• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated last week he was so frustrated with the current working group’s failure to reach an agreement he wants to start a second checkoff under the 1996 generic checkoff act.

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association confirmed Vilsack met with group members last week. NCBA stated Vilsack’s statements “threaten the success of the current beef checkoff,” but the officials credited Vilsack with wanting to find a way for the industry to get more money for promotion and research.

  • The World Health Organization has released a first draft global action plan regarding antimicrobial resistance, or AMR.

    The five objectives detailed in the plan include optimizing the use of antibiotics, in human and animal health. The draft plan stated, “antibiotic use in humans and animals and agriculture is still increasing, and the projected increase in demand for animal food products may have a consequent impact on antibiotic use.”

    The WHO urged members to implement action plans that include collecting and reporting data on the use of antimicrobial agents in human and animal health, including agriculture.

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