11/23/05 WSDA meetings on animal ID

11/23/05 WSDA meetings on animal ID

Washington Ag November 23, 2005 A series of community meetings scheduled around the state by the Washington State Department of Agriculture will provide producers with the latest information on the National Animal Identification System as well as an opportunity for livestock owners to comment on animal ID. WSDA's Animal Identification Program specialist Chris Spaulding, says USDA recently announced some changes in the NAIS. Spaulding: "One of those is that the third aspect of the program, animal tracking, has been turned over to the private sector entirely, which means we need to reach out to people and say you know we really need your help in helping to prepare for some kind of animal disease outbreak." Spaulding says the state has been doing premise registration for NAIS for about a year with only 800 of an estimated 34-thousand premises registered. Among the locations for the WSDA meetings are Bellingham on December 1st from 2-5 p.m. at the Whatcom County Fire Distrct #8. Moses Lake December 7th from 2-5 p.m. at the Grant County EMS. Also December 7th in Yakima from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the WSDA Office. Meetings are also scheduled in December for Spokane, Clarkston and Pasco. I'm Bob Hoff.
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