[We’re almost there. Details to come when it is completed. Thanks for asking! -WJ]

[I got it but I can’t read it very well. It looks like a newspaper article but didn’t fax well. Is there an online version? Could you type in the first and last sentence and I’ll then google to find it? -WJ]

Assistant state vet says animal tracking would prevent recall problems
Monday, March 3, 2008, 9:08 AM
By Matt Kelley

One livestock expert says the recent recall of more than 240,000 pounds of ground beef, the nation’s largest-ever such recall, could have been prevented or greatly minimized through better cattle tracking methods. Dr. Randy Wheeler, an assistant state veterinarian at the Iowa Department of Agriculture, says programs to follow a cow’s progress from the barn to the slaughterhouse are already in place, but they’re voluntary.

Wheeler says, “It would definitely help us to go and trace those animals back to the premises and that’s one of the reasons for the National Animal Identification System and for Premise I.D., is to make a streamlined, modern response process.” He says about half of Iowa’s livestock producers have signed on to the program versus about one-third of producers nationwide. Abbreviated as NAIS (rhymes with face), Wheeler says the program is three-pronged.

“It is in effect and it is designed to improve the identification of livestock and to help locate premises at risk and to streamline the disease investigation process in the event of animal disease or health crisis,” he says. The beef industry is worth two-and-a-half billion dollars a year to Iowa and Wheeler says the future financial viability of Iowa’s cattle industry hinges on improved disease response.

The U.S.D.A. issued the recall on February 17th after an undercover video was released that showed workers at a California slaughterhouse shoving sick or injured cows with forklifts to get them to stand.

Wheeler says 25-million live animals were imported to Iowa last year from all over the country, adding, a cattle disease outbreak in the state would be devastating. Wheeler says, “It would effect many people, not only producers but consumers, should a disease outbreak occur. It could be a lot of consequences and hardships, so NAIS is there to help control the spread, quickly trace and minimize losses and help lessen the extent of hardships in that case.”

During a disease investigation, animal health officials need to locate cattle involved in the outbreak and others that might’ve been exposed. The larger the percentage of animals with official identification, Wheeler says, the easier it is to trace a disease to its source and stop its spread.
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The vet, Randy Wheeler is the Johne’s Program Coordinator for The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Here is his contact info:
Randy L. Wheeler
phone: 515-281-0866
fax: 515-281-4282
Randy.Wheeler@idals.state.ia.us

I propose that we call everyone of these yahoos every time they misspeak. I know I’m going to give him a call tomorrow.

Sharon

I also sent this out to my contacts in the Real ID fight as well as several others,keep tellin folks whats going on

obviously the USDA has something to hide,notice in that piece mentioned by Phantom where they state that GAO has no authority in criminal investigations or some such nonsense,and then USDA wants to tell us it has enforcement authority,ya right I wonder what they are afraid of hmmm?

This is just another example of the arrogance of our civil servents,folks need to cntinue to bombard him with letters calls and emails,but dont stop there get ahold of you own fed reps and tell them to oppose Harkin in his collusion with monsanto and friends!

And keep smiling we are making headway,they are now threatening to bypass the process,means we are hurting them,keep up the pressure,thanks!

“Live free or die tryin”