05/05/06 Stott joins Washington group `down under`

Partly because his company AgriBeef has a processing plant in Washington Rick Stott is beginning a ten day trade mission today. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is leading that delegation to Australia and New Zealand. Stott left Boise last night and is making the trip for one main reason. STOTT "To take a look at animal ID. Australia is several years ahead of the United States as far as developing their animal ID system." Australia is using the animal ID system as a marketing tool in the Far East and Stott says they've 'beat us over the head with it.' STOTT "Part of the reason why we are giving a lot of these things like bone in issues with South Korea, Japan closed there borders immediately when there was one little mistake. We've been invited by them graciously to come over and take a look at what they've done, kind of understand the effort that they have gone through. Like Canada, Australia developed their ID system from the industry and the industry driven solution with cooperation with the government and its going well but not without its bumps, and its hurdles and problems." And he'll pass on that knowledge to others who are working on a national animal ID system in the US. Stott is one of many who say it's the cattle industry that will have to get the job done and not depend on government involvement. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott