NASDA News - March 26, 2013

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has transferred one million doses of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) vaccine to Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety. The agency sent a team of subject matter experts to assess the current CFS situation in the country and concluded that the use of much-needed vaccine would help in containing the spread of the disease, according to Dr. John R. Clifford, USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer.

The donation occurred on March 19 and was based on a request for assistance from the Guatemalan Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Humberto Maldonado, to help Guatemala control the spread of CSF there. The assistance provided by APHIS will help control and limit spread of CSF in Guatemala and neighboring countries. Among these countries are Mexico, currently working to control and eradicate the disease, and the United States, which has been free of CSF for over 30 years.

DuPont and Monsanto are two prominent providers of technology-based solutions and agricultural products for farmers. These two companies have reached a series of technology licensing agreements that will expand the range of seed products they can offer farmers. Through these agreements and multi-year, royalty-bearing licensing of some of Monsanto's technologies, DuPont Pioneer will be able to offer certain additional glyphosate and dicamba tolerant soybeans in the near term and will also receive regulatory data rights for the soybean and corn traits previously licensed from Monsanto. This enables DuPont Pioneer to create a wide array of stacked trait combinations using traits or genetics from DuPont Pioneer or others.

Monsanto will receive access to certain DuPont Pioneer disease resistance and corn defoliation patents. This technology exchange will allow both companies to expand the range of innovative solutions the companies can offer farmers. For more information, visit DuPont ...

Windows 8 users can now take advantage of the popular Delaware Fresh farm-market location app from the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The app is now available for all Windows 8 devices, from mobile phones and tablets to Windows 8 desktops, joining existing iPhone and Android versions. The app was developed by Delaware Interactive as part of the Delaware eGovernment Initiative. This is the first Windows 8 application for the state of Delaware, continuing the eGovernment Initiative drive to bring state information and services to Delawareans. The app is free and available for download at apps.delaware.gov.

"This app is a great way for Delaware residents and travelers to instantly find the best local vegetables, fruits, meats and other products close by," said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. "It's connecting our tech-savvy consumers with the best Delaware farmers have to offer." For more information, click here.

The Texas Department of Agriculture today unveiled the new Farm to School Web page to increase the amount of locally grown products featured in Texas school meals while also expanding business opportunities for Texas agricultural producers. The Web page, SquareMeals.org/FarmtoSchool, also provides school nutrition professionals with resources for planning meals around seasonally available local foods, and offers agricultural producers the information needed to sell their products directly to schools.

"Farm to School efforts help increase the quality of fresh foods in our schools," Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. "Expanding the amount of Texas products in our schools is good health policy, good family policy and good economic policy."
For more information, click here.