Tracking the Transmission of Antimicrobial-Resistant Non-O157 and Isolates at the Interface of Food Animals and Fresh Produce from Agriculture Operations Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

An increasing number of outbreaks are caused by foodborne pathogens such as and , which often harbor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. We previously demonstrated the transmission of pathogens from animal operations to produce fields on sustainable farms, which illustrated an urgent need to develop and implement novel prevention methods and remediation practices such as the vegetative buffer zone (VBZ) to prevent this movement. The focus of this study was to use whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize the AMR, virulence, and single-nucleotide polymorphism profile of 15 and 128 isolates collected from small-scale dairy and poultry farms on a research station in North Carolina.

A combination of Lactobacillus buchneri and Pediococcus pentosaceus extended the aerobic stability of conventional and brown midrib mutants-corn hybrids ensiled at low dry matter concentrations by causing a major shift in their bacterial and fungal community.

We evaluated the effects of applying a combination inoculant to four corn hybrids harvested at high moisture on their nutritive value and microbial populations. The treatment design was the factorial combination of corn hybrids ensiled with (INO) and without (CON) inoculant. The hybrids were TMF2R737 (MCN), F2F817 (MBR), P2089YHR (PCN), and PI144XR (PBR), ensiled at dry matter (DM) concentrations of 30.

The effect of vegetation barriers at reducing the transmission of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from animal operations to fresh produce.

Due to the recent outbreaks of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in fresh produce in the United States, the transfer of foodborne pathogens between animal feeding operations and fresh produce continues to be a considerable risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if the establishment of a vegetation barrier (VB) on small-scale sustainable farms could prevent the transmission of Salmonella and E. coli to nearby fresh produce fields.

Transmission of antimicrobial resistant non-O157 Escherichia coli at the interface of animal-fresh produce in sustainable farming environments.

The interaction of typical host adapted enteric bacterial pathogens with fresh produce grown in fields is complex. These interactions can be more pronounced in co-managed or sustainable farms where animal operations are, by design, close to fresh produce, and growers frequently move between the two production environments. The primary objectives of this study were to 1) determine the transmission of STEC or enteric pathogens from small and large animal herds or operations to fresh produce on sustainable farms in TN and NC, 2) identify the possible sources that impact transmission of AMR E.

Evaluation of post-contamination survival and persistence of applied attenuated E. coli O157:H7 and naturally-contaminating E. coli O157:H7 on spinach under field conditions and following postharvest handling.

This study determined the variability in population uniformity of an applied mixture of attenuated E. coli O157:H7 (attEcO157) on spinach leaves as impacted by sampling mass and detection technique over spatial and temporal conditions. Opportunistically, the survival and distribution of naturally contaminating pathogenic E.

Preharvest Farming Practices Impacting Fresh Produce Safety.

Advancements in agriculture and food processing techniques have been instrumental in the development of modern human societies. Vast improvements in agronomic practices, handling, and processing have allowed us to produce and preserve mass quantities of food. Yet despite all these innovations and potentially as a consequence of these mass production practices, more and more outbreaks of human pathogens linked to raw and processed foods are identified every year.

Texture, composition and anatomy of spinach leaves in relation to nitrogen fertilization.

Background: The postharvest quality and shelf life of spinach are greatly influenced by cultural practices. Reduced spinach shelf life is a common quandary in the Salinas Valley, California, where current agronomic practices depend on high nitrogen (N) rates. This study aimed to describe the postharvest fracture properties of spinach leaves in relation to N fertilization, leaf age and spinach cultivar.