December 2005

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Bird Flu No Imminent Threat To Oregon Consumers By Bob Rost, Oregon State University Although fears of deadly "bird flu" have caused an explosion of concern in the United States and globally, the disease does not appear to present an imminent threat to Oregon poultry consumers or the state's poultry industry, according to an Oregon State University Extension Service poultry expert. Bird flu is the lay term given to infections of avian influenza virus. There are many strains of avian influenza that do not usually infect humans. However, the H5N1 strain has been transmitted from chickens to humans and so far is blamed for more than 60 deaths caused by respiratory infections, mostly in Asia. International disease control experts are concerned about a bird flu pandemic, or worldwide outbreak of the disease, which could occur if human-to-human transmission of the virus begins. Such concerns have raised questions about whether it is safe to eat poultry. "Consumers needn't be overly concerned about bird flu being transmitted via poultry products," said Jim Hermes, OSU Extension Service poultry specialist. "At this time, there is no evidence that the avian influenza H5N1 virus can be infective to humans by consuming cooked poultry products." According to Hermes, poultry and poultry products should be safe to eat provided that consumers observe standard food safety practices in preparing poultry. These procedures include washing hands while preparing food, proper cleaning of cutting boards, avoiding cross-contamination of uncooked poultry juices with other food items, and proper cooking of poultry meat and eggs. Oregon's $83-million egg and broiler production industry is well-prepared to respond to disease problems, including bird flu, Hermes added. "Recent disease issues have helped the industry plan careful safeguards that can be put into effect quickly," Hermes said. "The 2003 outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease is a good example. The disease caused much damage in California where it killed thousands of chickens in commercial operations, but it did not get into Oregon due to U.S. Department of Agriculture action and industry diligence." Newcastle disease attacks the respiratory and nervous systems of chickens and is nearly 100 percent fatal. Oregon producers responded to that threat by introducing quarantine procedures and isolating commercial flocks from all contact with other birds, whether wild or domestic, Hermes said. The poultry industry also has instituted strictly applied sanitation procedures for employees who work directly with poultry, he added. Hermes noted that poultry producers have had to deal with outbreaks of various strains of avian influenza for years. "The different mutations of bird flu virus that hit the industry always present an economic threat in terms of birds that may become infected and die," said Hermes. "However, humans usually aren't at risk from these outbreaks. The current bird flu problem is somewhat unique in that the avian influenza H5N1 virus has infected several humans." Although the poultry industry is well-prepared, Hermes emphasized that more can be done to prepare for disease outbreaks. "Just like the large operators, homeowners who keep small flocks of chickens or other birds need to be ready to respond to problems like Newcastle disease or bird flu," said Hermes. He urges small flock owners to practice normal biosecurity procedures such as isolating their birds from all others, including other poultry, pet shop birds, and wild birds as much as possible. "The H5N1, or bird flu, is not currently known to be in North America, but if it does break out in this part of the world, biosecurity will be a vital part of reducing the spread of the virus," he said. Across campus, scientists at OSU's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine are charged with avian flu surveillance within the state. Lab workers test about 100 samples per year from home and commercial poultry operations to assure that avian flu hasn't made an appearance within Oregon. Other OSU veterinary medicine researchers are working to develop vaccines against the virus, as well as ways to rapidly test for the disease in the field. Getting Rid Of Field Bindweed From University of Idaho's HomeWise If you want to do a better job of controlling field bindweed&emdash;or morning glory&emdash;in your backyard or back 40 next year, plan to do a little reading by the fireplace this winter. A new Pacific Northwest Extension publication, available through University of Idaho Educational Communications, describes in detail the threat this noxious weed poses and presents side-by-side comparisons of 10 different control strategies. Lead author Don Morishita, UI Extension weed scientist in Twin Falls, says eliminating field bindweed from your rural or urban property will likely require diligent and integrated use of biological, mechanical and chemical controls. The 12-page publication addresses the impacts of competition, biological enemies, fallow tillage, row crop cultivation, composting, soil solarization, selective and nonselective herbicides, chemical soil sterilants and mowing, pulling and burning. Field bindweed infests more crop acreage in the western U.S. than any other weed except Canada thistle. By shading desirable plants, robbing them of water and crop nutrients and clogging harvesting equipment, it can reduce crop yields by 50 