the view of farmers, ranchers, or producers, consumers do have a voice and are influenced by how science and technology is positioned.

What does food traceability mean? In the general sense, it means being able to know where your food comes from. But it also means that the data about the growth, transportation, and handling are available for analysis. Many people are aware of the need to trace food back to its source when an out break of E. coli or Listeria occurs.

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Conversation with Michele Simon about food justice and what those in agriculture should know.

• Michele, you wrote a book titled Appetite for Profit: How the food industry undermines our health and how to fight back. Can you share what your goal was in writing this book?

Monitoring for heat stress on livestock is key to surviving the heat waves that are occurring in many parts of the USA. Symptoms for cattle, pigs, and poultry will vary but some of the approaches will be the same: shade, cool air, water, and observation are needed.

From the World Pork Expo, updates on PRRSv Area Regional Control and Elimination.

Dr. Lisa Becton, Director of Swine Health Information & Research, National Pork Board, provides an update on the sustainability and environmental improvements the pork industry is focused on. From the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, TX USA.

Presentation.

While no one wants to get sick from eating food, there are times when this will occur. These resources can help learn more about safely preparing food, what foods are being recalled, and what some of the issues are within the food safety industry.

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Animal feeding operations (AFOs) house large numbers of animals for production of meat, dairy products and eggs. EPA is examining data from emissions monitoring at a number of AFOs as the agency works to develop improved methodologies for estimating AFO emissions. Dr. Albert J. Heber, Professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, shares the history of this effort and what happens next with the data.

• Why was the National Air Emissions Study started?

Show notes

What's Invasive, a mobile application locate invasive species by making geo-tagged observations and taking photos to alert us of the spread of habitat-destroying invasive plants and animals.

• As a smart phone application, what does What's Invasive do?
• How did What's Invasive idea come about?
• What led to the thought to create a mobile application?
• What is the problem trying to be solved?

Lisa Carlson, Co-Founder of Chef Shack, shares her food and thoughts on the food truck movement in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Much of the success of Chef Shack is from perseverance, the willingness to explore for new food ideas, and having friends / partners like the Mill City Farmers Market and the City of Minneapolis to support the efforts.

Conversations from NPPC board members and Expo attendees revealed a better mood than in prior years, though there are topics that are important to pork industry success. Also, in conjunction with the Expo, The Boehringer Ingelheim "Change The Game" Seminar explored several current projects focusing on area control and elimination of the PRRS virus.