AOCS Feed Microscopy Division
Newsletter February 2007

Let us Share the Light
Patricia Ramsey

A Personal Note
Yesterday, as I was picking an orange for breakfast, I thought about how I'm lucky to be alive! After much soul searching, I have decided to take a rest from an active role in our division. Also, I will not be attending the annual meeting.

I will continue to edit the Newsletter & have a role in some behind the scenes activities. We now have some young people who are willing to step up to the plate. This will give me a much needed rest.

Microscopy Short Course
In previous years we taught seven courses. This year we will finally have a short course during our Annual Meeting. I'm so proud of everyone. We have finally achieved a goal of not having short courses at other times. I know that we will be very successful in this endeavor. Click here to read more.

North to Alaska
Marge, Dave McCutcheon, Glenn Kobata & I were among the group that cruised from Vancouver, BC to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, & other ports in Alaska. We then set out on a land tour which included Denali & Fairbanks.

I've included a few pictures of our awesome & fun trip. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mt. Denali

Dave & Marge McCutcheon catching a nap
on the train from Whittier to Denali

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In Focus
Marge McCutcheon

It's hard to believe that in a few short months my first year as Feed Microscopy Division Chair will come to a close and the 98th AOCS Annual Meeting and Expo will be upon us. This year has been a fast and furious one with Vice Chair Neil Vary and I working diligently to attain a slate of interesting and informative speakers for our three days of symposia. We greatly appreciate the Members-At-Large (MAL) for all their input and help in developing our four full sessions. This year we were pleased to work with our friend Keshun Liu and the Protein and Co-Products (PCP) Division on a highly educational joint session on aquaculture for Tuesday afternoon following the Hot Topics session. Special thanks to Keshun and his work ethic involved in this venture. We look forward to working with him and the PCP Division again in the near future.

Our Monday morning the Agricultural Microscopy I Session will focus on issues dealing with our applied science. We are thrilled to have top speakers in their field speak on alternative products and their impact on the future of animal nutrition and our global economy, and the effects of insects and mycotoxins on grain storage, management, and product quality. We've also arranged an exciting presentation by a representative from Leica Microsystems on what's new in microscopic equipment and techniques, followed by the Feed Microscopy Division's own Dr. Kim Koch discussing feed processing issues.

Monday afternoon's Agricultural Microscopy II session will be dedicated to regulatory issues affecting the US, Canada and world markets. Dr. Jim Makowski will conclude that session with an update on an exciting project—our new Manual of Agricultural Microscopy—that was put into motion last May by the MAL and the highly devoted Manual Development Committee consisting of Jim Makowski, Neil Vary, Pat Ramsey, and myself.

Wednesday morning's conclusive session will be dedicated to TSEs. This session contains a familiar face to the FM group: Dr. Chris Silva is back to challenge our minds and delve into the mysterious world of prions. Dr. Leo van Raamsdonk from the Netherlands will present his paper on new developments in the detection and identification of processed animal proteins in feeds, and the session will end showcasing the extensive work of the Canadian Food Inspection Agencies on the subject of BSE.

Neil and Annie Fournier have worked endlessly to procure a terrific site, Laval University, for our Intermediate/Advanced Agricultural Microscopy Short Course that will follow Wednesday morning's TSE Session. Many thanks must go out to our teaching staff (Neil, Pat and Jim) as well as Annie and the folks at the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency on all their hard work and dedication in preparing the curriculum, materials, and organizing this short course. We are also excited and honored to have a very special guest instructor, Dr. Leo van Raamsdonk from the Netherlands making this short course like no other one we have had before!

Again many thanks to my dedicated Vice Chair Neil Vary, the MAL, and all those who have worked diligently behind the scenes on all issues relating to the development of our Division and the outstanding technical program we will be presenting this year! Special thanks to the AOCS staff for all their assistance they give throughout the year! A leader is only as good as the people behind them and you all sure make me look like a professional. I look forward to a highly successful meeting and short course in beautiful Québec City, Québec, Canada. Don't miss out on a meeting and short course of a lifetime! See you there.

Upcoming Feed Microscopy Short Course
Neil Vary

Our Division is pleased to announce that there will be a feed microscopy short course taking place in conjunction with the 98th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo this year in beautiful Quebéc City, Canada. The "Intermediate/Advanced Agricultural Microscopy Short Course - Focusing on Detecting and Identifying Ingredients of Animal Origin and the American/Canadian Ruminant Feed Bans" will be the first short course offered by our division since the summer of 2005. �Don't let the "Intermediate/Advanced" designation scare you! If you know how to identify basic feed ingredients you already have the prerequisite. If you don't have this experience, or if you feel rusty sitting at the microscope, you're still more than welcome to join us. There will be three instructors and two facilitators present who will be able to provide much one-on-one instruction. For the first time, this Feed Microscopy Short Course will offer French translation assistance for those who are more comfortable communicating in French.

Another exciting first for a Feed Microscopy Short Course is a special guest instructor from the European Union. Leo van Raamsdonk will be joining us from the RIKILT Institute of Food Safety in the Netherlands. He has plenty of experience detecting animal products in feedstuffs and was a developer of the ARIES (Animal Remains Identification and Evaluation System) program. Leo will be demonstrating this program and how it can be used to help identify animal products in feeds.

The short course will begin in the afternoon of May 16 after the TSEs technical session our Division is hosting during the Meeting & Expo. The course will be held at the UniversitÉ Laval in Quebec City and transportation will be provided. There are only twenty spots available and those who register before April 13 will receive a $100 discount so don't forget to mark your calendar and register early!

For more details including an extensive program click here.

I'll see you in Québec City!

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