President Bush has appointed Charles F. Conner to be Special Assistant to the President for Agricultural Trade and Food Assistance. He will work with USDA, Congress and the U.S. agriculture community in developing the President's agriculture policy.

Conner has served as president of the Corn Refiners Association since 1997. Before accepting that position, he served with U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture from 1985 to 1997. From 1980 to 1985, he was a legislative assistant in the Office of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-IN. Conner is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University.

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A multi-county pesticide re-certification course for Texas Department of Agriculture private applicator license holders is set for November 20 in the Schleicher County Memorial Building. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9 a.m.

Morning topics include: "Chemicals and Range Brush Control", "Pesticide Laws and Regulations", and "Lawn Weed Control and Management."

The afternoon program will have presentations on drift management and nozzle selection, chemicals and insect control and crop weed identification and herbicides.

Registration is $10 and those wishing to attend should RSVP to Scott Edmonson at (915) 853-2132 by November 16.

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The largest public education program ever designed to teach middle and high school students about food safety and careers in food science was recently unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Science Teachers Association.

Using food to capture students' imaginations, "Science and Our Food Supply" teaches the scientific principles underlying food safety, from the farm to the dinner table, and introduces students to a wide variety of careers in food science.

The program was developed to respond to the public health concerns about food-borne illness. Another good reason for targeting teens regarding food safety is because more high school students are employed in restaurants than any other industry, and they often begin their jobs with little information about food safety and ways they can prevent food-borne illness.

To receive a copy of the Science and Our Food Supply program, teachers are asked to complete a request form on NSTA's web site by logging onto NSTA.org.

Requests can also be mailed to NSTA, Science and Our Food Supply, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3000.

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McDonald's plans to expand their diner concept which they originally tested in Central Indiana. According to various reports, McDonald's plans to convert 12 of its restaurants, including 10 in Evansville, Ind., into diners serving traditional McDonald's menu items, along with such American staples as meatloaf and chicken-fried steak.

The diner concept is one of several marketing initiatives McDonald's is testing to boost stagnating U.S. sales. Some of the new initiatives include new sandwiches, more value promotions and new restaurant concepts in an effort to broaden its appeal.

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based fast-food firm is also rolling out other restaurant concepts, including McSnack Spots, McTreat Spots and McCafes. McDonald's also plans to add about 70 of its Cipotle Mexican Grill outlets in 2002, and the first new Boston Market store in more than four years.

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The United States Embassy in Mexico City reported that Mexico's Department of Agriculture has approved the first meat and poultry import verification point on the Mexican side of the border.

Effective Oct. 12, import procedures may be conducted at Colombia, Coahuila, just across the border from Laredo, Texas. Although only one Mexican point has been approved thus far, Mexican law requires that all import verification points for meat and poultry products be moved from the U.S. side to the Mexican side of the border by Dec. 12.

According to the embassy, the Colombia facility can handle 250 inspections a day. Last year the U.S. exported more than $1.2 billion in meat and poultry products to Mexico. It is the second largest export market for beef and pork and a top market for U.S. poultry products. Any disruption at the border would have major implications for the U.S. industry.

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A website has been established titled "Keeping America's Food and Agriculture Safe". The site contains information on what USDA is doing to address biosecurity issues. Access to the website is at: http://www.usda.gov/special/biosecurity/safeguard.htm.

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Tory Bredenkamp, former vice president of technical services for Nebraska Cattlemen, has been selected as Colorado Livestock Association's chief executive officer.

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has launched a Canada-wide anti-dairy program by handing out leaflets near schools. They tell children that dairy products are bad for their health and cows are abused.

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The National Meat Association has been granted "intervenor status," the right be a party in the Supreme Beef Processors v. USDA lawsuit now headed toward a ruling in appellate court.

Previously, NMA and four other trade associations had acted as amici, or "friends of the court," on behalf of Supreme Beef, which sued the Agriculture Department over use of salmonella performance standards to determine the sanitation status of its ground beef processing plant and thus continuation of federal inspection.

By granting the motion, the Appellate Court has obligated itself to issue a decision upholding or overturning the May 2000 decision of the district court, which ruled in favor of Supreme Beef, according to NMA.

Lawyers for USDA had asked that the appellate court declare the case moot, because Supreme Beef filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

The court's decision on the merits of the appeal is expected before the end of the year.