CDC: Bird flu virus lacks changes to make it a greater threat to people
Samples of the H5N1 bird flu virus that has infected dairy cattle and a dairy worker retain avian genetic characteristics and “for the most part lack changes that would make them better able to infect mammals,” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a technical update. “The overall risk to human health associated with the ongoing HPAI A(H5) outbreaks in poultry and detections in wild birds and cattle remains low,” said the CDC.
Brazil and Colombia sharply reduce forest loss
With new leaders in office, Brazil and Colombia dramatically reduced their loss of mature tropical forest in 2023, said Global Forest Watch in an annual report on Thursday. Nonetheless, the world’s tropics lost 3.7 million hectares (more than 14,000 square miles) of primary forest. Losses have run at 3 to 4 million hectares annually for the past two decades.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Iowa bill shields Bayer: The Republican-controlled Iowa state Senate passed, 30-19, and sent to the House a bill that would shield Bayer from failure-to-warn lawsuits against its products as long as their labels complied with federal regulations. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
USDA offers $1.5 billion for RCPP: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said $1.5 billion was available as the USDA’s share of funding for the public-private Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which coordinates soil and water stewardship projects across watersheds. (USDA)
CHS, Growmark end talks: After several weeks of discussions, agricultural suppliers CHS and Growmark announced that they will no longer pursue additional collaborations. (DTN/progressive Farmer)
Aderholt wants more time: Alabama Rep. Bob Aderholt, a potential candidate to chair the House Appropriations Committee, asked House Republican leaders to delay the scheduled April 9 vote for the position. Oklahoma’s Tom Cole, who chairs the Rules Committee, is the only announced candidate. (Roll Call)
California bill targets paraquat: A bill filed by Laura Friedman, a member of the state Assembly, would ban the use of the pesticide paraquat in California’s fields and orchards by January 2026. (Los Angeles Daily News)
