The new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is addressing the avian influenza outbreak.

The National Cotton Council is pleased with the current direction of agricultural issues in Washington, D.C.

A Texan has been recognized for his wheat yields. 

02/26/25 - Combatting the bird flu in Texas; Cotton Council pleased with current direction; Wheat grower recognized

Texas wheat crop conditions improved a bit last week. 

The Trump administration is changing how it responds to avian influenza outbreaks.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins of Texas is on board with the Trump administration's government downsizing.

02/27/25 - Wheat conditions improving; Avian influenza response; Rollins on board with downsizing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled its $1-billion plan to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and egg prices that rose as a result of the virus impacting chicken flocks in the United States.


02/27/25 - USDA unveils plan to combat avian influenza

(Backing Track by reinhold tracks, YouTube)
DE FACTO LUNATIC FRINGE (The Masktard Song)
[Chorus]
There’s a Masktard in every crowd
Enough to make you lose your lunch and cringe
Standing righteously and proud
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe

[Verse 1]
If they don’t get it by now, they’ll never get it
I’m done wasting my tongue on stupid idiots
You wanna wear a mask, buddy be my guest
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you on your final breath

[Verse 2]
Go to the supermarket and what do I see
A Masktard in line in front of me
Try to keep my cool, but sometimes my lips let loose
For living, zombies are a poor excuse

[Chorus]
There’s a Masktard in every crowd
Enough to make you lose your lunch and cringe
Standing righteously and proud
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe
Lunatic fringe
Lunatic fringe
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe

[Verse 3]
In the height of the Scamdemic, I never wore a mask
Got booted out of places, I never did go back
Like an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
But in an upside-down world there’s no couth, yeah

[Chorus]
There’s a Masktard in every crowd
Enough to make you lose your lunch and cringe
Standing righteously and proud
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe

[Verse 4]
Five years later, folks are dropping dead suddenly
Tickers givin’ out, turbo-cancers abundantly
Now, they’re talkin’ shots for the Bird Flu and the measles
Now, RFK is colluding with the weasels

[Verse 1 Repeats]
If they don’t get it by now, they’ll never get it
I’m done wasting my tongue on stupid idiots
You wanna take a shot, buddy be my guest
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you on your final breath

[Chorus]
There’s a Masktard in every crowd
Enough to make you lose your lunch and cringe
Standing righteously and proud
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe
Lunatic fringe
Lunatic fringe
Soldiers of the de facto lunatic fringe

Lord in Heaven, Lord in Heaven, Lord in Heaven help us all, Lord in Heaven...ooh-ooh


©️ 2025 Renee La Chapelle - All Rights Reserved

DE FACTO LUNATIC FRINGE (The Masktard Song)

Science journalist and author Brandon Keim joins me to discuss the origins and evolution of H5N1—popularly known as bird flu—explored in his excellent article for Nautilus, The Unnatural History of Bird Flu.

Brandon Keim deftly covers the recent evolutionary history and trajectory of avian influenza, with a focus on H5N1 and its subvariants as it has become more virulent and has evolved into an emergent public health threat for the human species. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenzas (HPAI) emerge under specific environmental pressures and contexts, and the highly consequential influenza strain, H5N1, is no different, with the main culprit for its troubling evolution being intensive animal production.

/ Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/brandon-keim

// Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness 

// Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast

381 / The Unnatural History Of Bird Flu / Brandon Keim

In addition to providing poultry growers with free biosecurity assessments to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza from infected poultry and wild birds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is also investing in helping farmers repopulate farms following HPAI detection.


03/26/25 - USDA increases indemnity rates for poultry farmers impacted by HPAI

Nationwide economists Ben Ayers and Daniel Vielhaber share their outlook for the Ag sector - including an update on egg prices and the potential impact from tariffs. [NFM-22911AO]

Signs of optimism in the Ag industry

What if the key to detecting the next pandemic was hidden in our wastewater? By analyzing pathogens found in sewage, scientists can track the spread of infections before they become widespread threats. In this episode of Science Changing Life, project scientist Josh Levy and PhD student Praneeth Gangavarapu explain how analyzing what goes down the drain can offer life-saving insights into the future of public health. 

Learn more about the role of wastewater surveillance in tracking a range of viruses—including SARS-CoV-2, H5N1 and even seasonal influenza. 

//

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/josh-levy.bsky.social, https://bsky.app/profile/praneethg.bsky.social  
Andersen lab: https://andersen-lab.com/  
Scripps Research Magazine: magazine.scripps.edu/ 

Pathogens in the pipeline: How wastewater holds clues to the next pandemic

Are your egg prices going through the roof? Are you listening to mainstream media blaming it on bird flu? Then you need to read Amanda Starbuck and her co-author's recent article "Egg Prices: It’s Not Just Bird Flu. It’s Corporate Greed" where their investigation determined that the primary cause for "egg-flation" isn't disease, but the big egg producers, such as Cal-Maine Foods, with the top ten producers cornering 50% of the market raising prices to line their pockets, and those of their shareholders, with your money. In a two year period, before the latest bird flu, their prices almost tripled. And they can give their big distributers, like Walmart, discounts while charging other buyers more to make up for what they lose in deals with Walmart. 

buzz-4-2-25-Amanda-Starbuck

At one of her stops in Texas last week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the president is well aware of the farm labor crisis and is working to address it. 

Several mammals in the Texas panhandle, including foxes, raccoons, striped skunks, and domestic cats have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Texas corn producers are preparing to deal with the corn leaf hopper again this year. 



04/22/25 - Trump working to address farm labor crisis; Panhandle animals test positive for HPAI; Corn leaf hopper

Thanks for tuning in.  Stripped Down, Raw and Real songs are what you'll find here.  Write on, Songsters! 

Much love from the USA,
Renee

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New tracks tagged #bird flu