“Study Shows Pork Safe After Pigs Exposed to H1N1 Virus”
A study conducted by scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service confirms that meat and tissue from pigs exposed to two strains of the 2009 novel pandemic H1N1 virus did not contain the virus. ARS Administrator Edward Knipling says – this research provides additional reassurance for consumers about the safety of pork prepared for consumption.
Researchers inoculated a group of 30 five-week-old pigs with the virus to determine the pigs’ susceptibility to H1N1. Researchers tested tissue samples of the pigs’ lungs, liver, muscle, spleen and other vital organs using the most sensitive tools available. The inoculated animals showed signs of upper respiratory disease consistent with influenza, however there was no evidence that the virus had spread to any other parts of the body.
These findings support recommendations of the World Health Organization that pork harvested from swine that had been infected previously and had recovered from the virus can be safely handled or eaten, following basic hygiene practices for handling of meat.
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“Tyson Shifting Some Production South”
Tyson Foods is shifting some production to its facilities in Goodlettsville, Tennessee and Sherman, Texas. As a result, 480 jobs will be lost from its case-ready beef and pork operation at its Council Bluffs, Iowa, facility. That plant has 13-hundred employees.
The company says the continued growth of case-ready beef and pork sales in southern states prompted the move. The changes are expected to enable the company to make more effective use of its existing case-ready production capacity in plants that are closer to the company’s growing customer base.
Tyson’s case-ready facilities use beef and pork from Tyson Fresh Meats’ operations to produce packages of steaks, roasts, chops, ground beef and other items that are ready for retail grocers to place directly into the meat case.
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“Wind Could Power Portion of Eastern Grid”
A two-year study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that wind energy could generate 20 percent of the electricity needed by households and businesses in the eastern half of the United States by 2024. But, the report cautions, while wind energy is technically feasible, it will require significant expansion of the transmission infrastructure and system operational changes in order for it to be realized.
Still, the study says, the relative cost of aggressively expanding the existing transmission grid represents only a small portion of the total annualized costs. The study also shows that drawing wind energy from a larger geographic area makes it both less expensive and a more reliable energy source. It says increasing the geographic diversity of wind power projects in a given operating pool makes the aggregated wind power output more predictable and less variable.
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“EPA Rejects Confidential Business Information Excuse”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will no longer accept a certain type of confidentiality claim, known as Confidential Business Information, on the identity of chemicals. The chemicals affected by this action are those that are submitted to EPA with studies that show a substantial risk to people’s health and the environment and have been previously disclosed on the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Inventory.
Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, says – the American people are entitled to transparent, accessible information on chemicals that may pose a risk to their health or the environment. He pledged, – we will continue taking steps that increase transparency and assure the safety of chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says, – this action represents another step to use the agency’s authority under the existing TSCA to the fullest extent possible, recognizing EPA’s strong belief that the 1976 law is both outdated and in need of reform.
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“House Will Not Consider Senate Health Bill”
It’s official. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says – the House will not embrace the version of health care reform already approved by the Senate. Pelosi says – I don’t see the votes for it at this time. Had the House been able to approve the Senate package it would have been delivered to the President’s desk.
House Republicans are opposed to a provision that benefits only Nebraska’s Medicaid system. That language was added to win the vote of Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Also problematic are the federal subsidies the Senate would offer to uninsured individuals, which some House liberals view as insufficient, and the excise tax it would impose on high-value policies, which could hit union households.
The only other option is to write a new bill and that could take months to negotiate, without a guarantee of success. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Obama thinks the best path is – giving this some time, by letting the dust settle, if you will, and looking for the best path forward.
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“Top Democratic Senator: Take a Break”
Top Senate Democrat Christopher Dodd says the majority party should take a break of up to six weeks in the health care debate. This would allow the Democratic caucus to regroup and refocus on how to move a bill forward. Dodd says – it will be up to President Obama to get Democrats’ health care legislation back on track.
Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says – we’re sort of discussing it, taking a little breather here because we’ve got to start moving the jobs bill. Harkin says, – we can’t just get paralyzed by this health care problem.
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“ARRA Funds to Support Rural Businesses”
USDA is releasing more than 4-million dollars, via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to 44 recipients to create jobs by starting or expanding businesses in rural communities. This funding will permit businesses to access critical capital that will help with start-up and working capital loans, building and plant renovations, transportation improvements, project planning and other business needs.
In making the announcement, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack noted – small businesses drive community revitalization by providing products and services to local residents. He said, – this funding will help spur important economic development and strengthen communities around the country.
For example, the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator in Cleveland, Tennessee, has been selected to receive 99-thousand dollars to construct the Cleveland Bradley Energy Center which will serve start-up businesses specializing in the fields of alternative energy, conservation, innovative “green” businesses, and businesses developing “green” technologies.
