Two horses die from EEE, a rare viral disease
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — Two horses in western Ohio have died of a rare viral disease that officials say was last seen in the state two decades ago and which can infect – and potentially kill – humans.

The horses died Sept. 13 of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-transmitted virus that can infect birds, horses and people, Ohio’s health and agriculture departments confirmed. The two horse deaths on a Mercer County farm were the first reported in Ohio since 1991.

USDA veterinarians “strongly recommend” vaccinations for EEE and its Western and Venezuelan counterparts, said Jim Barrett, a department spokesman. Infected horses experience symptoms including paralysis, impaired vision, difficulty swallowing, hanging their heads and grinding their teeth.

Human infections are rare and none has been reported in Ohio, but the state health department urged people to wear protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites. Insect repellants are recommended for humans and animals.

Valley Farm Meats issues precautionary recall
STRASBURG, Ohio — According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Valley Farm Meats of Strasburg, Ohio announced a voluntary recall of casing wieners, rope sausage, big bologna, Dutch loaf and ham and cheese loaf due to improper labeling.

The recalled products can be identified as follows: Casing Wieners, Julian Date 0203; Rope Sausage, Julian Date 0207; Big Bologna, Julian Date 0207; Dutch Loaf, Julian Date 0221; and Ham and Cheese, Julian Dates 0222 and 0232.

The recalled products were manufactured between June 8-July 22. They were sold between June 12-Sept. 2 at Valley Farm Meats, 1317 N. Wooster Ave. in Strasburg, Ohio, and at Hickory Hill Meats, 144 Groves Ave. in Marietta, Ohio. The improper labeling was discovered during routine inspection by the ODA’s Division of Meat Inspection.

Because of improper labeling, Valley Farm Meats asks its customers who have purchased the recalled products to return them to the company. Customers may bring those designated packages to its Strasburg location, or call 330-878-5557.

Illinois officials say fish kill may have many causes
BELLFLOWER, Ill. (AP) — State officials say they are looking at multiple possible causes in a central Illinois fish kill that left about 40,000 fish and other aquatic animals dead.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency last week said runoff from a large dairy farm near Lone Tree Creek was suspected to be the cause of the fish kill. On Wednesday, though, IEPA’s Bruce Yurdin told The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington that there are a number of potential sources.

The fish kill happened over nine miles of the creek and a mile of the Sangamon River below the point where the creek joins the river. The spot is in McLean County. The state Department of Natural Resources said largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, carp, mussels, frogs and crayfish died.

Field fire destroys mobile home in central Indiana
MONROVIA, Ind. (AP) — Firefighters battled field fires at a couple of sites in rural central Indiana, one of which spread and destroyed a mobile home and a barn.

Officials said those living in the home near the Morgan County town of Monrovia escaped without injury. Monroe Township Fire Department Lt. Ray Eldridge told WTHR of Indianapolis that wind pushed the fire toward the buildings and they burned quickly. Eldridge said the cause of the Sept. 13 fire wasn’t immediately known.

Another large fire burned dry farm fields near the Johnson County town of Bargersville. Bargersville Fire Department spokesman Paul Bird told The Daily Journal that the fire might have started when a soybean field was being harvested. Flames reached across railroad tracks about a half-mile from where the fire started but didn’t damage any homes.

USDA approves Illinois ag disaster declaration
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced federal disaster assistance is available to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses because of excessive rain and flooding this year.

The USDA has granted the state’s request to designate 55 Illinois counties as natural disaster areas.  The designation qualifies farmers in those counties and 37 contiguous counties for USDA assistance, including low-interest emergency loans.

Farmers who believe they may qualify should contact their county Farm Service Agency office. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the extent of losses, available security and an applicant’s repayment ability. The deadline to submit loan applications under this disaster declaration is May 2, 2011.

Basil downy mildew reaches epidemic status in Illinois
URBANA, Ill. — Basil downy mildew has reached epidemic status in Illinois, said Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois extension plant pathologist.

Basil is a $10 million industry in Illinois, and one of the leading states in basil production. Basil downy mildew is caused by Peronospora belbahrii, which infects leaves, develops and spreads rapidly and causes total crop loss. Growers should look for leaf spot and foliar blight. The pathogen is spread by wind, seed and plant material.

Oxidate and Quadris have been labeled for use on basil. Based on the results from a 2009 experiment in Illinois, the UoI and Illinois Department of Agriculture applied for and were granted Section 18 permits for use of Revus and Ranman during the 2010 growing season for control of basil downy mildew.

For additional information on controlling basil downy mildew, contact Babadoost by e-mail at babadoos@illinois.edu

Ohio teen pleads guilty in alpaca slaying
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — A teenager charged with beating to death an alpaca from a southwestern Ohio farm pled guilty Sept. 15 to several charges, including cruelty to animals.

Nicholas Reynolds, 18, also pled guilty in Butler County Common Pleas Court in Hamilton to breaking and entering, tampering with evidence, vandalism and grand theft. The three-month-old alpaca was taken from a Madison Township farm in January.

Marcus Miller, 18, and Stacie Mullins, 23, both of the Middletown area, are awaiting trial in the alpaca case. Mullins faces the same charges as Reynolds, and Mullins is charged with complicity.

Reynolds’ attorney, Paris Ellis, said his client hit the alpaca “to kill it, to put it out of its misery,” The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress said he would not disagree with Ellis’ comment.

“If the case went to trial, the evidence would have been that Marcus Miller struck the alpaca on the alpaca farm of Jeff Pergram and that Nick Reynolds struck the animal back at Stacie Mullins’ house to put it out of its misery,” he said.

(Refer to the newspaper for the remaining portion.)