Silent Killer
Some livestock diseases enter through an insect bite. Others are tracked on a borrowed trailer or dirty boots. A few reside in contaminated soil or water. While the virus that causes Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis (or CAE) in goats is sometimes found in the environment, semen, or other locations, infection typically comes from one of two sources: contaminated milk or close contact with infected animals. CAE is one of several small ruminant lentiviruses, a diverse family that infects goats, sheep,…
Meet the Farmer – Cahokia Rice
Blake Gerard (above above, with some of the farm's crew) is a fourth-generation farmer in Alexander County, IL, growing rice and soybeans. The family focuses on producing a low-glycemic rice, sold and marketed under the Cahokia Rice brand. How did you get into farming? I’m the fourth generation farming here at Gerard Farms and have farmed right next to the Mississippi River since I was 20 years old. During the first nine years, I experienced four major flooding events where…
AGW Road Trip Wrap Up
As the summer winds down, we want to thank you for joining us on our Summer Road Trip! The 8-week virtual vacation brought us to the doorsteps of a few of the farms, ranches and businesses we certify around the globe. We are glad we could introduce you, share a glimpse of their part of the world and highlight the AGW-certified, sustainable food they produce. If you missed it, you can find all the Summer Road Trip posts on our…
Hit the road with us this summer!
Summer is road trip season! We hope you’ll come along with us on AGW’s virtual summer road trip, as we make our way around the world, stopping at AGW-certified farms and ranches along the way. You’ll meet the farmers (and the animals!), get a glimpse of daily farm life, hear why their certifications matter and maybe pick up a few new AGW-certified product “souvenirs” along the way. Starting with farms close to our North American headquarters in Terrebonne, OR, we’ll…
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – What you Need to Know as an AGW-certified Producer
AGW staff are continuing to monitor the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and support AGW-certified producers in following biosecurity measures to ensure the safety of their flocks. If you are looking for guidance, please read on for what you need to know as an AGW-certified poultry producer and keep an eye out for an upcoming Technical Advice Fact Sheet from AGW’s technical team on the topic. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any questions that our technical team can…