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A Message from USDA to Ant Keepers

October 25, 2023 April Dawson, Communications Specialist, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA

Ant keepers enjoy a fun and educational hobby, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has an interest in it. You might wonder what ant keeping has to do with American agriculture and natural resources. Some invertebrates that people—including ant keepers—import into the U.S. or...

Animals

Taking the Bait: USDA Safeguards Wildlife Against the Rabies Virus

September 25, 2023 Alisha McDowell, APHIS Public Affairs Specialist (detailed)

Rabies, one of the oldest known diseases, remains a significant wildlife-management and public-health challenge. September 28 th will mark the 17 th annual World Rabies Day, a global health observance started in 2007 to raise awareness about the disease and enhance prevention and control efforts...

Animals

How USDA Scientists are Winning the Battle Against Invasive Fruit Flies

April 27, 2023 Cecilia Sequeira, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Invasive fruit flies, such as the Oriental, Mexican, Mediterranean, and European cherry fruit fly, pose threats to many U.S. commercial and homegrown crops. If established, these flies could cause significant economic losses, requiring costly treatments to protect fruits and vegetables and reducing...

Animals Research and Science

Upcoming USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Center Programs Offer In-Person, Hands-On Training and Technical Assistance for Producers and Processors

March 23, 2023 Jennifer Porter, Agricultural Marketing Service, Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Poultry Program

Producers, feeders, and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of factors that contribute to the market value of cattle, and how these factors can inform marketing and production decisions, can join us at three upcoming in-person events at the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers...

Animals

200 Years of Bilateral Relations with Mexico: Protecting Agricultural Resources from Plant Pests and Animal Disease Threats on Both Sides of the Border

January 19, 2023 Nick Gutiérrez, APHIS, International Services Regional Manager in Mexico

As of December 2022, United States and Mexico are celebrating 200 years of bilateral relations. Over these two hundred years, our nations have developed rich diplomatic and cultural ties where agriculture and trade considerations feature a prominent role.

Animals Plants Trade

Insects, Scientists, and a Bear…Oh My!

December 19, 2017 Rhonda Santos, APHIS Public Information Officer

I’ve never been much into insects. But there are a handful of insects that give me the same wonder and amazement I imagine those who study insects feel.

Animals

APHIS Foreign Service Officers: Join Us in Making a Difference throughout the World

November 30, 2017 David Steigman, APHIS, International Services

Do you feel restless at a job where you look at a computer screen all day? Are you interested in supporting and protecting U.S. agriculture from abroad? Do you have a background in biology, chemistry or another scientific field? If so, consider applying for an overseas position with the Animal and...

Animals

Arkansas Producer Diversifies Breeder Hen Operation Using USDA Microloan

October 20, 2017 Cassie Bable, FSA Public Affairs Specialist

Agricultural producers know that the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has programs to assist them when natural disasters strike and commodity prices decline; however, most producers take preventative measures to further protect their operation.

Animals

Protecting your Flock during Fall Migration

October 16, 2017 Jack Shere, DVM, Ph.D., USDA/APHIS Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer

We know you’ve heard it before: seasonal migratory patterns bring an increased risk of disease-carrying birds interacting with commercial or backyard poultry. But the health and safety of our U.S. poultry flock is important enough to make it worth repeating. Birds, particularly waterfowl like ducks...

Animals

Wildlife Partners Unite to Protect Iconic Species from Deadly Plague

October 04, 2017 Gail Keirn, USDA APHIS Public Affairs Specialist

Last month, researchers, wildlife biologists and managers from several federal, state and local agencies gathered at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ (USFWS) National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center to celebrate a breakthrough in wildlife management— the development of an oral vaccine...

Animals