ASF Continues Slow Movement Through Eastern Europe

Feb 01, 2021

The Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center says the progression of African Swine Fever in eastern Europe continues to increase the risk of infection in other countries. The January Domestic and Global swine disease surveillance reports, included as part of the Swine Health Information Center's monthly newsletter, update the foreign animal disease situation.

SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg says it's important to keep an eye on the movement of ASF in other countries to prevent and be prepared should it get to North America.

Clip-Dr. Paul Sundberg-Swine Health Information Center:

In western Poland there's been another province that has broke across the border between Germany and Poland so now we're in the fourth province in Germany that's shown up with ASF. It's still within the feral pigs in the country. It hasn't gone into commercial production yet but that's a continued movement of ASF from Poland, from Eastern Europe in continuing to move west.

That's an important progression to keep an eye on because it certainly puts at risk the commercial production in Germany as it moves across and it continues to slowly but surely move there will be continued risk for commercial production in other countries. That's an important thing.

We've gotten another ASF outbreak in Russia, a new one in western Russia as well as in south central Russia. That's another example of continued movement. These were in large commercial production facilities and so it's another example of biosecurity awareness, awareness of the virus in the countryside and making sure everything can be done to stop that movement at every break.

Source : Farmscape

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.