カテゴリー: 職員の何でも日記

こんにちは。

釣り部の渡辺です。

船の塗装を終えた翌日、3/1が群馬県内の渓流魚解禁日だったことを思いだし、早速、様子を見に出かけてみました。

解禁明けで魚がいっぱい釣れるだろうと甘い考えで現地に向かいましたが、現実はそれほど甘くなく、釣り場に入ってから暫くしてから人の足跡残っているのに気づきました。

皆さん考えている事は同じだったようで案の定まったく釣れず、今日はもう帰ろうかなと考えていた時に小さな流れ込みを発見。

本流はもう誰かが釣って厳しいかもと考えダメもとでそちらを登っていくことに。

すぐに小さな滝つぼを発見し、おそるおそるキャストすると20cm程のイワナが釣れました。

まったくの手つかずだったようで滝つぼから数匹のイワナがルアーを追ってくる様子が見てとれて、小さな釣り堀状態に。

終わってみれば釣果3匹。2025年初渓流魚が自身初イワナで楽しめました。

 

USDA invests up to $1 billion to combat avian influenza

Five-pronged strategy hoped to offer relief to U.S. farmers and consumers.

Press release

February 26, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins toured a Cal-Maine Foods egg-laying facility in Bogata, Texas.

Not long after that tour, Rollins introduced a strategy to battle avian influenza.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins toured a Cal-Maine Foods egg-laying facility in Bogata, Texas.

Not long after that tour, Rollins introduced a strategy to battle avian influenza.Courtesy USDA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $1 billion-dollar comprehensive strategy to curb highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), protect the U.S. poultry industry, and lower egg prices.

This is in addition to funding already being provided to indemnify growers for depopulated flocks.

As the Secretary detailed in the Wall Street Journal, the five-pronged strategy includes an additional $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million in financial relief for affected farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research, action to reduce regulatory burdens and exploring temporary import options.

“American farmers need relief, and American consumers need affordable food. To every family struggling to buy eggs: We hear you, we’re fighting for you, and help is on the way,” Rollins wrote.

The USDA’s five-pronged approach to address the avian influenza approach is highlighted below.

1. Invest in biosecurity measures for all U.S. poultry producers

USDA will expand its highly successful Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments to producers across the nation, beginning with egg-layer facilities, to safeguard farms from the cause of 83% of HPAI cases: transmission from wild birds. These additional safety measures have proven to minimize flu cases; the approximately 150 facilities that follow these protocols have had only one outbreak.

Biosecurity audits will be expanded. Free biosecurity audits will continue for all HPAI-affected farms. Shortcomings for HPAI-affected farms must be addressed to remain eligible for indemnification for future infections within this outbreak. Biosecurity audits will be encouraged and made available to surrounding, non-affected farms.

USDA will deploy 20 trained epidemiologists as part of its increased biosecurity audits and Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments to provide actionable and timely advice to producers on how to reduce HPAI risk at their facilities. These experts will help improve current biosecurity measures to focus on protecting against spread through wild birds in addition to lateral spread.

USDA will share up to 75% of the costs to fix the highest risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments and audits, with a total available investment of up to $500 million.

2. Increase relief to help farmers and accelerate repopulation APHIS will continue to indemnify producers whose flocks must be depopulated to control the further spread of HPAI.

New programs are being explored to aid farmers to accelerate the rate of repopulation, including ways to simplify the approval process to speed recovery.

Up to $400 million will be available to support these costs for the remainder of the fiscal year.

3. Remove regulatory burdens on the industry

USDA is working alongside its partners at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to examine strategies to safely expand supply in the commercial market for eggs.

USDA will minimize burdens on individual farmers and consumers who harvest homegrown eggs.

USDA will work with farmers and scientists to develop innovative strategies to limit the extent of depopulations in HPAI outbreaks.

USDA will educate consumers and Congress on the need to fix the problem of geographical price differences for eggs, such as in California, where recent regulatory burdens, in addition to avian flu, have resulted in the price of eggs being 60% higher than other regions of the country.

4. Explore pathways to reduce instances of depopulation

USDA will be hyper-focused on a targeted and thoughtful strategy for potential new generation vaccines, therapeutics, and other innovative solutions to minimize depopulation of egg laying chickens along with increased bio-surveillance and other innovative solutions targeted at egg laying chickens in and around outbreaks. Up to a $100 million investment will be available for innovation in this area.

Importantly, USDA will work with trading partners to limit impacts to export trade markets from potential vaccination. Additionally, USDA will work alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the public health and safety of any such approaches include considerations of tradeoffs between public health and infectious disease strategy.

USDA will solicit public input on solutions, and will involve governors, state departments of agriculture, state veterinarians, and poultry and dairy farmers on vaccine and therapeutics strategy, logistics and surveillance. USDA will immediately begin holding biweekly discussions on this and will also brief the public on its progress biweekly until further notice.

5. Consider temporary import-export options

USDA will explore options for temporarily increasing egg imports and decreasing exports, if applicable, to supplement the domestic supply, subject to safety reviews.

USDA will evaluate international best practices in egg production and safety to determine any opportunities to increase domestic supply.

National Chicken Council responds

Following Rollins’ announcement, the National Chicken Council (NCC) applauded the current administration for its desire and commitment to combat HPAI across all species.

