April 29, 2009
Dear Delaware Swine Producer:
This letter is intended to update you on the current status of the influenza virus that is currently being highlighted in the world media. It will also provide you with contact information and steps to follow in case you discover any type of illness among your own pigs. First of all, the term "Swine Flu" being used in the media has created a lot of confusion among the general public. This terminology implies that the virus originated from pigs, and that there could be a problem with pork products from regions where human illness has been detected. There is NO EVIDENCE which links swine to the human cases being reported around the world. There has been no reported disease resembling influenza among our swine populations. Please note that this new variant of H1N1 influenza has not been identified in any North American swine, or in any pigs worldwide to date. During an April 26 White House briefing, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said people cannot get swine flu from eating pork. On April 28, Sec. Napolitano announced that the virus name will be changed from “Swine Flu virus” to “Influenza A, H1N1 virus” to eliminate the public confusion about this illness and to more accurately characterize it as a human-to-human transmitted virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak of a hybrid form of influenza has not affected the safety of pork. Humans cannot contract this influenza from eating pork.
The National Pork Board is collaborating with the CDC and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide information on the current influenza virus circulating in the human population. A useful fact sheet can be found at the following link: http://www.pork.org/PorkScience/Documents/PUBLICHEALTH%20influenza.pdf
DELAWARE SWINE PRODUCERS
Please read the following section very carefully!!
Steps to follow if you notice swine with any symptoms of illness which may be consistent with influenza (fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, or any other unexplained illness):
• Immediately isolate the pig from the herd by moving it to an area where it will not spread the disease to other animals through nose-nose contact or shared waterers/feed troughs/etc.
• Wash your hands frequently, and take other precautions, such as changing clothing and boots before handling other pigs or leaving the area where animals are housed.
• Call your regular veterinarian, as you normally would, to obtain their advice regarding treatment of the sick pig(s) and other recommendations.
• Call the Delaware Department of Agriculture at 302-698-4500 and ask for Bob Moore.
• One of the DDA animal inspectors will discuss with you what the next steps are for getting your pig(s) tested as soon as possible for influenza virus.
Swine producers should work with their herd veterinarian to reduce transmission of any type of influenza viruses by:
• Maintaining a current, routine vaccination program.
• Implementing worker sick-leave policies that encourage employees to remain away from work when they are suffering from acute respiratory infections.
• Maintaining appropriate ventilation in the barns.
• Enforcing basic hygiene and biosecurity practices, including the use of personal protective gear such as gloves and coveralls.
• Preventing pig-to-bird contact. Bird-proof buildings and treat water if it supplied from an open body of water where birds and migratory fowl may be found. Separate pig and bird production to prevent any potential crosscontamination of the animals with influenza virus. Protect feed from feces of birds and migratory fowl.
Background information on influenza in pigs:
• The clinical signs and/or symptoms of influenza in pigs are fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.
• As external temperatures drop in the fall and winter, influenza persists better in the environment, and sudden temperature changes and other stressors can make pigs more susceptible to the virus
• Influenza season in pigs typically runs from November through April, although influenza viruses can be isolated from pigs year round.
Facts about pork:
• The risk of illness from consuming pork is minimal. If a pig with active influenza infection should arrive at a harvest facility, it would not pass the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection because it would have obvious signs of illness. The sick animal would be condemned as ‘not fit for human consumption’.
• FSIS has stated that even if surface contamination of a product should occur, common-sense food handling and preparation practices would minimize the risk of illness as normal cooking temperatures will inactivate the virus.
About interspecies transmission:
• It is possible for humans to transmit some influenza viruses to pigs. And it is possible, though not common, for pigs to transmit some influenza viruses to humans.
• Interspecies infections are most likely to occur when people are in extremely close proximity to pigs. The current human cases from March and April 2009 have been investigated, and none of the patients have reported any contact with swine.
Should you have any questions about human health, please contact the Delaware Department of
Public Health:
Health Information and Epidemiology Group at 302-744-4541.
Questions about animal health can be directed to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Animal Health Section at
302-698-4500, and ask for Bob Moore. Thank you for your cooperation.
Best Regards,
Heather L. Hirst, DVM MS
State Veterinarian
Delaware Dept. of Agriculture
Dover, DE 19901
302-698-4500
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tagging Dates
Dont forget:
All animals you plan on showing in market classes at the Delaware State Fair, MUST be tagged at one of the tagging events.
Kent County Locations and Times are as follows:
May 9th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
May 15th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (in conjunction with the county show)
May 19th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office.
All animals you plan on showing in market classes at the Delaware State Fair, MUST be tagged at one of the tagging events.
Kent County Locations and Times are as follows:
May 9th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
May 15th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (in conjunction with the county show)
May 19th ~ Delaware State Fairgrounds ~ 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office.
Science Night
Join us for Science Night at the Extension Office!
April 30th 7:00 p.m.
Contact Doug Crouse if you have any questions
April 30th 7:00 p.m.
Contact Doug Crouse if you have any questions
Share the Blog Address
Please feel free to pass along the blog address to parents and 4-Hers in your club!
