09/26/06 Poultry Program & Sharing Equipment

National Poultry Program & Sharing Equipment. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. USDA is expanding the National Poultry Improvement Program in an effort to strengthen U.S. protections against poultry diseases like avian influenza. The program - NPIP - is a voluntary cooperative federal, state and industry program designed to prevent the spread of poultry diseases in commercial poultry operations. Under the interim rule announced Friday - USDA will provide 100-percent indemnity for certain costs associated with the eradication of H5 and H7 low path bird flu at those commercial operations participating in the NPIP program. Under the interim rule - states must create a diagnostic surveillance program for all poultry - and develop APHIS-approved response and containment plans - and industry must maintain active surveillance. New farm tractors are expensive - well into the six figures for big ones. But some farmers are cutting their costs by sharing that costly equipment. And University of Illinois Extension Farm Management Specialist Gary Schnitkey says it make sense. SCHNITKEY: It's also come more to the forefront particularly on combines as you look at the newer combines and you know they can go over 3000 acres and you get much lower cost when you go over 3000 acres versus 1500 acres. Two people sharing a combine will dramatically reduce cost. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. Given the barrage of stories I have covering lately about the benefits of dairy products I feel like I should be wearing a milk mustache and on the milk producer's payroll. Really, I have no affiliation with the National Dairy Council; I am just in awe of the health benefits of dairy products, especially when it comes to children, teenage girls and menopausal women. The latest "great news" about diary products comes from a large, long term study of over 46,000 men 75,000 women completed by a team of researchers from Harvard and Northwestern Universities that concluded that the people who met the daily recommended allowance of 400 IU's of vitamin D cut their risks of pancreatic cancer in half. 50 percent folks!! Now you can get your daily dose of D from the sun, (if you winter in Arizona) or a vitamin. Me, I'll pass on the wrinkles, skin cancer or a chalky pill that sticks in my throat for a tall cold glass of milk, fortified of course. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.