USDA Briefs

News Date December 05, 2007

~~New USDA Communications Director Appointed~~ Chris Connelly has been appointed as director of communications for USDA. Connelly replaces Terri Teuber Moore, who has been named the deputy director of communications for policy and planning at the White House. Connelly has served since 2001 as chief of staff and communications director for the office of Representative Jo Ann Davis. Prior to that, he advised members of Congress as deputy chief of staff, press secretary and assistant press secretary, as well as organizing and managing congressional staff. Connelly has served as a policy analyst and speechwriter on national issues. He has a Bachelor of arts in government from Oral Roberts University and a master of arts in public policy from Regent University.

 ~~2008 Biosecurity Calendars Available~~ As part of its ongoing efforts to educate backyard poultry owners about what they can do to protect their birds against infectious poultry diseases such avian influenza (AI), the USDA is offering free and informative calendars for 2008. These calendars, which feature full-color photos of poultry and other birds each month, contain useful information about protecting poultry from AI and include tips on what to do should poultry owners suspect that their birds are infected. Those interested in receiving this free calendar can go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/resources.html and click "2008 Backyard Biosecurity Calendar."

~~New Disease-Resistant Wheat~~ 'Mace', a new winter wheat cultivar developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators, could give growers an added measure of insurance against outbreaks of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). According to ARS plant geneticist Robert Graybosch, Mace harbors a gene called Wsm-1 that confers resistance to the virus, which is spread by the wheat curl mite, Aceria tosichella. Spraying pesticide to prevent the mite from feeding and transmitting WSMV isn't particularly effective, so growers typically resort to using a combination of strategies, such as controlling weedy grasses and "volunteer" wheat. Both are sources of WSMV that the mites can acquire through feeding. (Contact: Bob Ehart)