JAVMA News has posted a pretty comprehensive overview of the gains made through the recently passed Farm Bill. Take a look at the article for a run-down of the food safety issues addressed in the bill, including funding authorization for the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD).

The The article features an interview with Dr. Alistair Webb, a FARAD administrator at the University of Florida. In the interview, Dr. Webb reminds us all that the program has yet to have the authorized monies budgeted for the program and that, right now, “The present is very bleak."

Remember, even though FARAD has been authorized for funding, it has yet to actually receive the money it needs to operate. We’ll continue to update you on our battle to get full funding for this program crucial to keeping our meat, eggs and dairy products safe to eat. But your support, by way of a phone call or letter to your congressional representatives, would help. Let them know that you’re still concerned that FARAD won’t be funded and that your health and that of your family will be put in jeopardy.

From the article:

Highlights from the farm bill include authorization for a $2.5 million annual appropriation for the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank from 2008 through 2012. FARAD is a chronically underfunded resource used by veterinarians, livestock producers, and state and federal regulatory and extension specialists to ensure that drug, environmental, and pesticide contaminants do not end up in meat, milk, and eggs.

The database is administered through the Agriculture Department's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and operates out of North Carolina State University, the University of Florida-Gainesville, and the University of California-Davis.

FARAD has been operating since September 2007 on emergency funds set to expire within the year. What's more, there's no guarantee the money in the farm bill will be appropriated. The AVMA-GRD staff is working with the House and Senate appropriations committees to secure the appropriation. But even if they're successful, the money won't arrive until 2010, which, according to Dr. Alistair Webb, a FARAD administrator at UF-Gainesville, is too late.

"We're eking this out, but come sometime in the new year, we're going to run out of money before any appropriation based on the farm bill in next year's budget. In other words, there is no funding for FARAD in the 2009 budget," Dr. Webb said, adding that layoffs of specially trained staff are all but certain. This compromises institutional ability, which later takes time to rebuild.

"We're happy for the future, but the present is very bleak," Dr. Webb said.

Good news, food safety advocates! The US House of Representatives (yesterday) and, now, the US Senate (today) have passed the Farm Bill by veto-proof margins. Those of you following this site and championing food safety know that this means that critical programs such as the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) have made it through – with authorization for funding. The battle is not over yet… we still have to get the appropriators to actually fund the programs. But authorization for the funding is a huge first step, and we couldn’t have done it without your help.

From MarketWatch:

“On the heels of a strong vote for passage in the House, senators on Thursday approved a $289 billion, five-year farm bill that is under a presidential veto threat. Senators voted 81-to-15, easily attaining the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. On Wednesday, House lawmakers voted 318-to-106 to pass the bill, also securing the two-thirds majority needed for an override.”

From NY Times:

“The House overwhelmingly approved a $300 billion farm bill on Wednesday afternoon, making it probable that the measure will become law despite President Bush’s anticipated veto. The 318-to-106 vote, far over the two-thirds needed to override a veto…”

From a press release the AVMA sent out yesterday:

“The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) declared a preliminary victory on several key provisions included in the Farm Bill, applauding Congress and pledging to continue working toward the implementation of unresolved initiatives.

Reaching final negotiation in a joint U.S. House of Representatives and Senate conference committee, the Farm Bill includes legislation on human and animal health that ranges from food safety protection and bioterrorism prevention to the importation of healthy puppies…

Lutschaunig cited the Senate Agriculture Committee for authorizing $2.5 million annually for the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD), a vital resource used to ensure contaminants do not end up in meat, milk and eggs.

The AVMA also commended Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, for drafting language for the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVMSA), and Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., for helping insert the Regional Centers of Excellence provision, which includes veterinary medicine. Both provisions made it to the final version of the Farm Bill.”

We’re eagerly awaiting the final outcome of the food safety aspects of the Farm Bill and will keep you informed of any developments. Stay tuned over the next few days for news.

In the meantime, we’ve added some fun stuff to the site -- check out the animated food safety music videos in the Media Gallery. On our YouTube player there, you’ll find three fun food safety parody features created by Dr. Carl Winter of the University of California at  Davis. These parodies – as well as live performances by Dr. Winter – have traveled the country, teaching people young and old about food safety.

Learn more about Dr. Winter’s program at UC Davis here.

Kick back and enjoy the videos. We’ll keep you posted on whether the crucial food safety provisions make it into the Farm Bill or not – and any other news that comes forward.

Congress has passed another one-week extension on the Farm Bill, and negotiations continue. Members of the House and Senate are hopeful that a deal can be reached by May 2. There’s still time to contact your senators and representative and tell them to keep our food safe. 

Authorization for the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, a critical first step in establishing long-term funding for this important program, is included in the Farm Bill. This crucial resource is utilized by veterinarians to ensure the food derived from animals is safe to eat, and this is one more reason why you need to take action today to ask Congress to keep this provision in the Farm Bill.

According to DVM News, the Farm Bill includes: the authorization of “$2.5 million per year through 2012 for the financially strapped Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD). The program was established in 1982 to provide veterinarians information on how to rid livestock of drugs and contaminants.”

Another critical issue affecting food safety – a provision to increase the number of veterinarians who inspect and treat the cows, pigs, chickens, turkey, fish and other food animals we eat – is also at risk of being cut from the bill. The Veterinary Workforce Grant Program would establish a competitive grant program to increase the number of veterinarians trained in agricultural biosecurity. This essential funding would be used by our nation's veterinary schools to increase capacity by building more classrooms and labs. Tell Congress to also keep this essential program in the Farm Bill.

The “Farm Bill” is an omnibus, multiyear authorizing law that contains major farm and nutrition programs. The most recent omnibus farm bill, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), expired in September 2007. While the heart of every omnibus farm bill is farm income and commodity price support, the farm bill typically encompasses a wide variety of issues and programs including agriculture trade and foreign food aid, conservation and environment, forestry, domestic food assistance (primarily food stamps), agricultural credit, rural development, agricultural research and education programs. In addition, the farm bill often contains farm marketing, energy, food safety, and animal health and welfare provisions.

Take action today on FARAD and the Veterinary Workforce Grant Program to keep our food safe.