USDA Extends Mad Cow Testing At WSU Veterinary College
US - The only mad cow testing laboratory in the Pacific Northwest will remain open for another six months, but officials insisted Wednesday it isn't because of increased fears of the chronic brain-wasting disease in the region.

RMFU Board Opposes Further Opening Border To Canadian Cattle Im
US - Meeting in Denver recently, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Board of Directors expressed strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's pending rule to expand imports of beef and live cattle from Canada.

Creekstone Ready To Test Its Animals
US - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef is getting ready to test all the cattle it slaughters for mad cow disease, after a U.S. district court judge ruled that the federal government does not have the authority to regulate the test, a Creekstone official said...

U.S. trade negotiators renew resolve to press Japan on beef
US - U.S. trade negotiators renewed their determination Monday to prod Japan to raise the age limit on cattle eligible for imports to 30 months from the currently agreed 20 months and fully reopen its market to U.S. beef imports.

Creekstone Wins Testing Case; Appeal Likely
US - Creekstone Farms Premium Beef and other meatpackers have the right to test all the animals they slaughter for mad cow disease, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Cattle Producers Welcome Growing Opposition To USDA's Proposed OTM Rule
US - Cattle producers are pleased that a bipartisan group of 13 U.S. Representatives wrote a letter earlier this month to oppose the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) proposed rule (Rule 2) that would permit live Canadian cattle born after March...

Identifying Variation In U.S. Bovine Prion Gene
US - Do genes affect bovine spongiform encephalopathy - also known as BSE, or “mad cow” disease? Are some cattle more susceptible than others?

Judge Says U.S. Government Must Allow Private Testing For Mad Cow Disease
WASHINGTON - The federal government must allow meatpackers to test their animals for mad cow disease, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

U.S. groups seek help from senators to keep border closed to older cows
WASHINGTON — More than 100 U.S. agricultural groups and livestock auction yards sent a letter to senators this week seeking help to stop older Canadian cows from crossing the border.

NFU to USDA: Don’t Expand Canadian Border
WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expressing the organization’s strong opposition to the Department’s proposed rule to expand beef and cattle trade with Canada.

Minimal Risk Rule Important Step to Normalized Trade with Canada
US - USDA's proposed rule to allow additional imports from Canada “is one more step toward returning to normal cattle and beef trade between the United States and Canada,” according to comments submitted to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service...

Statement by Dehaven regarding OIE risk recommendation
US - “In October 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted an application and supporting documents to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to formally request country classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk.

U.S. officials get to work on rule resuming trade in older Canadian cows
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Agriculture Department will close a public comment period Monday on resuming imports of older Canadian cattle despite pressure from some American ranchers to extend it.

U.S., Canada May Get `Controlled-Risk' Status for BSE
US - The U.S. and Canada may be added to the World Organization for Animal Health's list of nations where mad-cow disease is controlled, helping the countries recover beef exports that plummeted after mad-cow outbreaks in 2003.

Cattle producers upset over USDA plan to open border to older Canadian beef
US - A large group of livestock producers testified at a U.S. Senate Hearing that a proposed USDA rule opening the borders to older Canadian cattle jeopardizes U.S. beef export markets and dumps more cases of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) on...

Cattle Producers seek to Extend Comment Period on Canadian Cattle Imports
BILLINGS, MONT. - R-CALF USA sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to formally request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extend the public comment period regarding the agency’s proposal to allow imports of Canadian cattle over...

IE panel recommends favorable change to BSE rating
US - A panel for the World Organization for Animal Health has recommended to its 167 member countries that the U.S. and Canada be given a favorable rating on "mad cow" disease safety, a designation both countries want to spur beef and cattle trade, according...

Region's sole lab that tests for mad cow will shut soon
US - The government is scaling back its testing and tracking programs nationwide, saying the costs aren't warranted.

WSU ending BSE surveillance program
US - The bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance program at Washington State University will cease March 1, three years after it began.

South Dakota vs. USDA and Canada over live cattle
US - A U.S. Senate subcommittee chaired by North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan held a field hearing in North Dakota Wednesday on USDA’s proposed over-thirty-month rule, also known as USDA's minimal risk rule II, which would allow any Canadian cattle born...