USDA targets 5,000 Iowa cattle for mad cow testing
Quad-City Times
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A government plan to test for mad cow disease includes at least 5,000 cattle in Iowa, according to a copyright story in Saturday's edition of The Des Moines Register.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin the voluntary testing effort in June to determine whether the United States has any infected cattle. The first reported U.S. mad cow case was found last December in Washington state.
The effort won't be easy. Industry experts say many farmers and ranchers will be hesitant to have cattle checked for fear one could test positive.
“It will be for the good of the whole industry” to have the testing done, said John Schiltz, the Iowa state veterinarian. “When you want to try to find out the extent of the problem, this is the only way to accomplish that.”
The USDA plans to test 200,000 to 270,000 high-risk cattle nationwide over a 12-month period. The testing will target older animals that are ill, lame or have died on the farm – the cattle considered most likely to have the brain-wasting disease, known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Christian Leaders Chastise pResident Bush's 'Clean Air' Policy as Immoral
Worldwide Faith News
Washington, D.C. – With a major mobilization of its base, U.S. Christian leaders are using their clout to call attention to the Bush Administration's “clean air” policy that they say goes against Christian principles of stewardship and care for God's creation and God's children.
In a letter sent [April 22] to pResident Bush, nearly 100 national and state Christian leaders in the country, representing millions of congregants, expressed grave moral concern and dismay over the pResident's stewardship of America's environment and the implications for Americans' health – particularly for children, women and the elderly.
“Ever since taking office, the Administration has weakened critical health standards, especially the Clean Air Act,” said Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, whose 36 member denominations count 45 million adherents in more than 100,000 congregations nationwide.
Some of the Iowa signatories:
* Rev. Sarai Beck, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa
* Rev. Philip Hougen, Bishop, Southeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
* Rev. Harry Olthoff, General Presbyter and Facilitator, Presbytery of Eastern Iowa, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Blog For Iowa 