Webcast Covering Antimicrobial Drugs Scheduled

Kelly MarshallAntibiotics, Food, Webinar

farm foundationA free web case will air Monday, September 28, from 8:30 am MDT to approximately 11:30 am.  The event is hosted by BARN Media and will be available from their webpage  The workshop will cover stewardship of antimicrobial drugs use in food-producing animals.  The presentation will also be archived for later viewing.

“We are excited that BARN Media will provide the live webcast of the morning session,” says Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin. “Nothing beats being in the room to interact with speakers and other participants. But for some people, that is simply not feasible. The webcast is another tool to share information with the diverse stakeholders involved in this issue.”

The morning session of the workshop includes presentations from FDA and USDA staff as well as a regional livestock producer, veterinarian and feed supplier. The webcast audience will be able to submit questions during the program.

The workshop, one of 12 Farm Foundation is hosting across the county, is an opportunity for participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of two Guidance for Industry (GFIs) issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals, as well as the FDA’s revised Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). These actions mean some drugs will see label changes allowing only therapeutic uses, and use of some drugs will require veterinary oversight in the form of a veterinarian’s prescription, direct administration by a veterinarian, or a veterinary consultation on disease management protocols.

Monday’s workshop is targeted to all pork, cattle, poultry and sheep producers, as well as veterinarians and feed suppliers in Colorado, Wyoming, western Kansas, western Nebraska and Utah. The workshop is also an opportunity for the staff of state and federal agencies, colleges of veterinary medicine and the Cooperative Extension Service to gain insights into the policy changes, and tools needed to meet the requirements.

Producers may also participate in person; registration can be completed online.