The latest happenings from the UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Professor Julie Smith published an article in Progressive Dairy entitled, “Animal agriculture awaits normal accidents when it comes to biosecurity.” She examines the effects of a move by the United Kingdom and the European Union for animal agriculture to become disease-free without vaccination. Continue reading “Will the “Levee Effect” Give a False Sense of Security for Livestock Diseases?”
After mentoring the Vermont Dairy Mapping Project interns for six weeks, I headed to camp at the Mount Norris Scout Reservation in Eden, Vermont. My unit’s campsite evacuated to higher ground the night of July 10, and I drove past a lot of signs of the water’s power on my way home. Continue reading “Smith Lab Summer Activities: Science and Scenery”
During the summer of 2023, the Vermont Dairy Mapping Project launched with a team that visited several dairy farms to interview farmers about their disease-prevention biosecurity practices. The project team collected information that will be used to prepare a disease outbreak response plan for each farm, based on the national Secure Milk Supply Plan template. The team also “field tested” a new online mapping application that was developed to make the visual mapping part of a plan easier to create. Continue reading “VT Dairy Mapping Project Kicks Off at UVM Dairy Farm”
A series of farm biosecurity learning modules were developed during a five-year livestock biosecurity grant project directed by UVM Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Associate Professor Julie Smith.
Also part of the grant project and recently published, the SCRUB (Science Creates Real Understanding of Biosecurity) curriculum contains modules and activities that complement the biosecurity learning modules. The SCRUB curriculum links hands-on learning with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. They incorporate science into fun activities to engage youth in grades 6 to 12 who have an existing interest in animal science. Continue reading “Science Creates Real Understanding of Biosecurity (SCRUB) Agriculture Curriculum Published”
New England’s dairy milk supply is a vast network of production, processing and delivery of raw milk and products that crosses several state borders. Vermont is New England’s dairy powerhouse, producing 2.5 billion pounds of milk for the regional milkshed in 2022, from farms large and small, conventional, and certified organic. Continue reading “Vermont Dairy Mapping Project Aims to Help Secure the New England Milk Supply”