Demonstration - Make Up Day #1
http://ag.udel.edu/extension/kent/4Handlivestock/Forms/DemoDayMakeUp1.pdf
Registration due by May 8th
Demonstration Day Make Up #1 is May 12th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The categories that are left can also be found on this form.
Kristin
Registration due by May 8th
Demonstration Day Make Up #1 is May 12th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The categories that are left can also be found on this form.
Kristin
County Livestock Show and Jackpot Show
Just a reminder that show entries for the County Livestock Show must be recieved by this Friday, May 1st. This deadline is firm, please be sure to have your entries in by this deadline.
Kristin
Kristin
Younger Member Weekend Details - for those registered
April 27, 2009
Dear 4-H’er:
Younger Member Weekend is almost here. The Junior Leaders have an exciting weekend planned for you. I know we will all learn many new things and have a lot of fun.
Saturday, May 2nd
8:45 a.m. Bus will depart from the Kent County Extension Office.
Please plan to arrive at the office by 8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Bus will depart from Client Logic parking lot (old Walmart store).
Please plan to arrive at the bus stop by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday, May 3rd
11:00 a.m. Depart from Camp Barnes in Frankford, DE
12:15 noon Bus will return to Client Logic parking lot (old Walmart store).
12:30 p.m. Bus will return to Kent County Extension Office.
Please bring the following items with you to camp:
Saturday Lunch – beverage and dessert will be provided for you.
A flashlight
Bedding – sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag. Beds and mattresses are provided. Bring warm items to sleep in just in case of cool weather.
Please do not be late for the bus – you wouldn’t want to miss any of the fun! However, if your parents are taking you to Camp Barnes, please call the Extension Office to let us know. While you are at camp, if your parents need to reach you in case of an emergency, they may call camp at 539-7775 or I can be reached on my cell phone at 242-8895.
If your child will need medication during their stay with us, please note the following policy changes which may be different than in the past. Written permission must be provided by parent, stating the child’s name, name of medication, proper dosage, times to be given and the route by which the medication is to be given. Secondly, the medication to be given must be in its original container and properly labeled including administration instructions.
I am looking forward to seeing you at Younger Member Weekend!
Yours in 4-H,
Kristin Cook
4-H Extension Educator
Dear 4-H’er:
Younger Member Weekend is almost here. The Junior Leaders have an exciting weekend planned for you. I know we will all learn many new things and have a lot of fun.
Saturday, May 2nd
8:45 a.m. Bus will depart from the Kent County Extension Office.
Please plan to arrive at the office by 8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Bus will depart from Client Logic parking lot (old Walmart store).
Please plan to arrive at the bus stop by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday, May 3rd
11:00 a.m. Depart from Camp Barnes in Frankford, DE
12:15 noon Bus will return to Client Logic parking lot (old Walmart store).
12:30 p.m. Bus will return to Kent County Extension Office.
Please bring the following items with you to camp:
Saturday Lunch – beverage and dessert will be provided for you.
A flashlight
Bedding – sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag. Beds and mattresses are provided. Bring warm items to sleep in just in case of cool weather.
Please do not be late for the bus – you wouldn’t want to miss any of the fun! However, if your parents are taking you to Camp Barnes, please call the Extension Office to let us know. While you are at camp, if your parents need to reach you in case of an emergency, they may call camp at 539-7775 or I can be reached on my cell phone at 242-8895.
If your child will need medication during their stay with us, please note the following policy changes which may be different than in the past. Written permission must be provided by parent, stating the child’s name, name of medication, proper dosage, times to be given and the route by which the medication is to be given. Secondly, the medication to be given must be in its original container and properly labeled including administration instructions.
I am looking forward to seeing you at Younger Member Weekend!
Yours in 4-H,
Kristin Cook
4-H Extension Educator
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Younger Member Weekend
Leaders,
Just a reminder that Younger Member Weekend registration is due tomorrow, Friday 4/24. Current registrations are very low. Please help us by reminding your members that the deadline is tomorrow. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to experience one night "on their own"; without mom or dad. Of course there are counselors and adults to help supervise, but it is a great time for our younger members. We will offer four classes, time with people groups, and the traditional camp fire complete with 4-H songs! This year's theme is "Cooking up a Storm" and the camp will revolve around a kitchen theme. Its sure to be a good time.
The event is scheduled for May 2-3.
Hope to see many young 4-Hers at Camp Barnes. Transportation will be provided from the Kent Extension Office.
Kristin
Just a reminder that Younger Member Weekend registration is due tomorrow, Friday 4/24. Current registrations are very low. Please help us by reminding your members that the deadline is tomorrow. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to experience one night "on their own"; without mom or dad. Of course there are counselors and adults to help supervise, but it is a great time for our younger members. We will offer four classes, time with people groups, and the traditional camp fire complete with 4-H songs! This year's theme is "Cooking up a Storm" and the camp will revolve around a kitchen theme. Its sure to be a good time.
The event is scheduled for May 2-3.
Hope to see many young 4-Hers at Camp Barnes. Transportation will be provided from the Kent Extension Office.
Kristin
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Livestock Judging 101
What a great time!