percent or more. In landscapes, its slender, twisted, vining stems can clamber 6 feet up ornamental shrubs and other upright plants. Its seeds are so tough that some have germinated in fields where no bindweed has grown for 28 years. Its roots can penetrate 20 feet deep in soil, and buds on inch-long broken root segments can produce new shoots. By the time a seedling is 6 weeks old, its root system has grown so deep that tilling and hoeing won't kill it. Publication PNW 580, entitled "Field Bindweed," recommends specific control strategies for lawns and ornamentals as well as for small grains, sweet corn, field corn, potatoes, sugar beets, peas, dry beans, orchard floors, pasture and rangeland. It also outlines approaches for roadsides, fencerows and non-cropped areas. You can download the publication from the publishing catalog of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, www.info.ag.uidaho.edu. You can also order a copy from the Web site for $3.75, plus shipping and handling, or by calling (208) 885-7982 or writing: calspubs@uidaho.edu. Multivitams, Money Well Spent? From University of Idaho's HomeWise Every day, millions of Americans start off the morning by taking a multivitamin tablet. Martha Raidl, University of Idaho Extension nutrition specialist, says no studies have been conducted that prove beyond a doubt that healthy people actually benefit from this practice. Some doctors say that if your diet is a reasonably good one, a daily multivitamin is an unnecessary expense. Others say that so many of our diets are less than healthy that a daily multivitamin is probably money well spent. According to Raidl, research indicates that people with HIV or type 2 diabetes have benefited from taking a multivitamin tablet every day: pregnant women with HIV lowered their viral loads and delayed disease progression, while people with type 2 diabetes significantly reduced their rates of infection. But other studies have found no connection between taking multivitamins and preventing development of cancer or heart disease or reducing infection among the elderly. The bottom line, says Raidl: "A daily multivitamin isn't going to hurt, but you should be aware that a pill is not a substitute for a healthy diet." Livestock, The Original All Terrain Vehicles, Can Help Revegetate Rangeland From Montana State University News Service Most people don't want to get stomped on, but the seed of some native plants may do better with a bit of stomping. Researchers at Montana State University are testing whether livestock can help establish desirable species on noxious weed-infested land by having livestock incorporate it into the ground by their hooves. The goal is to break the hold of noxious weeds on rangeland. The best way to have good rangeland is to prevent noxious weeds from ever coming in, says Monica Pokorny, research associate in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at MSU. But on millions of acres, both in Montana and across the country, plants that rode along in homesteaders' seed bags and now on car tires and hikers' woolen socks have gotten more than a toe-hold on the land&emdash;they've taken over. Spraying with herbicides can be cost-prohibitive if weeds are back within a year or two. Researchers at the Montana Sheep Institute at MSU have demonstrated that leafy spurge and spotted knapweed can be reduced through repeated sheep grazing, but in some places something more needs to happen to get the good-guy native plants growing again, says Pokorny. On much of the weed-dominated land, few native plant seeds are left in the soil, so revegetating is needed. Unfortunately, native seed can be difficult to get to grow and reproduce, says Pokorny. Seeds often do better if incorporated into the soil, so they don't dry out or blow away, but seeders can't be used on all terrains. Livestock, on the other hand, are the original all-terrain vehicles. Livestock hooves create textured soils, which helps to capture water and nutrients, and, if an area is seeded prior to grazing, livestock hooves may be able to press the seed into the soil where it has a better chance of survival. Since Montana Sheep Institute researchers and ranchers have learned that sheep grazing is a good way to reduce weeds, researchers started looking for ways the sheep could also help with revegetation. Rodney Kott and Brent Roeder of the institute are working with Pokorny to test whether rangeland owners can use sheep to improve the odds when reintroducing native plants. The small native seeds don't interest the sheep as feed.. "Revegetation is difficult, but it is just what is needed for weed-dominated sites," says Pokorny. "Studies have found that revegetation as part of weed management is critical for keeping weeds at a low level and providing beneficial forage or wildlife habitat." The researchers also are watching some work at Utah State University that is testing whether grass seed fed to cattle is effective at establishing grasses on rangeland. Using this method, the seed reaches the ground with a (very) natural source of moisture and fertilizer. "That's another great idea that is worth testing," says Pokorny. Pokorny and the Montana Sheep Institute are looking at ways to find creative, low-cost revegetation techniques that can be realistically applied for weed management. Revegetation guidelines for western Montana will be available soon through Missoula County Extension office. Evaluate Long-Term Care Insurance Thoroughly Before Buying From University