NYS Field Crops Weekly Pest Report- Evaluation 2008

The NYS Field Crop Weekly Pest Report provides timely pest information to field crop extension educators and agricultural professionals. The report compiles weekly pest and crop observations collected by field crop extension personnel across NYS. In addition, the weekly report provides a vehicle to disseminate other relevant IPM information such as pest identification, scouting techniques and a calendar with suggestions for pest management activities. The pest report is distributed to clientele via the Cornell In-house Field Crops List Serve and Cornell Field Crop List Serve.  The audiences that subscribe to these list-servers include: Extension Educators, crop consultants, growers, agribusiness, and Cornell University Faculty. Twenty three issues of the NYS Weekly Pest Report were published in 2008. Extension Educators and crop consultants utilize the Weekly Report as an overview of timely pest information, and have found the report useful in alerting their local clientele regarding pest management issues. About 200 people receive the pest report as an email from our Cornell University based list server. Many of the articles from the report were used in extension newsletters that reached at least 14,000 people

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tactical Agriculture (TAg) Train the Trainer Workshop

Workshops were held to teach northeast region extension educators use of a proven educational approach called Tactical Agriculture (TAg). While most extension educators conduct in-field workshops to disseminate current information and strategies relative to integrated crop management (ICM) and integrated pest management (IPM) to producers, most educators do not design programs in such a way as to maximize advantages of sound educational design for adult learners. The TAg program specifically is an experiential, hands-on season-long training program for small groups of field crop producers in local areas. The TAg program has been used successfully in New York State to teach producers to better manage field crops, protect the environment, reduce health risks, and enhance their own long-term viability by implementing specific targeted IPM and ICM practices. Producers are actively integrated into the growing-season-long educational program, which focuses on the collection of data from their fields in conjunction with meetings to discuss critical pest and crop management issues that arise during the growing season. The program has had remarkable success in encouraging participants to adopt IPM and ICM strategies. Impacts of the program are measured by pre- and post-testing of subject matter and an exit survey to determine the percentage of adoption of IPM and ICM practices taught to producers. Two separate 2 day workshops were held on design, teaching, and evaluating an effective TAg program. The workshops were very well received with 15 out of 20 participants conducting or developing new TAg or TAg-like programs in the Northeast

On-Farm Soybean IPM Education Programs: Cultivating Enhanced Soybean Management

In 2008, 20 participants representing 16 farms in 3 counties in New York State participated in on-farm soybean Tactical Agriculture (TAg) team Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.  Participants were actively engaged in a growing-season-long educational program discussing critical pest and crop management topics arising during the growing season.  Multiple educational meetings were held in farmer fields enhancing opportunities to reinforce use of IPM concepts and techniques. Participating producers benefited from the timely collection of data from their fields throughout the growing season. The pest information gathered from scouting these soybean fields during the growing season was used in other extension educational efforts across New York State. In addition to the traditional soybean TAg efforts, one-time IPM and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) soybean meetings were held in Cayuga, Columbia, Jefferson, Oneida/Madison, Seneca and Tompkins counties. These field meetings extended the reach of soybean IPM and ICM on-farm education beyond the more intensive TAg groups to target soybean producers in areas where soybean acreage is expanding. Over one hundred producers attended these meetings

Predicting beef carcass retail yield from hot carcass traits

Hot carcasses from 288 steers were used to develop equations to predict weights and percentages of trimmed retail cuts. and trimmable fat yields from hot carcass traits. Independent variables examined were: (1) 12-13th rib fat probe; (2) lO-11th rib fat probe; (3) external fat score; (4) percent kidney knob; (5) hindquarter muscling score, and (6) carcass weight. Right sides of carcasses were fabricated into boneless cuts trimmed to .3 in. fat and weighed. Then. cuts were totally trimmed (.0 in.) and reweighed. Multiple regression equations developed from these variables accounted for 95 and 90% of the variation in total weight of retail cuts at .3 and .0 in. trim levels. respectively. Furthermore, equations accounted for 58 and 52% of the variation in percent yield of trimmed retail cuts at .3 and 0 in. trim levels. respectively. Equations developed for trimmable fat accounted for 74 to 76% of the variation in pounds and percentages at both trim levels. Our "hot carcass" equations were equivalent to USDA equations that are based on chilled, ribbed-carcass traits in their ability to predict yields of trimmed retail cuts and trimmable fat