12/11/08 TB Tests Positive & the Dangerous Ds

TB Tests Positive & the Dangerous D's plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Tests conducted at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, have confirmed the presence of tuberculosis in a beef cow in North Dakota. The problem was confirmed after the identification of the cow with a TB lesion at a meat processing plant in Long Prairie, Minnesota. North Dakota State veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller said the suspect lesion was detected through routine inspection at the processing plant. A traceback determined that the animal came from a livestock operation in southwestern North Dakota. North Dakota has been officially TB-free since Jan. 1, 1976. Under federal guidelines, that status remains in effect. Running a farming operation is fraught with dangers and Farm Business Management and Marketing expert Ruth Hambleton talks about how the dangerous D's of debt, death, disability, disagreement and divorce can bring down a farm operation. HAMBLETON: When we really get to looking and analyzing why farm operations are leaving there's maybe one of the main player's died, the death issue. Somebody has health problems, the disability issue. The other one is the debt load is too excruciating and so we'll take farm operations out. Divorce is one of those  you shouldn't think that it would be devastating to a farm operation but a messy divorce will take a farm operation apart quicker than a drought or flood event will. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Tis the season to be sniffling. Long known as the cold and flu season, winter can seem to stretch into infinity and beyond. But you don't have to be one of the coughing and sneezing majority. Besides the usual tactics taken to ward off illness such as good hand washing and plenty of rest, you can also take stock in that old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." It has been discovered that red apples have a natural antioxidant, quercetin, which may give individuals immune systems a much needed boost, especially when they are under stress. Both broccoli and green tea appear to have the same capabilities. Researchers have also found that persons in a study group who received a daily dose of quercetin were more mentally alert. So probably Mom did have it right when she told you to eat your fruits and vegetables. Stock up now on your red apple supply, you'll be glad you did. And go ahead, give your Mom a call to thank her; it may be the best Christmas present she ever got. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.