of Idaho's HomeWise In the event of a lengthy illness or disability, long-term care insurance can cover the cost of nursing homes, assisted living centers, adult day-care centers, hospice care, home-health care and respite care. But it's not for everybody, says Lyle Hansen, University of Idaho Extension educator in Jerome County. "It's important to do a needs analysis before buying coverage to see whether or not you should consider it." In partnership with the AARP, UI Extension educators have delivered long-term care workshops to more than 1,330 Idahoans statewide since 2003. According to Hansen, many consumers believe that Medicare will pick up the cost of their long-term care but that's not the case. Medicare doesn't pay for assisted living facilities, homemaker services or most home-health care. In a skilled nursing facility, Medicare's benefits cover full costs for only 20 days. For the next 80 days, you'll pay up to $109.50 per day, and after 100 days you'll get the entire bill. Don't count on that bill being a small one. According to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, the cost of a private room in a nursing home is currently averaging $198 per day, or $72,270 a year, in Boise. Assisted living facilities are charging an average $2,915 monthly, or $34,980 annually, and five hours of in-home assistance cost about $80 a day. Nationwide, the average nursing home stay of 2.4 years adds up to $177,828. "Long-term care is really expensive," Hansen says. "It could eat away all of your assets." According to Hansen, you should consider buying long-term care insurance if: • you have significant assets and income that you want to protect for yourself or your heirs • you can afford to pay the premiums without financial difficulty • your family has a history of chronic illness • you want to stay independent of the support of others • you want flexibility in choosing your care setting "It can give you peace of mind that you'll have choices about how you'll be cared for," he says. But don't buy it if you: • can't afford the premiums • have limited assets • are on Medicaid • have trouble paying your bills • have only Social Security or Supplemental Security Income as your sole source of income Before purchasing long-term care insurance, Hansen recommends that you compare three or more policies. "Carefully read over the benefits and ask the agent for an outline of the coverage," he says. "Don't buy a policy during the first visit from an agent, don't succumb to pressure and don't rely solely on what an agent might write or say." When you price the policy, be sure to include compounding inflation protection of at least 5 percent. Then compare how each company defines eligibility for benefits or "activities of daily living." Check each company's agency rating&emdash;from A.M. Best, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and others&emdash;for an indication of its ability to pay current and future claims. Also, be sure to inquire about its history of increasing its premiums. For a detailed worksheet that will help you compare long-term care insurance policies, contact Hansen at (208) 324-7578 or lhansen@uidaho.edu. Force Spring Bulbs Into Indoor Winter Blooms By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Autumn is the time for planting bulbs indoors as well as outdoors. By potting up some bulbs in October or November and "forcing" them to bloom early indoors, you can have a running supply of fragrant and fresh flowers in the house all winter. Paperwhite Narcissus, hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses, and certain types of tulips can be coaxed into bloom indoors well before their normal outdoor blooming time. Choose high quality, plump heavy bulbs from varieties recommended for forcing, recommends Jan McNeilan, Oregon State University Extension consumer horticulturist. In many cases, the catalog or bulb carton at the garden store will indicate if a bulb is suitable for growing indoors. Plant the bulbs in fertile, well-drained soil in clay pots with drainage holes. An equal mix of garden loam or potting soil with peat moss and a bit of sand for drainage is a good mixture for forcing bulbs. Plant bulbs more closely together than in an outdoor garden. A six-inch pot could hold five tulips, three hyacinths or nine crocus. Leave about an inch of space between the bulbs. Most bulbs should be covered to their tips with soil. Allow about a half an inch between the top of the soil and the pot for watering. Water thoroughly after planting. Once the bulbs are planted, most types except Paperwhite Narcissus need several weeks of cold and darkness to allow roots to form. Place the pots in an unheated garage, basement, shed or cold frame, ideally at about 35 to 48 degrees. Or the bulb-filled pots can be buried in the garden up to the pot top then covered with a few inches of straw or sawdust. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, by watering about once a week. Different kinds of bulbs have individual requirements and are ready to bring indoors at different times: Crocus - Plant about one or two inches deep. Store in cold and dark for about eight weeks. Daffodils - The top of these bulbs should be about an inch below the soil surface. Place in cold storage about eight weeks. Paperwhite Narcissus - These can be forced into bloom without cold storage right after purchase if the bulbs have been given a cold period to break dormancy. Ask your dealer. Simply place bulbs in bed of pebbles, gravel or soil and add water up to root disk of bulb. Place in sunny window. Keep at cooler temperatures (50 to 60 degrees). Fragrant flowers will bloom in about four weeks. For a continuous series of blooms, start new bulbs every two weeks, storing unused bulbs in the refrigerator. Tulips - Only certain varieties of tulips will force well. Ask your nursery worker or read bulb cartons for advice. Plant bulbs with the flat side toward the pot, about one-half inch deep. Store in cold and dark for 12 weeks. Hyacinths - Plant bulbs one-half inch below the soil surface. Store in dark, cold place for about eight weeks. Then bring inside to a warmer (70 degrees) dark place, such as a closet. Water occasionally. When the leaves grow 8 inches tall, move the plants to a sunny window or well lit area. Scilla, grape hyacinth, freesias, and some types of lilies can also be forced into early bloom. Consult a complete gardening guide for more information. Bring bulbs indoors any time after they have developed a good root system. Don't shock the bulbs with too much heat and light all at once, advised McNeilan. Place them in a cool room with dim light for a week or so. Then put the bulbs in a sunny room until the flowers open. To make the blooms last longer, move the bulbs into a cool room at night. If cared for properly, most forced bulbs can be planted outdoors and coaxed to bloom again in a year or two. After the forced bulbs bloom and fade, gradually reduce water, and place in a cool room or shed. Plant out in the garden as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Energy Program Can Help Reduce Heating Costs By Robert Strenge, Washington State University Worried about keeping your home warm and dry in the face of high heating costs this winter? The Washington State University (WSU) Extension Energy Program provides a variety of free technical assistance and references that homeowners can use to reduce their energy bills. Significant energy savings can often be achieved without major residential retrofits, said Chuck Murray, WSU Extension Energy Program Senior Building Science Specialist. No-cost measures, such as lowering the thermostat at night and when the house is unoccupied, or closing off vents to infrequently used rooms, can result in substantial savings. "If you consistently set your thermostat back at night 10 degrees (F), you may be able to reduce your heating bill by as much as 10 to 20 percent," Murray said. "Dressing warmer and lowering the thermostat &endash; even by as little as one to three degrees &endash; makes a noteworthy difference in energy consumption." Other no-cost measures, such as lowering the water heater temperature to 120 degrees (F) and turning it off when leaving for extended periods of time, are also effective, he said. Similarly, setting refrigerator temperatures between 37 and 40 degrees (F), cleaning refrigeration coils and keeping the refrigerator well-stocked can help hold the line on energy bills. Also effective at producing savings are relatively low-cost measures, such as installing an automatic setback thermostat that adjusts room temperature throughout the day, using weather stripping and caulking to seal off air movement between heated and unheated spaces, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent lamps &endash; which use about one-quarter of the amount of electricity. "One measure homeowners often neglect is furnace filter replacement," Murray said. "The dirtier the filter, the harder the furnace fan works. Clean filters are particularly important for systems that use heat pumps, because airflow is critical in such systems. Maintaining clean filters can add years to the life of a heat pump." Finally, many homes have furnace ducts that are poorly insulated and poorly sealed running through their crawlspaces, garages and attics.  "These ducts can be hidden sources of energy waste," said Murray.  "By sealing the duct connections well and making sure that they are insulated, homeowners can significantly increase the amount of furnace heat that actually gets to the home's living area." Anyone living in Washington can ask a question about residential energy efficiency by calling the WSU Extension Energy Program at (360) 956-2000, or sending an e-mail to library@energy.wsu.edu. The WSU Extension Energy Program also has a variety of fact sheets and other publications related to energy conservation tips, energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient construction techniques &endash; available online at www.energy.wsu.edu/pubs. The WSU Extension Energy Program is a self-supported department within the university.  It receives project funding from federal government agencies, federal power marketing agencies, public and private utilities, the private sector and several other sources.  It houses approximately 60 employees in Olympia, Spokane and other satellite offices, and its customers include industrial plant managers, private consultants, commercial businesses, government agencies, national laboratories, and utilities. Murray can be reached for an interview by calling Sheila Riggs, WSU Extension Energy Program communications division manager, at (360) 956-2074. Holiday Riddles What do you call a letter sent up the chimney on Christmas Eve ?&emdash;Black mail! Who delievers cat's Christmas presents?&emdash;Santa Paws! Why does Father Christmas go down the chimney ?&emdash;Because it soots him! How many chimneys does Father Christmas go down ? &emdash;Stacks ! Why is Santa like a bear on Christmas Eve ? &emdash;Because he's Sooty !