Thank you to all the parents who helped with the recent livestock 101 picnic. I do have some pictures I will get up on this site shortly.
Thank you to the kids who participated in this event. The committee hopes that you had an enjoyable time, and learned something at the same time. We had a total of 63 people in attendance.
Thank you to the Hutchins Family for allowing us to host the event at their farm. They continue to support Kent County 4-H and we are fortunate to have them. Also, thank you to Steve Miller, local Hereford breeder, who allowed us to hayride to his farm and look at some steers. John Tigner and Lonni Pritchard continue to share their livestock judging expertise and we thank them for facilitating the judging. Thank you to the Livestock Advisory Committee members who helped in some capacity, either shopping for food, cooking food, helping set up / clean up or in some other way.
We opened this event to the other two counties this year. We had one family attend from New Castle and although one family registered from Sussex they did not attend. Next year, maybe there will be more.
The newly formed team event is going to get interesting very soon. We currently have a 4 way tie for first, we have 5 teams entered. We still have quite a few kids participating on an individual basis as well. This is an exciting year in livestock judging. If anyone would still like to join us, they are more than welcome. Our next scored event will be at Schiff's Feedlot on May 13th at 6:30 p.m. Specific directions/address will be sent out soon.
Thanks for making this a fun time!
Kristin
Thank you to all the parents who helped with the recent livestock 101 picnic. I do have some pictures I will get up on this site shortly.
Thank you to the kids who participated in this event. The committee hopes that you had an enjoyable time, and learned something at the same time. We had a total of 63 people in attendance.
Thank you to the Hutchins Family for allowing us to host the event at their farm. They continue to support Kent County 4-H and we are fortunate to have them. Also, thank you to Steve Miller, local Hereford breeder, who allowed us to hayride to his farm and look at some steers. John Tigner and Lonni Pritchard continue to share their livestock judging expertise and we thank them for facilitating the judging. Thank you to the Livestock Advisory Committee members who helped in some capacity, either shopping for food, cooking food, helping set up / clean up or in some other way.
We opened this event to the other two counties this year. We had one family attend from New Castle and although one family registered from Sussex they did not attend. Next year, maybe there will be more.
The newly formed team event is going to get interesting very soon. We currently have a 4 way tie for first, we have 5 teams entered. We still have quite a few kids participating on an individual basis as well. This is an exciting year in livestock judging. If anyone would still like to join us, they are more than welcome. Our next scored event will be at Schiff's Feedlot on May 13th at 6:30 p.m. Specific directions/address will be sent out soon.
Thanks for making this a fun time!
Kristin
Poultry Judging Contest
Results are in...
Our Kent County Poultry Judging Event took place on April 15th. Although poultry judging numbers are up, we would still like to see more participating. The contest consists of identifying parts (drumstick, wing etc.), interior quality grading (candling eggs), exterior quality grading (shell quality and shape), broken out eggs (determining freshness of a cracked open egg), Ready-to-Cook grading and judging a class of production hens. If you have a poultry project group meeting, and would like me to visit and explain the event, just let me know.
Congratulations to everyone who participated. The score sheets will be returned to leaders.
The results of the top ten are as follows:
1. Colby Rash
2.Colleen Carter
3.Melanie Jackson
4.Eddie Jackson
5.Shelby Kunz
6. JT Robbins
7. Anne Thomas
8. Logan Rash
9. Drew Harris
10.MaryBeth Robbins
These 4-Hers are invited to participate in the State Poultry Judging Contest during the Delaware State Fair.
Kristin
Our Kent County Poultry Judging Event took place on April 15th. Although poultry judging numbers are up, we would still like to see more participating. The contest consists of identifying parts (drumstick, wing etc.), interior quality grading (candling eggs), exterior quality grading (shell quality and shape), broken out eggs (determining freshness of a cracked open egg), Ready-to-Cook grading and judging a class of production hens. If you have a poultry project group meeting, and would like me to visit and explain the event, just let me know.
Congratulations to everyone who participated. The score sheets will be returned to leaders.
The results of the top ten are as follows:
1. Colby Rash
2.Colleen Carter
3.Melanie Jackson
4.Eddie Jackson
5.Shelby Kunz
6. JT Robbins
7. Anne Thomas
8. Logan Rash
9. Drew Harris
10.MaryBeth Robbins
These 4-Hers are invited to participate in the State Poultry Judging Contest during the Delaware State Fair.
Kristin
Monday, April 20, 2009
Kent County 4-H - Back to Blogging
Hello Leaders and Other Supporters:
Doug and I have decided to revive the Kent County 4-H Blog. Here we will post the most updated information available, that may have been too late to catch the newsletter; reminders and other important information. Our goal is to post at least once a week, if not more. Please feel free to comment on this blog. Chances are if you have a question, someone else out there is thinking it too.
Thank you for all that you do!
Kristin
Doug and I have decided to revive the Kent County 4-H Blog. Here we will post the most updated information available, that may have been too late to catch the newsletter; reminders and other important information. Our goal is to post at least once a week, if not more. Please feel free to comment on this blog. Chances are if you have a question, someone else out there is thinking it too.
Thank you for all that you do!
Kristin
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