A coalition of agricultural organizations has sent a letter to New York Representative Louise Slaughter. Slaughter is the primary author of the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act – which would restrict antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production by banning the use of several classes of antibiotics used to prevent and control diseases – as well as promoting nutritional efficiency. Not only does the coalition point out the stringent federal approval process and regulation of antibiotics – but also the lack of human health risks associated with their judicious use in livestock production and the benefits they offer in food animal production.

The letter states that the safety assessment for animal antibiotics is more stringent than that for human antibiotics in that FDA will not approve an antibiotic for animals if there are risks to human, a food safety assessment is required to ensure meat is safe and the pharmaceutical is thoroughly studied to guarantee it doesn’t increase the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food. The letter goes on to explain how FDA has issued new regulations that effectively prohibit the use of medically important antibiotics in food animals for improving nutritional efficiency. The coalition also cites several assessments that show the threat to human health from antibiotic use in livestock is negligible.

The coalition is made up of the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Meat Institute, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council and others.

President Obama has signed an Executive Order regarding accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment. According to the Order – broadband access is essential to the nation’s global competitiveness, driving job creation, promoting innovation and expanding markets for American businesses. The President believes too many areas lack adequate access to broadband. For those areas – his Executive Order states that decisions on access to Federal property and rights of way can be essential to the deployment of wired and wireless broadband infrastructure. To ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to advancing broadband deployment – President Obama is establishing a Broadband Deployment on Federal Property Working Group that is to report to the Steering Committee on Federal Infrastructure Permitting and Review Process Improvement within one year. The Working Group will include a representative from USDA.

The American Soybean Association and eight other ag associations joined together in a letter this week to the House Appropriations Committee Chair Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Norm Dicks. The letter expressed the associations’ support for a provision in the Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations bill that would assure biotech crops already approved by USDA can be planted and harvested under temporary stewardship conditions in case of litigation against USDA’s decision. The groups say opponents of agricultural biotechnology have repeatedly filed suits against USDA on procedural grounds in order to disrupt the regulatory process and undermine the science-based regulation of such products. The provision – introduced by Ag Subcommittee Chairman Jack Kingston – would provide growers with certainty regarding their planting decisions – according to the groups – who say it’s also a positive step in protecting U.S. farmers and the food supply.

According to a spokesperson for Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns – no one responsible for the national EPA aerial surveillance program has responded to a letter from Nebraska’s Congressional delegation. But a Nebraska television station reports that EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks responded to the questions posed by the delegation. According to the EPA – the agency is using the Clean Water Act as authority to perform surveillance flights of confined animal feeding operations like feedlots. The agency claims that information was shared with producers and staff from the offices of Senator Mike Johanns and Representatives Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry during a meeting in March.

According to the EPA – flyovers are an efficient and cost effective way to screen large numbers of CAFOs. The agency does not believe these flights disrupt livestock and says only photographs are taken. Senator Johanns introduced an amendment to the farm bill this week that would ban the EPA’s use of aerial surveillance. Johanns called it a trust issue. The Senator’s spokesperson says the public deserves detailed information about the use of aerial surveillance nationwide.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is asking summer travelers to join in the fight against invasive pests. Invasive pests can hitchhike on fruits, vegetables, meats, processed foods, plants and handicraft items – and APHIS says these pests could devastate urban and rural landscapes and cost billions of dollars in lost revenue and eradication efforts if they were to become established in the U.S. This is why APHIS restricts or prohibits the entry of certain agricultural products from foreign countries, Hawaii and U.S. territories.

Travelers can play an important role by not packing a pest. APHIS reminds travelers that baggage will be inspected to ensure the agricultural items carried are allowable under APHIS regulations. It is important to declare all agricultural items to Customs and Border Protection Officers or agriculture specialists at the first port of entry. Certain items in categories such as condiments, bakery items, candy, chocolate, canned goods, goods in vacuum packed jars and fish are generally allowed entry – but should be declared and presented for inspection.

Before traveling – APHIS encourages travelers to check restrictions pertaining to ag products and to use them as guidelines when purchasing souvenirs. Information related to importing agricultural items for personal use is available online at www dot aphis dot usda dot gov slash travel (www.aphis.usda.gov/travel).

REXFORD, Kan. (AP) – A dairy company in northwest Kansas will be the sole supplier of milk to Dannon Co.’s yogurt factory in Fort Worth, Texas.

The agreement between Dannon and McCarty Dairy was officially announced Thursday at a ceremony in Rexford.

The McCarty family milks nearly 7,200 cows daily at dairies in Rexford, Bird City and Scott City.

Aprocessing plant in Rexford gets milk from the three dairies, pasteurizes it and strips out water. The dried milk is used by Dannon for its yogurt.

Tom McCarty told about 150 people including Gov. Sam Brownback and Dannon officials that the deal took about two years to put together.

Brownback says he hopes it’s the first step in Kansas becoming a big player in the dairy industry.