Helpful Hints For Meeting The Food Guide Pyramid By Susan Nielsen, WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing News Bureau & Jillian Morton, WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing intern As winter sets in, it can be hard to keep diets and exercise in line with the food pyramid guidelines. A life of convenience, fast food and on-the-go snacks has taken over, but at a cost.  The traditional food guide pyramid familiar to many of us, and seen in elementary schools and doctors' offices, does not address today's current nutritional and lifestyle challenges.  The new food pyramid, released by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2005, is part of a campaign to reduce obesity in the United States. Obesity is quickly becoming one of America's top health problems. Ruth Bindler, an associate professor at the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing, says that 65 percent of adults and 16 percent of children ages 6-19 are obese and are in danger of experiencing a number of health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure (www.cdc.gov).  Dietary intake is a primary contributor to the obesity epidemic.  The new food guide pyramid is flexible and designed to fit individual needs. The amount of intake recommended for nutrient categories varies with each person. To get recommendations specifically designed for your body, go to: www.mypyramidtracker.gov.  Emphasis on a Healthy diet&emdash;The new pyramid places emphasis on fruits, vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and whole grains. It includes lean meats and poultry and leaves some flexibility in the form of "discretionary calories," which provides a place for items or modifications of items that do not fit into another category. Quick tips&emdash; The following easy, quick tips will help people meet the food guide pyramid suggestions. • Whole Grains should make up half of the daily grain intake. A bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and a sandwich on whole-wheat bread for lunch provides four ounces of whole grains. The other two ounces can be met by pasta for dinner or rice as a side dish. Both are quick dinners and will help to keep people healthy. Bindler suggests using whole grain pasta and brown rice whenever possible.  • Fruits and Vegetables are perhaps the easiest guidelines to meet. Drink whole fruit juice in the morning with breakfast. Instead of chips or crackers, try an apple or orange for an afternoon snack. Bring carrot sticks or celery along to munch on throughout the day. Try eating half a cup of salad at lunch and another half a cup of salad or other vegetables at dinner. The suggested amount of fruits and vegetables will be reached in no time. • Low&endash;fat Dairy is an important source of calcium. Instead of two percent milk, buy skim milk.  Replace fatty cheeses with fat-free versions. Fat-free yogurt makes for a quick, healthy breakfast. Also, try fat-free milk instead of one or two percent in lattes. Those who cannot consume milk can substitute lactose-free products, which also provide calcium. Bindler also recommends enriched soy milk. • Meats and Poultry are excellent sources of protein and are perhaps easiest to prepare for dinner. Meat should be low-fat or lean and trimmed of excess fat. It is also important to eat as often as possible, as fish provides healthy oils not contained in meat. Also included in this group are nuts, which provide the same healthy oils as fish.  Exercise&emdash;A new addition to the food pyramid is the idea that exercise is as important as eating right in maintaining a recommended weight. Unfortunately, the word exercise immediately makes some people think of having to spend hours in the gym or running in the neighborhood. But, it is much simpler to get vital exercise than previously thought.  Bindler recommends taking 10,000 steps each day (Wilde, B.E., C.L. Sidman, and C.B. Corbin. "A 10,000 Step Count as a Physical Activity Target for Sedentary Women." Res Q Exerc Sport. 72:411-414, 2001). Simple ways to do this include parking farther away from the office building or store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking to the mailbox instead of stopping as you drive home. Other forms of exercise include household chores, yard work and a brisk walk with the dog after dinner. Whatever one chooses for exercise, the goal should be to get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day (www.mypyramid.gov).  Established in 1968, the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is fully-accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The College is the nation's oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium and is the largest college of nursing in the Northwest. Celebrating 37 years of world-class nursing education, the college offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through its four consortium partners: Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, WSU and Whitworth College. Each year the College educates more than 800 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other Washington state educational institution. For more information about the College of Nursing, visit its Web site at nursing.wsu.edu. Avian Influenza Avian influenza (AI) is a virus that causes disease in various types of birds, thus the common name "bird flu." AI viruses can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl as well as a wide variety of other birds, including migratory waterfowl. Each year, there is a flu season for birds just as there is for humans and, as with people, some forms of the flu are worse than others. To understand the differences and potential threat to U.S. bird populations, this fact sheet provides definitions, a historical perspective, and an outline of USDA prevention and response efforts. Background Terminology AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins found on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin proteins (H), of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase proteins (N), of which there are 9 (N1-N9). AI strains also are divided into two groups based on the pathogenicity of the virus&emdash;the ability of the virus to produce disease. Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI): Most AI strains are classified as low pathogenicity and cause few clinical signs in infected birds. LPAI generally does not pose a significant health threat to humans. However, LPAI is monitored because two strains of LPAI&emdash;the H5 and H7 strains&endash;can mutate into highly pathogenic forms. High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI): This is a more pathogenic type of avian influenza that is frequently fatal to birds and easily transmissible between susceptible species. The strain that is currently of concern in Southeast Asia and Europe is the H5N1 HPAI virus. Transmissibility AI is primarily spread by direct contact between healthy and infected birds through respiratory secretions and feces. The disease also can be spread through indirect contact if healthy birds are exposed to contaminated equipment or materials. The HPAI H5N1 virus can be spread from birds to people as a result of extensive direct contact with infected birds. Broad concerns about public health relate to the potential for the virus to mutate, or change into a form that could spread from person to person. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is aggressively working to ensure public health is protected. More information about the joint efforts of the federal government is available at www.pandemicflu.gov. History Incidents of LPAI are commonly detected in domestic poultry flocks. Typically, LPAI does not pose a serious threat to human health. There is no evidence that HPAI currently exists in the United States based on extensive and regular testing of U.S. poultry flocks. Historically, there have been three HPAI outbreaks in poultry in this country&emdash;in 1924, 1983 and 2004. No significant human illness resulted from these outbreaks. The 1924 H7 HPAI outbreak was detected in and eradicated in East Coast live bird markets. The 1983-84 H5N2 HPAI bird outbreak resulted in the destruction of approximately 17 million chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl in the northeastern United States to contain and eradicate the disease. In 2004, USDA confirmed an H5N2 HPAI outbreak in chickens in the southern United States. The disease was quickly eradicated thanks to close coordination and cooperation between USDA, state, local, and industry leaders. Because of the quick response, the disease was limited to one flock. Protecting The U.S. Prevention Import restrictions: As a primary safeguard, USDA maintains trade restrictions on the importation of poultry and poultry products from countries where the H5N1 HPAI strain has been detected. Additionally, USDA has increased its monitoring of domestic commercial markets for illegally smuggled poultry and poultry products. Quarantine: All imported live birds must be quarantined for 30 days at a USDA quarantine facility and tested for the avian influenza virus before entering the country. This requirement also applies to returning U.S.-origin pet birds. International Assistance: USDA is working closely with international organizations like the World Organization for Animal Health, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization to assist HPAI-affected countries and other neighboring Asian-Pacific countries, as well as Europe, with disease prevention, management, and eradication activities. This includes providing training to scientists in those countries. By helping these countries prepare for, manage, and eradicate HPAI outbreaks, USDA can reduce the risk of the disease spreading to the United States. Surveillance USDA works with federal, state, and industry partners to monitor U.S. bird populations. Surveillance is conducted in four key areas: live bird markets, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and migratory bird populations. To address the persistence of LPAI associated with the live bird marketing system in the United States, USDA continues to institute a cooperative programs with states and industry to prevent and control the disease not only in the markets themselves, but also among production premises and poultry distributors that supply those markets. The program establishes an important relationship that requires commercial and noncommercial industries to work together to protect America's flocks. Live Bird Markets: A federal control and prevention program targeting the live bird marketing system involves regular monitoring and surveillance of all facilities in the voluntarily participating states, which are California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Vermont. Those states with live bird markets that do not participate in the federal program have a state poultry surveillance program in place. Commercial Flocks: The program in commercial poultry is administered through the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and includes monitoring of poultry production facilities and random testing of poultry flocks with tests performed on all birds that appear ill. As part of the program, USDA has worked with states to develop state response and containment plans. Backyard Flocks: Through the "Biosecurity for the Birds" program, USDA continues to encourage backyard and small poultry producers to strengthen biosecurity practices in order to prevent the introduction of AI into their flocks. This program provides important information about reducing the chances of these birds becoming infected with AI. Biosecurity refers to the application of practical management practices that help to prevent AI and other poultry diseases. Migratory Birds: Since 1998, USDA scientists, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), have monitored wild migratory birds for AI viruses, having tested more than 12,000 birds in the Alaska flyway, and since 2000, tested more than 3,000 birds in the Atlantic flyway. USDA and DOI are expanding AI surveillance of major migratory flyways in the United States. Included in those projects are agreements with several universities to increase surveillance in the continental U.S. and in other countries. Response Funding/Personnel: USDA provides funding and support personnel to states when LPAI is detected. Close attention is paid to H5 and H7 LPAI strains, because of their potential to mutate into HPAI. When HPAI is detected, APHIS personnel are primary responders to control the virus because of the disease infectivity and high mortality rate among poultry. Bird Vaccine USDA maintains a bank of avian influenza vaccine, which contains 40 million doses, for birds that would be available if needed, in the event of a HPAI outbreak in the United States. USDA currently is expanding this existing avian influenza vaccine bank to add another 30 million additional doses. Response Plans: USDA works closely with its federal, state, and tribal partners, as well as industry stakeholders to ensure that effective and coordinated emergency response plans are ready should an outbreak of HPAI occur in the United States. LPAI response: If LPAI is detected, USDA works with the affected state, which is the lead. A series of measures are undertaken to clean, disinfect, and depopulate the affected premises in order to quickly contain and eradicate the disease. HPAI response: If HPAI is detected, USDA is the lead and will work with the affected State Department of Agriculture and the affected premises to quarantine, clean, disinfect, and cull the infected and exposed bird population in order to quickly contain and eradicate the disease. As part of the response, USDA will notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control. Additionally, USDA works with the affected premises to compensate owners for the loss of culled birds due to the disease outbreak. These birds can be infected, are considered to be exposed because they are on the same premises as infected birds and birds that are in an eradication zone for the disease. Research Testing: USDA scientists developed a rapid diagnostic test for avian influenza and continue to improve the test's sensitivity. The rapid test diagnoses avian influenza within three hours, compared with up to two weeks required for previous tests. Genetics: USDA scientists also are studying factors that affect the virus' transmission between birds. This includes the genetic and molecular adaptation that enables the virus to be transmitted from waterfowl and other migratory birds to domestic poultry. Vaccine: USDA scientists are developing enhanced vaccines for birds against avian influenza. Food Safety Eating properly handled and cooked poultry is safe. If HPAI were detected in the U.S., the chance of infected poultry entering the human food chain would be extremely low. • Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food; • Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other foods; • After cutting raw meats, wash cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water; • Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water; and • Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached the proper temperature. Cook whole birds to 180 °F; breasts to 170 °F; drumsticks, thighs and wings to 180 °F; ground turkey and chicken to 165º F; and a minimum oven temperature of 325 °F. Poultry products imported to the U.S. must meet all safety standards applied to foods produced in the U.S. No poultry from countries with confirmed cases of H5N1 HPAI can be imported into the United States. More Information For more information about USDA's avian influenza efforts, go to www.usda.gov/birdflu. More information about safe food preparation is available by calling the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). More information about the federal government's efforts to protect human health is available at www.pandemicflu.gov. Clean Up And Cut Back In Garden Before Winter Sets In By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University By mid-autumn, frost, wind and early rain or sleet has hit most gardens. It is time to do some late fall clean up, before winter lets loose its full forces. Barb Fick, Oregon State University Extension home horticulturist, offers a few suggestions for fall garden chores: Mulch your empty garden beds for the winter if they don't have a cover crop on them yet. Mulch will protect from erosion. Even flat beds experience soil erosion from rainwater. Mulching will add organic matter to the soil. And it will encourage earthworm activity. Plus it will keep weed germination down. Control the weeds that germinated with the fall rains. It is a much easier job now than in the spring. A hoe or hand pulling will do it. This is not a good time of year to use herbicides. Lawns benefit from a November application of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Don't use quick-release fertilizer, as it will just leach away. Cut back late flowering perennials like asters and chrysanthemums to a few inches. Or, if you can tolerate the untidiness, leave seed heads intact and birds will feed on them through the winter. Peonies can be cut back all the way to the ground. Mulch the crowns with compost. Prune late summer and fall flowering shrubs including abelia, clethra and hydrangea several weeks before icy winter weather or hold off until mid-February to do your pruning. Trim back roses to waist height in the autumn then down to knee high in February, so winter winds won't cause damage. Keep your perennial gardens free of wind-blown plant refuse. Continue to rake your lawn, as more leaves fly. Add the leaves to your compost pile to turn them into humus. Pull up spent summer annuals like snapdragons, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos and nasturtiums that have died back. Again, you can leave seed heads for the birds. Gardeners east of the Cascades should dig and store summer flowering bulbs and tubers including dahlias, calla lilies, canna lilies, gladiolus and tuberoses. Store them in a dark, dry and cool (above freezing) place, safe from rodents. Keep Your Garden Dressed For Winter By Peg Herring, Oregon State University Mulch helps your garden in a variety of ways, according to Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. It's the stuff that adds tilth and nutrients to your soil. Mulch keeps the weeds down in June and the soil moist in August. Now, at the end of the growing season, mulch will help keep the winter cold from damaging the roots of your perennial flowers, small fruits, trees, and shrubs. Use a minimum of three to six inches of composted material. Tuck mulch up to the shoulders of your perennials, but don't cover the growing crown until freezing cold weather sets in. If you cover plant crowns too soon, they may begin to grow under the mulch and could be killed when temperatures dip. Choose well-composted mulch material. Shredded bark, leaves, mint hay, wood chips, or yard waste all offer benefits, especially if they have been composted for a year before used in the garden. Fresh wood chips, sawdust or other uncomposted materials will steal available nutrients from your plants. Avoid mulching with hay or with ryegrass straw. Their seeds will sprout to create an unnecessary headache for you in the spring. And don't use grass clippings from a lawn treated with a weed-and-feed preparation. The herbicide in the clippings can damage your shrubs. Evergreen bows make a good winter mulch in places where cold is severe. Pull mulch off plants in early spring when weather begins to warm to allow new growth to emerge. Blueberry and lingonberry bushes send out roots along the soil surface, and do well with a thick layer of well-rotted sawdust. A low-nutrient mulch will benefit shrubs such as roses, azaleas, rhododendrons and hydrangeas. Lilies, dahlias and spring bulbs will do better with this type of mulching also. Caneberries will benefit from higher-nutrient mulches such as composted manure. Dormant vegetable beds can use a six-inch blanket of manure and leaves. Rhubarb and asparagus beds do best covered with a mix of well-composted straw and manure. Mulch can also help to discourage the first flush of weeds in early spring. "Bulkier materials like wood chips help to slow the growth of weeds," Penhallegon said. "The finer the mulch material, the easier it is for the weeds to grow in it. Over the winter, the composted material will mix with the soil, so a second application of mulch in March or April will keep your garden soil in better condition." How To Keep Your African Violets Healthy By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University African violets are the most popular houseplants in the United States. They require little care, they bloom almost year round and they don't need bright light. And there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service offers some hints for optimal care of your African violets. Keep plants indoors where temperatures average between 60 and 70 degrees. They should be in a room with filtered early sun or bright indirect light. Maintain a high humidity by placing plant on a saucer filled with gravel and water. Grow African violets in small pots. They bloom best when roots are crowded. Keep the soil acidic. A good potting mix is three parts leaf mold, one-half part builder's sand or vermiculite, and one part loam. Add a small amount of slow acting organic fertilizer such as bone meal or manure. If too much is added, it will mold. Avoid getting water on leaves. Either water the soil surface or let the water wick up from the bottom. A wick-type pot (made of porous material that wicks water) works well. Feed with a weak solution of acid fertilizer every couple of weeks. Remove leaves and flowers as they die back.

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