K-State veterinarian: No evidence that livestock can transmit COVID-19 to humans

Foods from farm animals also are considered safe from the virus MANHATTAN, Kan. – The director of a Kansas State University veterinary laboratory that responds to animal health issues across the state says that while coronavirus is a disease familiar to livestock producers, it is not the same strain of the virus that is grabbing headlines across the globe. The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, is transmitted through humans. There is no evidence…

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Training Session Prepares Farmers Union Members to Respond to Farm Stress

SAVANNAH – As part of the organization’s broader initiative to address a growing farm stress crisis, National Farmers Union (NFU) last week hosted a two-day, in-person session to train community mental health advocates across the country. More than 30 Farmers Union members from 19 states completed the training, which was held in conjunction with NFU’s 118th Anniversary Convention in Savannah, Georgia. The program’s curriculum ­– established in collaboration with American Farm Bureau Federation,…

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Trump Administration Takes Major Step to Improve Implementation of the Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new method for conducting biological evaluations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to assure that pesticide registration review actions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) do not jeopardize endangered species. The updated method ensures that—when available—the agency will use high-quality historical data that reflects where and how certain pesticides are used. “Responsible pesticide use is an essential tool…

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