Livestock producers warned of anthrax danger
BISMARCK –North Dakota’s state veterinarian says the state’s first reported case of anthrax this year should prompt livestock producers to take action to protect their animals from the disease, especially in areas with a past history of disease.
“Anthrax has been confirmed in a Barnes County beef cow,” Dr. Susan Keller said Wednesday. “Producers should consult with their veterinarians to make sure the vaccination schedule for their animals is up to date.”
Effective anthrax vaccines are readily available, but that it takes about a week for immunity to be established, and it must be administered annually. Keller also said producers should monitor their herds for unexpected deaths and report them to their veterinarians.
Anthrax has been most frequently reported in northeast, southeast and south central North Dakota, but it has been found in almost every part of the state.”
“With the precipitation we have had, conditions are right for the disease to occur,” Keller said.
A few anthrax cases are reported in North Dakota almost every year. In 2005, however, more than 500 confirmed deaths from anthrax were reported with total losses estimated at more than 1,000 head. The dead animals included cattle, bison, horses, sheep, llamas and farmed deer and elk.
An anthrax factsheet is available on the home page of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website at www.nd.gov/ndda/disease/anthrax.
Anthrax is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. The bacterial spores can lie dormant in the ground for decades and become active under ideal conditions, such as heavy rainfall, flooding and drought. Animals are exposed to the disease when they graze or consume forage or water contaminated with the spores.
Goehring sets goals for 2014
Hunger Free ND Garden Project
FARGO –Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is asking gardeners across the state to plant an extra row of fruits and vegetables this year to help meet the needs of hungry North Dakotans.
“One in 10 of our fellow citizens seeks food assistance from charitable feeding programs every year,” Goehring said. “We are asking individuals and groups to join in the 2014 Hunger Free ND Garden Project to grow and distribute at least a million servings of fresh produce to North Dakota food pantries, shelters and charitable feeding organizations.”
“Sadly in a state that produces so much food, hunger is very much a problem here – our largest food bank has seen an almost 12 percent increase in the need for services in the past year,” Goehring said. “Sadder yet, almost 40 percent of those needing help are children.”
Also addressing the news conference was Steve Sellent, program director of the Great Plains Food Bank, and Esther McGinnis, director of North Dakota State University’s Master Gardener Program.
“The Hunger Free North Dakota Garden project has not only significantly increased the amount of food we have been able to provide for those in our state struggling with hunger, but it has also played a key role in our efforts to provide more fresh and healthy food,” said Sellent. “We regularly hear how much having access to these fruits and vegetables is appreciated by the more than 80,000 children, families and seniors who look to us for nutrition assistance.”
“The North Dakota Master Gardener Program and the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Project have complementary missions,” said McGinnis, “Master Gardeners are committed to using their horticultural skills to benefit communities across North Dakota and are proud to partner with the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Project to combat food insecurity.”
Last year, the Hunger Free ND Garden Project, gardeners grew and delivered more than 181,000 pounds of fresh produce to food distribution agencies.
Goehring said information about the Hunger Free ND Garden Project, including drop-off points for garden-grown produce will be available on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website, www.nd.gov/ndda.
The Hunger Free ND Garden Project was started in 2010 through the local foods initiative of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) in partnership with the Great Plains Food Bank. The statewide project encourages home gardeners and commercial growers to plant extra produce each year for donation to charitable organizations across the state.
Other partners in the project include the NDSU Extension Service, Dakota College at Bottineau ~ Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture, Creating a Hunger Free ND Coalition, Healthy North Dakota and Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society.