07/19/07 Promoting animal ID

USDA says it has an agreement with industry partners to promote the National Animal Identification System. The partnership with the US Animal Identification Organization is designed to add more than 100 thousand new livestock premises to the more than 400 thousand already registered. Idaho's Rick Stott of AgriBeef has been involved with the USAIO effort since its inception several years ago. Groups like the Farm Bureau and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association are part of this successful effort. STOTT "These organizations will help support this effort by providing close to 200 thousand publications going out to all of the producer members throughout the nation. We are excited to see that effort go forth through those organizations as well as our own efforts as we target specific states and work closely with state animal health officials and the USDA to target producers through a mailing system that they can sign up in a very simplistic way either through a mail in piece or through on line registration." USDA Undersecretary Bruce Knight says the registrations they get through the agreement will lead to critical mass and an operable system that will allow for 48 hour trace back on any diseased animal. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott