Blakely Peanut Plant Knew of Salmonella Since 2007

Federal health officials say the Blakely peanut plant at the center of the salmonella outbreak had internal data that showed salmonella bacteria as far back as 2007. Plant officials were not required by law to share the information. Now state lawmakers want to change that.

Federal officials apparently evoked homeland security law in order to get access to internal plant documents at the Peanut Corporation of America Blakely facility. They revealed that routing quick tests on several occasions showed the presence of salmonella bacteria. Oscar Garrison with the Georgia Department of agriculture says current law does not require companies to share such information with state investigators.

"Companies want to do testing and we don’t want to discourage internal testing. But if they do the testing, which we won't require them to do, then they need to make those results available to us- particularly when they find excessive problems."

As a result, state lawmakers are currently drafting a bill that would require companies to hand over internal test results to public inspectors. Meanwhile FDA officials have left the plant in blakely and moved on to the companies Virginia.

State Ag Dept: Georgia jalapenos are safe

Samples of fresh Georgia-grown jalapenos and salsa tested over the past week came back negative for salmonella. The state Department of Agriculture announced the results late Friday afternoon. Samples came from six Georgia farms and a Watkinsville producer of salsa that uses Georgia jalapenos. In a department press release, Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said “I hope news of our test results will encourage grocery stores and restaurants to start placing orders for these products again”. The testing in Georgia came in response to a blanket warning from the U.S Food and Drug Administration to avoid all products containing jalapenos. One pepper from a farm in Mexico had earlier tested positive for a salmonella strain. Over the past several weeks, more than 12-hundred people had been sickened by a salmonella strain.

State Ag officials testing Georgia jalapenos

State agriculture officials want Georgians to know that jalapenos grown in the state are most likely safe to eat. Department officials will collect samples from Georgia farms and run testing, with the results of those tests ready by early next week. If shown to be safe, state agriculture commissioner Tommy Irvin wants grocery stores here to resume selling jalapenos. Earlier this week, federal officials said jalapenos that came through a Texas distribution center could be to blame for the recent nationwide salmonella outbreak. U.S Food and Drug Administration officials indicated raw jalapenos and Serrano peppers should not be sold or served.

172 dogs seized in Putnam County

The Putnam County sheriff’s office joined officials with the state agriculture department in the seizure of 172 dogs from an Eatonton dog dealer. County authorities say some of the dogs were found to be in bad condition on the dealer’s premises, with some dogs in cages stacked four high. Authorities say the dealer’s license was not current, and rabies shots for the dogs were not up-to-date. The dealer has not been charged. Some dogs have been taken-in by the Putnam County Animal Control--the rest turned over to animal rescue organizations.

State Ag officials investigate death of cattle in south Ga

The death of more than 40 cattle on a south Georgia farm is being investigated by the state’s Department of Agriculture. A department spokesperson confirms a probe is underway, but with no further details. The Lanier County sheriff’s office received a call Sunday that cows were falling dead on a family farm on the Clinch county side of the border with Lanier county. Authorities estimate 44 cows died suddenly. The farm has been placed under quarantine--the cattle were buried following state specifications.

State seizes east Georgia dog-breeding farm

State officials have seized and shut down a dog-breeding facility in east Georgia after a complaint was received of malnourished and un-cared-for animals. The state’s Department of Agriculture has taken control of L and D Farm and Kennel in Nicholson. A complaint filed by a former employee details cramped and dirty conditions at the facility with more than 300 dogs showing signs of open sores and mange. Several dogs were taken from the site for medical care--at least two had to be euthanized.

Birds sold at pet store chain quarantined

Georgia’s Department of Agriculture has quarantined for at least the next month all birds sold at 35 PetSmart stores in the state. The reason is the outbreak of a bacterial disease that can be transferred to humans. State Ag commissioner Tommy Irvin says there are two confirmed cases of avian chlamydiosis--one at a PetSmart store in Hiram, and another in Woodstock. A quarantine was also called-for for a Superpetz store in Martinez near Augusta.

Georgia + drought = No. 1 pecan state in '07

(Graphic courtesy: Old Shoe Woman)

The record drought gripping the Southeast isn't all bad news for Georgia.

The historic dry spell has meant nearly perfect weather for growing pecans, and Georgia is on pace to be the nation's top producer this year after slipping to third in 2006, said pecan horticulturist Lenny Wells with the University of Georgia's agriculture extension. Shellers are predicting Georgia will harvest more than 125 million pounds by the end of the year, he said.

The nation's two other top producers - New Mexico and Texas - are not expected to grow nearly as much, Wells said. New Mexico's predictions are for a pecan crop of 80 million pounds, and Texas is expected to have 73 million pounds, according to Wells.

Texas was the top producer in 2006, followed by New Mexico, which meant Georgia - which is usually a top producer - dropped to third. New Mexico's harvest was worth $85 million, followed by Texas at $75 million and Georgia with $66 million.

This year Georgia had a spring freeze that destroyed a few orchards close to Augusta, but the drought - combined with irrigated orchards and some August and September rains - have been kind to the pecan crop.

The larger production year means lower prices for "desirable" - the most popular variety of pecan. A pound costs $1.47-$1.67 this year, compared to $1.93-$2.18 this time last year.
The nation produced nearly 189 million pounds of pecans in 2006 from the Pecan Belt - a 15-state growing region located in the southeastern and southwestern United States. The pecan harvest is expected to begin in late November and will last about six weeks.

In a related story, the Georgia Pecan Festival took place in Rylander Park in Americus on Saturday.

Rick Whaley, president of Citizens Bank of Americus, told the Americus Times-Recorder:

"This was a community-wide effort."

Whaley said the pecan industry is important to Georgia and Sumter County, according to the report.

State failed to enforce gas chamber law

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has been found in contempt of court for failing to enforce a law banning using gas chambers at animal shelters. The 1990 Georgia Humane Euthanasia Act calls for lethal injection to be used in the vast majority of cases when euthanizing dogs and cats. The law allows counties that were using carbon monoxide gas in 1990 to continue using their gas chambers, but not to replace them. Cobb County’s animal shelter installed a gas chamber in 1995. State inspectors admit they knew about the chamber when they checked the facility earlier this year.

Horse abuse and neglect up in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says more horses are being abused. Officials say the drought has a lot to do with the problem. The lack of rain led to hay shortages, and the closing of slaughterhouses. A downturn in the economy also contributed to the problem.

In February inspectors declared an emergency on a Pike County farm where they impounded 99 horses and other animals. Only one of those horses died. The Department of Agriculture can bring civil charges against people who do not take care of their animals. Criminal actions must be pursued by local law enforcement.

The Department of Agriculture says they receive no funds to help care for the animals they are required to impound. The agency does receive some help from the Georgia Equine Rescue league who also own and operate their own foster and adoption programs.