In Memory of Sue Duncan

We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Susan Duncan, Ph.D. on October 12, 2022. Sue, a past president of ADSA and friend of many, was a well-respected leader, professor, and researcher in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for more than 32 years.

After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee, Sue began her career at Virginia Tech in 1990. She was the first woman hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology. After her promotion to the rank of professor, she was named the associate director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. She also served as the director of the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture with her trademark enthusiasm, drive, and intellect. During her time as a graduate advisor, she became affectionately known as “The Dairy Queen” among her students, countless of whom she shepherded through their academic careers. Her intense focus coupled with her warm, supportive mentoring style made a permanent impression upon them.

Collaborating with Sue was an absolute pleasure. She will be greatly missed by everyone at ADSA and FASS Inc. Click here for a memorial tribute to Sue and her career.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 25th at 11 am EDT at the Dublin Baptist Church. The family will receive friends Monday, October 24th from 6 to 8pm EDT at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Park Foundation (https://www.nationalparks.org ) or the Bob Duncan Memorial Scholarship. Checks should be made out to the Virginia Tech Foundation and identify the contribution to be in support of the Bob Duncan Memorial Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology Scholarship Fund. Checks can be mailed to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Advancement Office, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061.

U.S.-French event spotlights transatlantic dairy trade and policy

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) recently hosted a discussion with the leading French dairy organization, the Centre National Interprofessionnel de l'Economie Laitière (CNIEL), at an event convened by the U.S. embassy in Paris. The session is the first in a series of U.S.-French agricultural policy dialogues that the U.S. embassy plans to convene with the Farm Foundation in order to foster greater understanding as the EU develops its Farm to Fork policies on food production, consumption and trade.

U.S. Ambassador to France Denise Campbell Bauer opened the event by underscoring the importance of building stronger understanding and relationships on agricultural issues between the U.S. and Europe. The dairy industries in the two markets share many defining values. Both produce sustainable, high-quality products under rigorous food safety standards, and both play a crucial role in ensuring global food security and affordability. However, different approaches and the rapidly evolving policy landscape in Europe can create deeper trade challenges.  Read more

Record Brazil meat exports forecast for 2023

The U.S Department of Agriculture is forecasting Brazil chicken meat exports will rise by 4% in 2023 on firm demand in key markets and production challenges by key competitors. Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in North America and Europe, rising energy costs in the EU, and production disruptions in the Ukraine have decreased competitors’ exportable supplies and price competitiveness, USDA noted, adding that the events “enable Brazil to benefit from firm global demand as consumers seek lower priced animal protein amid inflation of food prices.”

Further, Brazil ships a wide variety of products (including whole birds and breast cuts) to service a broad range of markets. For example, Brazil is a robust supplier of halal products to the Middle East which is forecast to have strong demand in 2023. Brazil will remain the world’s top exporter, accounting for over one-third of global shipments. Read more

Urging Funding for Ag Research

ADSA and FASS joined over 80 other science-based organizations in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Agriculture of the respective Appropriations Committees urging rapid completion of the FY 2023 spending package. The letter included the following:

·      Provide $1.768 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research (NIFA) as recommended in the House Agriculture Appropriations bill.

·      Provide $1.922 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as recommended in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill.

·      Provide at least $2 million in funding for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) as recommended in the House Agriculture Appropriations bill.

The investments in USDA research, education, and extension programs made today will be responsible for developing the scientific outcomes and workforce urgently needed to meet identified and as-yet unknown challenges in the future. We urge you to do all you can to support a robust, diverse research, education, and extension portfolio within USDA.



Visit the ADSA Advocacy area for the text of this and past letters.

Seeking Input for NIFA

NIFA is seeking input on research priorities for the future and suggestions on how they can best make information available. They ask the following questions:

• What is your top priority for research, extension or education for NIFA?
• What are the most promising opportunities/solutions for advancement of these food and agricultural priorities?
• What are the greatest challenges that you see facing food and agriculture in the coming decades, and what fundamental knowledge gaps exist that limit the ability of research, extension, and education to respond to these challenges?
• Based on those challenges, what general areas of food and agricultural research should be advanced and supported to fill the knowledge gaps, and what is your top priority for research, extension, and/or education for NIFA investment?
• How accessible do you find information about NIFA programs and activities to be?
• What can NIFA do to make information and resources more accessible?
• What is NIFA doing right and are there opportunities to improve?



