Selenium May Boost Bugs' Immunity

Andy VanceEducation, Government, Nutrition, Production

That same mineral you may be using in your ration may be keeping the bugs in the field from getting sick. The latest research out from USDA’s Ag Research Service suggests that moderate dietary levels of selenium may actually strengthen insect immunity. Typically, high levels of selenium are toxic to pests, but studies with cabbage looper moths and tobacco budworms found that the group raised on artificially high, though not toxic, levels of selenium had a stronger immune response system, therefore lowering the effectiveness of microbial biological control agents used against them.

It's Dairy Month (in case you forgot)

Chuck ZimmermanPromotion

Iowa State Dairy AssociationYou know we have to mention the fact that it’s Dairy Month. The first organization to alert us to this fact is the Iowa State Dairy Association. Way to go. They want everyone to know that, “The ISDA is proud to represent the hard-working dairy farm families of Iowa for all they do to produce high-quality products and for all their contributions to Iowa’s economy.”