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8-5-2004 |
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The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will begin collecting information for the state's animal identification system (AIS) during the State Fair of West Virginia, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. The effort is part of a nationwide initiative and is designed to safeguard America's food supply by greatly decreasing the time needed to trace at-risk animals. "The economic damage done by an animal disease outbreak is directly proportional to the amount of time it takes to detect and respond to it," said Commissioner Douglass. "The state has invested in improving its agricultural laboratory facilities, which will greatly enhance rapid detection. This next step will allow us to act more rapidly if a disease is detected." The first step in the national ID program will be to issue unique premise/farm ID numbers to every farm in the country, according to WVDA State Veterinarian Joe Starcher. "The goal of the program is a 48-hour traceback on any disease discovered in any animal in the country," said Dr. Starcher. "This really is a landmark development for agriculture in the country, and it will greatly speed up our ability to enact effective quarantines and other response actions when needed." The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is still working out the technical details on issuing the numbers, but West Virginia is ready to begin collecting information that will be used to obtain each unique premise/farm ID number, said Dr. Starcher. West Virginia farmers will receive confirmation of their premise/farm ID number at a later date, said Dr. Starcher. Farmers visiting the State Fair can stop by Animal Health Division's display between the West Virginia Building and the Gus R. Douglass Annex to sign up for their premise/farm ID number and to look over Animal Health's new emergency response vehicles, provided by Homeland Security funding. Farms can also register by calling the West Virginia Department
of Agriculture's Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214 or 1-866-844-2214. Contact: Buddy Davidson The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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