Menendez seeks reform at USDA in wake of meat recall<br>
FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator is proposing reforms to try and prevent potentially tainted beef from reaching schools.
The effort comes after New Jersey schools received about 168,000 pounds of meat from a California slaughterhouse that was shut down last month. In all, about 143 million pounds of beef was recalled.<br>
Democrat Sen. Robert Menendez wants the USDA empowered to impose mandatory meat recalls, rather than rely on voluntary recalls by the industry. He also wants the USDA to make information on recalls more readily available to schools.
Menendez says it took three weeks for the California plant to recall the meat, then three more days before New Jersey schools were told what to do with it.<br>
Pharmaceuticals found in water of 24 metro areas<br>

NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP) — At least one pharmaceutical was detected in tests of treated drinking water supplies for 24 major metropolitan areas, according to an Associated Press survey of 62 major water providers and data obtained from independent researchers.<br>
Only 28 tested drinking water. Three of those said results were negative; Dallas says tests were conducted but results are not yet available. Thirty-four locations said no testing was conducted.
Test protocols varied widely. Some researchers looked only for one pharmaceutical or two; others looked for many. Some water systems said tests had been negative, but the AP found independent research showing otherwise. Both prescription and non-prescription drugs were detected.<br>
Because coffee and tobacco are so widely used, researchers say their byproducts are good indicators of the presence of pharmaceuticals. Thus, they routinely test for, and often find, both caffeine and nicotine’s metabolite cotinine more frequently than other drugs.<br>
Here’s the list of metropolitan areas in the seven primary Farm World coverage states, with the number of pharmaceuticals detected and some examples of specific drugs that were found, or where tests were not conducted or awaiting results:<br>
Chicago, Ill., no testing; Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 (caffeine); Cleveland, Ohio, no testing; Columbus, Ohio, 5 (azithromycin, roxithromycin, tylosin, virginiamycin and caffeine); Detroit, Mich., unspecified drugs; Indianapolis, Ind., 1 (caffeine); Louisville, Ky., 3 (caffeine, carbamazepine and phenytoin); Memphis, Tenn., no testing; and Nashville, Tenn., no testing.<br>
Judge’s rulings favor Case IH retirees in benefits lawsuit<br>

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — A federal judge has issued rulings favoring former employees of farm equipment maker Case IH suing the company over retirement health care benefits.<br>
U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Duggan ruled Friday that Case is responsible for the retirees’ lifetime health benefits.
The company, now CNH America, argued it no longer bore responsibility for the benefits.<br>
Michigan attorney Roger McClow represents more than 5,000 Case IH retirees. He said Friday was “a champagne day” in his office.
CNH spokesman Thomas Witom says the company will consider how to proceed.<br>
More Ottawa County goats test positive for fatal brain disease
PORT SHELDON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Five Ottawa County goats have been diagnosed with a fatal and contagious disease found in goats and sheep.<br>
The Grand Rapids Press reported the goats came from the same herd and include some that have been transferred to other farms.
One of them was a three-year-old female whose diagnosis had been reported earlier last week.<br>
State agriculture officials say all goats in the affected herds have been destroyed to stem the spread of Scrapie, a disease similar to “Mad Cow” in cattle and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk. It’s not known to pose a risk to humans.<br>
The nation’s first reported case of Scrapie occurred in Michigan in 1947.<br>
Farm work-related deaths increased in Virginia in 2007<br>
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Farm Bureau (VFB) said farm work-related deaths in the state doubled last year compared to the year before.<br>
The organization said 22 people died in farm work-related accidents in 2007, compared to 11 in 2006. Three fatalities last year resulted from tractor overturns, four from tractor and equipment runovers, three while people drove farm equipment on public roads and five as a result of other tractor or equipment incidents.<br>
Seven deaths were caused by exposure to deadly gases from a manure pit, electrocution and a tree-cutting accident.<br>
VFB safety staff have kept unofficial records of farm fatalities and injuries occurring in the state since 1994.<br>

Draft horse killed in Iowa semi, livestock trailer crash<br>

FAIRBANK, Iowa (AP) — A draft horse was killed when a semi-trailer struck a livestock trailer near Fairbank.<br>
Officials with the Fayette County sheriff’s office say the semi was carrying a load of corn to an ethanol plant on the east side of Fairbank on March 4 when the pickup truck and livestock trailer pulled in front of it. Neither driver was injured.<br>
The horse and three others were being transported from Minnesota to a farm near Hazleton in eastern Iowa.<br>
The sheriff’s office said the other horses were only shaken up in the crash.<br>