Please send your input to Ken Olson to be shared with the FASS Science Policy Committee in developing input to NIFA. If you prefer you can click here for more information about a public comment period NIFA is holding to receive input. Thank you in advance for your suggestions. Please reach out with any questions or feedback. 

ADSA Partner Webinar: Dairy Cattle Welfare Council

ADSA is pleased to share webinars delivered through our partner, the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council. 

These one-hour live educational sessions are available to attendees from around the world. Live webinars are free of charge for all, but you must register. Recordings are available to active members of the DCWC (CC capable in Spanish, French, etc.).

“Meet our board, what they do and why they do it – Producers, Nutritionists, Veterinarians, Academia, Government, Industry, Processors, Retailers, and Community”

By: Dr. Jennifer Walker, Dr. Meggan Hain, Dr. Shaw Perrin, and dairy producers (Leon Richard and Tuen Verhoeven)

Date: October 28, 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

REGISTER HERE

Webinars are geared toward dairy farmers, veterinarians, consultants, industry, Extension/academia, and government representatives interested in many aspects of dairy cattle welfare. Professional, undergraduate, and graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate. Continuing Education Credit is awarded on an hour per hour basis. 

Contact DCWCouncil@gmail.com after your participation to request Veterinary CE documentation.

Are you an ADSA Member?

ADSA Dair-e-news is a service of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) that is provided to both ADSA members and others with an interest in dairy. 

ADSA provides a community of integrity, objectivity, open-mindedness, inclusiveness, and commitment to the dairy food system for people like you. If you are not currently a member of ADSA we hope that you will join our community and gain the many other benefits of membership in ADSA.

If you are not currently a member, now is the time to take advantage of a special offer. Professional members can join today and enjoy ADSA membership benefits through 2023 for only $137.50!

Visit the membership area of our website to learn more and join today. It’s a great investment!

To best meet member interests ADSA has TWO PROFESSIONAL DIVISIONS. When you join choose the one that best meets your interests:

·      Production Division — primarily concerned with the cattle production phases of the dairy industry.

·      Dairy Foods Division — focuses on the processing, product, and distribution phases of the dairy industry.

Oct 26-27, 2022     CA ARPAS Continuing Education Conference - “California Livestock Feeding 2022 and Beyond; Challenges and Opportunities, The Inn at Harris Ranch, Coalinga, CA, Click here for more information

Oct 27, 2022 at 1:00 PM CDT     Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar - “The Contrasting Functions of Nutrition on Reproduction in Dairy Cows.” with Milo Wiltbank, Click here for information and registration

Oct 27-29, 2022     The American Embryo Transfer Association (AETA)-CETA/ACTE Joint Annual Convention, Louisville Marriott Downtown Louisville, KY, Click here for more information and registration.

Oct 28, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EDT    DCWC Webinar - “Meet our board, what they do and why they do it – Producers, Nutritionists, Veterinarians, Academia, Government, Industry, Processors, Retailers, and Community”, Click here to Register

Nov, 1, 2022           Dairy Food Basics Fundamentals of Quality and Safety, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, 205 Curtin Rd, University Park, PA, Click here for more information.

Nov. 2, 2022           Hazard Analysis & Preventative Controls Workshop for Small-Scale Dairy Processors, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, 205 Curtin Rd, University Park, PA, Click here for more information.

Nov 2nd at 3:00pm CDT    USDRC Webinar – “Dr. Dennis Hancock’s State of the Center Address!”, Click here to join the webinar

Nov 2- 3, 2022       Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop: ”Integrating the new 2021 NASEM ‘Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle’ recommendations into feeding practices”, Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA., Click here for more information an registration

Nov 7-10, 2022       The Science and Art of Cheese Making, Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, University Park, Click here for more information and registration

Nov 8 – 10, 2022    Preventive Controls for Human Food (Al, Anika, Rob), Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information   

Nov 16-17, 2022     Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert (Advanced Level), Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, Click here for more information

Dec 1, 2022 at 10 AM       56th Florida Dairy Production Conference, Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, Gainesville, FL, Click here for information and registration

*An S-PAC Partner Conference

If your organization’s conference isn’t among the ever growing list that contribute proceedings and presentations to S-PAC®, ask your conference organizer to contact Ken Olson for more information about the benefits of participation.

If you would like to have an event included in the “Dates to Note,” please contact Ken Olson at keolson@prodigy.net or keoagconsulting@gmail.com