Q: What do malaria and schizophrenia have in common with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
A: Drugs used to treat the mosquito-borne disease and the mental-health disorder may prove effective against brain-wasting disorders like mad cow disease.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco recently received Food and Drug Administration approval to study quinacrine, a malaria drug, and chlorpromazine, a schizophrenia drug, in patients with the human form of mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Source: Consumer Affairs/ Henry J. Fishman, Jan. 25, 2006
Source URL: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fishman/2006/mad_cow.html

A half dozen dairies and the city of Waco, Texas, have decided to co-exist rather than fight in court.

The dispute was over water quality in the North Bosque River and Lake Waco. The city previously reached agreements with eight other dairies it sued.

Source: Waco Tribune-Herald/ Tommy Witherspoon, Jan. 20, 2006
Source URL: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/01/20/20060120wacdairysuits.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=11

Fans of raw milk in Utah might soon be able to purchase their drink of choice directly from stores. A legislative committee approved a bill Tuesday that would essentially squash a state law restricting raw milk sales to the four dairy farms in the state that produce it.

The bill’s supporters say it would remove unfair obstacles to purchasing raw milk. Opponents, including the Utah Dairymen’s Association, say there is a possibility of adverse health and public relations if milk failing to meet requirements gets through to consumers.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune/ Joe Baird, Jan. 25, 2006
Source URL: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3435121

A new report by a cross-section of dairy experts finds only four out of 44 technologies evaluated for controlling dairy manure pollution in the San Joaquin Valley supplied sufficient evidence that they are effective -- including Bion Environmental Technologies' patented "microaerobic" process, which was the only one of the four to address all air and water pollutants.

The multidisciplinary group included dairy industry experts, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency, various California regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and the University of California. Its 212-page report, "Assessment of Technologies for Management and Treatment of Dairy Manure in California's San Joaquin Valley," was based on information submitted by technology companies throughout the United States, and is now available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/ag/caf/dairypnl/dairypanel.htm.

Source: Yahoo/ PRNewswire/ Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc./ News Release, Jan. 25, 2006
Source URL: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060125/nyw102.html?.v=41

Market signals at harvest time (September and October) suggested potential returns for storing 2005 corn and soybean production. Weak basis was causing low cash prices and suggesting the possibility of greater than normal pos-harvest basis gains. Distant month futures price premiums offered a “carry” that also would add to potential storage returns. However, large crops and expected increases in projected ending stocks suggested futures price gains would be limited and futures prices continued to show weakness. Storing corn and soybeans to capture the expected basis gains and market carries appeared to offer the best opportunity to recover storage costs and earn storage profits.

Source: University of Missouri/ Decisive Marketing/ Melvin Brees, Jan. 20, 2006
Source URL: http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/farmers_corner/mktng_newsletter/CurrentDM.pdf

Beet pulp is the solid residue after extracting sugar from sugar beets. Although dried beet pulp is a popular component of many dairy rations, the drying process is costly as it consumes large quantities of fossil fuels. As an alternative to drying beet pulp, western sugar processors are evaluating the option to sell pressed pulp to dairy and other livestock producers.

Pressed beet pulp contains 20 - 25% dry matter, limiting the distance it can be transported economically. Nevertheless, pressed beet pulp is a valuable feed—high in energy (85% of the energy value of corn), and low in protein (7 – 10% crude protein).

Source: Colorado State University/ Colorado Dairy News/ J.C. Dalton and R. Norell, September/October 2005
Source URL: http://ansci.colostate.edu/documents/Dairynews/Sept05CDN.pdf

This study compares cytobrush and lavage techniques for the assessment of endometrial cytology (EC) in clinically normal postpartum dairy cows.

In conclusion, the cytobrush technique is a consistent and reliable method for obtaining endometrial samples for cystologic examination from postpartum dairy cows.

Source: A comparison of the cytobrush and uterine lavage techniques to evaluate endometrial cytology in clinically normal postpartum dairy cows. Canadian Veterinary Journal - Revue Veterinaire Canadienne 46 (3): 255-259, 2005. Kasimanickam, R.; Duffield, T.F.; Foster, R.A.; Gartley, C.J.; et al.

We sequenced the leptin promoter and discovered 20 SNP in a 1.6-kbp region of the bovine leptin promoter.

In the association study of the 14 SNP with dairy traits three were separately found to be associated with fertility, energy balance and protein yield. These might serve as markers for future breeding programmes for better fertility and energy balance without significantly influencing milk yield in dairy cattle.

Source: Leptin promoter mutations affect leptin levels and performance traits in dairy cows. Animal Genetics 36 (2): 111-118, 2005. Liefers, S.C.; Veerkamp, R.F.; Pas, M.F.W.T.; Delavaud, C.; et al.

What induces you to try something new? Compensation? Everyone else is doing it? Both those choice are prevalent in USDA’s latest survey on the growth in agricultural production contracts. Although the use of contracts in farming can be traced back a century, they have grown in popularity over the past 15 years, and are a substantial tool for both providing income for a farm operator and ensuring food for the US economy. Where do you fit into the equation?

Source: Farmgate/ Stu Ellis/ University of Illinois, Jan. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu/archive/2006/01/is_a_production.html

A high-ranking Chinese official offered up a blunt assessment of his country’s food supply and its stability in remarks published late last week.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s words underscored the concern many feel over sluggish economic growth in rural China.

Static rural incomes have resulted in impoverished farmers who don’t have access to such basics as health care and education, said Wen.

Source: Howard W. French/ Associated Press/ Elaine Kurtenbach, Jan. 21, 2006
Source URL: http://www.howardwfrench.com/archives/2006/01/21/
china_said_facing_unstable_rural_situation/