Agricultural News
Traceability Top of Mind This Week as Cattlemen From Across the Nation Converge in New Orleans
Tue, 29 Jan 2019 13:09:05 CST
The 2019 Cattle Industry Convention kicks off this week in New Orleans and one of the topics that will be on everyone's mind is animal disease traceability. It was an issue heavily discussed by the members of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association this past week at the organization's Winter Policy Meeting in Oklahoma City. OCA Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey told us recently this is an issue that not only his membership feels strongly about, but one that the entire cattle industry has or is quickly forming an opinion on.
"Animal traceability was also a big issue we talked about, really from two different perspectives," he said. "Obviously, the disease surveillance is vitally important - but we also had some great discussion on it as a theft deterrent. We still have a problem with cattle rustlers and we need to figure out how we as an industry can approach this."
Kelsey says the topic has gained significant traction this year. Some factions of the industry, he explained, see value in a national ID system in regard to the potential for greater market and value-added export programs. Others are concerned about the implications it might have in terms of keeping data secure and private while also limiting liability, managing the system efficiently, etc.
"All those questions still need to be answered. But, overall, what I heard from our membership is this is an important issue that we want to define and it not be defined for us by a government entity or someone else who may not know our business," he said. "So, we've got to be at the table and make this work for us before something happens where now we have to play catch up - that's not a good scenario to be in and so we're going to be proactive about this."
Listen to Kelsey offer his standpoint on the issue of animal ID and disease traceability from the perspective of the OCA and its members, with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Our coverage from New Orleans and the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show will be powered by Corteva Agriscience, delivering solutions to help you manage weeds and brush- learn more by clicking here for their website- www.RangeAndPasture.Com.
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