Search - The Packer

Thursday September 23, 2010WASHINGTON -- We ve always played with our food -- even before we knew about genes or how to change them.For thousands of years, humans have practiced selective breeding -- pairing the beefiest bull with the healthiest heifers to start a new herd. That concept was refined to develop plant hybridization and artificial insemination. Today we ve got tastier corn on sturdier stalks, bigger turkeys and meatier cattle.Now comes an Atlantic salmon that is genetically engineered to grow twice as fast as a regular salmon. If U.S. regulators approve it, the fish would be the first such scientifically altered animal to reach the dinner plate.Scientists have already determined that it s safe to eat. They are weighing other factors, including environmental risks, after two days of intense hearings.

While milk might have a higher greenhouse gas score than other beverages such as orange juice or soy drink, it brings with it a much denser package of nutrients. And when that fact is considered, milk provides the most nutrition with the least environmental impact.

Pennsylvania State University researchers are experimenting with sophisticated diets to reduce harmful pollutants that emerge from, ahem, both ends of the cow.

USDA has announced the opening of the application period for proposals to conduct feasibility studies on prospective renewable energy systems, including anaerobic digesters, under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) has analyzed the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production’s report “Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America” as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) response to the report. After a review by FASS’ Scientific Advisory Committees, FASS agrees with AVMA that there are significant flaws in the Pew report.

Bonus content: Comments Draft EIS To submit comments The 60-day public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa ends on Feb. 16. Even so, there’s still some uncertainty about when USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will finally give the go-ahead to put the genetically engineered crop back on the market.

Bonus content: More on re-engineered alfalfa: Overview Improving protein utilization alfalfa breeders are looking to improve fiber digestibility and slow down the rate of protein digestibility in the cow’s rumen Consortium for Alfalfa Improvement