A Healthy Harvest – Researchers Explore Impact of Use of Raw Animal Manure on Tomato Contamination

Conventional growers and home gardeners alike, use soil amendments such as compost and manure to improve soil productivity and soil quality. However, application of untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin (raw animal manure) may represent a potential risk for fresh produce of contamination with enteric pathogenic bacteria. What does all of this mean for the backyard gardener?

The Wragg Fire: Reflections from a veterinarian, firefighter and horse-owner…

Dr. Michael Payne, UCD veterinarian with the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security and volunteer firefighter, reflects on his involvement in the Wragg fire, and shares advice for horse owners preparing for wildfire, and the most important contingency provisions for transportation and relocation.

Protecting Animal Feed Protects Our Food

Although not typically on the minds of the public, regulation and inspection of animal feeds affects them every day, from keeping their pet foods safe to preventing BSE (“Mad Cow Disease”) from entering the United States. Feed inspection is also important to farmers and ranchers by safeguarding livestock feed thus ensuring that the meat, milk and eggs produced are safe for humans as well.