Sparks, Lipscomb have long list of farm issues in ag race (al.com) MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Mad cow screening, plant diseases and pests, drought and Hurricane Katrina crop disasters, Cuba exports and alternative fuels — the list of issues is long in the agriculture commissioner race between Democratic incumbent Ron Sparks and Republican challenger Albert Lipscomb. [News Source]

EU will comment on human risk from prion disease. Europe's top food safety agency will give its views next month on whether a fatal brain-wasting disease, similar to mad cow disease, might threaten human health if transmitted form sheep and goats. [News Source]

BSE likely came from feed (Iowa Farmer) OTTAWA (AP) -- An Alberta, Canada, dairy cow that was diagnosed last month with BSE (mad-cow disease) probably contracted the disease from contaminated feed, federal regulators said. [News Source]

PlayStation’s serious side: Fighting disease (Financial Express) Kids aiming to persuade their parents to buy the PlayStation 3 have some new ammunition -- donating their PS3's down time to researchers could help cure Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or mad cow disease. [News Source]