“We appreciate the measured and science-based approach for the potential use of an effective and applicable vaccine for laying hens and turkeys, and the administration’s commitment to work with our trading partners to minimize any potential negative trade effects should a vaccine ever be used,” said NCC president Harrison Kircher.

“As the administration works to remove unnecessary burdens to bring down the price of eggs, we will continue to encourage FDA to act on our petition to modify an Obama-era regulation that would release up to 400 million surplus broiler hatching eggs into the egg breaking market.

“We look forward to working with the administration, states, public health professionals and veterinarians to be part of the solution.”

Farm Bureau reaction

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall also commented on the USDA strategy to combat HPAI.

“We appreciate USDA’s blueprint for tackling avian influenza. America’s farmers are committed to ensuring a safe and abundant food supply, and these investments to advance biosecurity and research will further equip them to combat the threat of HPAI. Additionally, efforts to prevent state and federal trade and regulatory barriers that unfairly hit consumers’ pocketbooks will benefit all Americans,” Duvall said.

“Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Secretary Rollins and the expert team at USDA to bring HPAI under control while ensuring solutions are safe, effective and practical.”

Pet Food Institute weighs in

The Pet Food Institute (PFI), whose members include dog and cat food and treat manufacturers in the U.S., thanked Secretary Rollins for introducing a comprehensive strategy to combat HPAI. “U.S. pet food makers look forward to participating in discussions on how to best support USDA in implementing this critical five-point plan over the coming months,” said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of PFI. “This includes working to ensure that egg imports meet strict U.S. safety standards so they can be used in safe, complete and balanced pet food that is fed to dogs and cats in 82 million U.S. households, as well as expanding the Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments pilot program and working with partners to explore possible vaccine and therapeutics options.”

要約

アメリカ合衆国農務省（USDA）は、高病原性鳥インフルエンザ（HPAI）の流行に対処するため、最大10億ドルを投資する包括的な戦略を発表しました。この戦略は、アメリカの養鶏産業を保護し、卵の価格を下げることを目的としています。

戦略の概要:

• 5つの柱からなる戦略:
  • バイオセキュリティ対策への投資（5億ドル）: 全米の養鶏生産者、特に採卵施設におけるバイオセキュリティ対策の強化。
  • 農家への救済措置の強化（4億ドル）: 影響を受けた農家への経済的支援と、再飼育の加速。
  • 規制緩和: 卵の供給拡大や価格差の是正など、規制上の負担軽減。
  • ワクチンおよび治療法の研究（1億ドル）: 鶏の殺処分を最小限に抑えるためのワクチンや治療法の開発。
  • 輸出入オプションの検討: 国内供給を補うための卵の輸出入調整。
• 野生の鳥からの感染防止に重点: 感染の主な原因である野生の鳥からの感染防止に重点を置いた対策。
• 関係者との連携: 農家、業界団体、州政府、取引相手国など、様々な関係者との連携。
• 消費者への救済: 卵の価格を下げることで、消費者に救済を提供。

主な目標:

• HPAIの流行を抑制。
• アメリカの養鶏産業を保護。
• 卵の価格を下げる。
• 影響を受けた農家に経済的支援を提供。

この戦略は、財政支援、規制調整、科学的革新を組み合わせた多面的なアプローチであり、HPAI危機に対処するというUSDAの決意を示しています。

注目すべきは、“USDAが貿易相手国と協力して、潜在的なワクチン接種による輸出貿易市場への影響を最小限に抑える”ことについて関係者（政府機関、獣医師、養鶏家、酪農家）を巻き込んでの議論を展開する、２週間ごとにその進捗状況を公表するとなったことです。

ワクチンを接種することで貿易上のマイナスの影響を最小限に抑えるために貿易相手国と協力するとの政府の約束に対し、関係者は高い評価を表明したことは、これまでになかったことです。

日本も、ぼちぼちHVT+IBD+AI &/or HVT+AIベクターワクチンに関して勉強会を実施する時期になったのではないでしょうか。

こんにちは。

釣り部の渡辺です。

先週末に茨城まで釣りに行ってきました。

毎年、2月～3月はバチ抜けパターンという釣り方でシーバスを狙いに行っているのですが、まったくの手探り状態からのスタートのため2022年から未だボウズが続いておりました。

正直なところ今年はもうやめておこうかな考えていましたが、私とは裏腹に「今凄い釣れてるみたいだから行ってみようよ」という気満々のKさん一声によりS君を含めた釣り部3名で現場に向かう事に。

釣れなかった時のためにあまり期待をせず釣りをしていましたが、暗くなってから水面がバシャバシャと音を立てて、いたる所から魚の気配が。

今回は一味違うなと感じていると、KさんとS君が立て続けにシーバスがヒット！

二人とも初シーバスということでおめでとうございます！！

 

程なくして私の所にも魚が掛かり、久しぶりの魚の引きを堪能しました。

釣れてくれ一安心。

 

終わってみれば3名で40匹程の釣果となり、初のバチ抜けシーバスの釣果は大変満足した結果となりました。

サイズは20cm～40cmの小型が多かったため、次回はサイズアップを狙ってみようと思います。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

子供と3人で前橋育英vs流通経済大柏の決勝戦に行ってきました。

総務部M