A torrent of illegal Chinese honey labeled in India is slipping into the U.S. potentially laden with untraceable antibiotics and heavy metals, according to accusations in several new reports.

The American Honey Producers Assn. said that more than 60 million pounds of Indian honey exports reached the U.S. in the first half of 2011 and that much of it is believed to have been first produced in China, then rerouted to skirt American trade restrictions. Read More

Excerpt from the NASCIO write-up:

Michigan’s agriculture industry contributes over $71 billion annually to the state’s economy, making it the second largest industry in Michigan. The sustained growth of agriculture is a key element in Michigan’s economic recovery strategy.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is close to being eradicated in the United States, but still poses a significant risk to domestic livestock, wildlife, companion animals and humans throughout the world. Michigan has bovine TB in both cattle and wild free-ranging white tailed deer. Every time bovine TB is transferred from deer to cattle it sends shock-waves through the agriculture industry, putting the $71 billion industry at risk. Michigan leaders fear this will further exacerbate an economic recovery still reeling from the exodus of hundreds of thousands manufacturing jobs in the previous ten years.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) formed a multi-disciplined team of food experts, scientists, economic planners, animal experts and technologists to develop an aggressive strategy that includes information, communication and technology (ICT) solutions to help track down, contain, eradicate and prevent outbreaks of bovine TB in Michigan’s cattle industry. This cross-boundary team includes scientists and technology experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB). The end product of this research was the implementation of a first-of-its-kind animal disease traceability solution (USAHerds).   This ICT solution demonstrates the leadership of Michigan to provide a quick and agile response to a potential economic and public health catastrophe. 

Watch the video from NASCIO here.