01/16/06 Idahoan on NAIS board of directors

The United States Animal Identification Organization held their first meeting via teleconference last week where the board`s first three members were elected. One of them is NCBA member Rick Stott of Boise-based AgriBeef. He says the non-profit, independent organization has just one purpose. STOTT "To provide an entity, a non profit entity that's managed by the industry to manage the data base." Stott says the database meets the goals many agricultural groups have for the national livestock ID system and that includes producer confidentiality and low costs. STOTT "We expect that it will be less than 30 cents for the life of the animal for all of the events and transactions that need to be recorded for the movement of those animals." Stott says cattle and bison producers are signed up now but they look forward to having all producer groups joining them. STOTT "Everybody from Farm Bureau to R-CALF to LMA to the pork guys and chicken guys to have a representative, anybody that wants to move this animal identification process forward in a constructive, proactive, efficient way." Charles Miller of Kentucky joins Stott and Nebraska bison owner Lawrence Kuck on the board of directors for the new organization. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott