Oklahoma has an interesting approach to animal identification.With all the pros and cons related to NAIS, they’ve zeroed in on one its real assets.“Locate in 48” is a promotional idea that highlights the program’s 48 hour disease traceback capabilities, something that’s hard to find fault with.They’ve even developed a web site (click on the link in the previous sentence) that allows instant online premise registration with this assurance to those who are wary of potential government intrusion on their privacy:
“Producers may provide their location information for farms, ranches, leased land, feedlots, markets, and any other site that houses livestock for any period of time. During the registration process, we will be requesting the premises address, the species of animals housed at that address, and contact information. We will not be requesting the number of animals, their identification numbers, or other information.”
The point man for this program in Oklahoma is Brad Klaassen.He’s charged with traveling around the state and talking with ranchers about the benefits of a viable animal identification program.He’s a no-pressure, here-are-the-facts kind of guy who has a talent for discussing ideas and leaving a man to make his own decisions.It’s an approach that sets well with the Sooner state’s often cantankerous ranching community.
With a background that includes several generations of ranchers, he understands the people he talks with and knows their concerns.It was that understanding that I was interested in gaining when I spent five minutes with him recently.
Q. Brad, how did you get into this line of work? And how long have you been at it?
A. Growing up as a fourth generation farmer and rancher, I have always been involved in agriculture and livestock production. The family farm and ranch in Western Oklahoma that I was raised on produces winter wheat, alfalfa, hay and cattle and is still operated by my family today. After college I returned to the same area to manage a winter wheat and stocker cattle operation for 15 years near Cordell.
Because my wife’s occupation required us to relocate closer to Oklahoma City, I began my search for employment in an urban setting, which is not an easy task for a transplanted farm and ranch manager. I was fortunate enough to gain employment with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as the state’s animal ID coordinator and have been at my current position for one and a half years.
Q. Can we try to develop a few common denominators? The people who accept the idea of a National Animal Identification System – are there some traits that they share or are they across the board; operators of small, medium and large Ag operations?
A. In Oklahoma we have a vast array of farm and ranch sizes, and the types of operations vary considerably. The most common denominator I have observed in our state is that the farmers and ranchers who are participating in this program are the ones that have taken the time to learn more about the program - no matter the type or size of operation.
These farmers and ranchers have attended one of the informative meetings we conduct throughout the state, attended one of the numerous industry tradeshow events we are present at, or visited our website: www.OK.LocateIn48.com to learn more about the importance of having a viable disease traceability program.
These producers understand that it doesn’t matter whether you are a large producer with thousands of animals or a small producer with just a few. If a disease outbreak occurs, it will affect every animal in that area. Participation in NAIS will allow them to be quickly notified and given instructions on how to protect themselves and their livestock investment.
Q. You’re based in Oklahoma, a state with a gang of ranchers who have never been shy about expressing their opinions. Pro and con – what are you hearing?
A. One of the things that makes Oklahoma a great state to live in is the honesty and friendliness of the people who live here. As I travel throughout the state, farmers and ranchers are concerned with the cost to participate, confidentiality of their personal information and privacy issues.
Premises registration in Oklahoma is voluntary, and there is no cost to participate. Also, registering a farm or ranch does not obligate anyone to tag animals or report individual animal movements. Another aspect of this program that many are not aware of is that the state will never ever ask for the number of animals or acres a farmer or rancher owns when registering.
Our producers’ private contact information is also protected by state law (Title2, Section 4-20) to ensure their information can only be accessed by state animal health officials in the event of an animal disease outbreak, animal health emergency or theft. The positive aspects of this disease traceability program are readily recognized by our producers who want to preserve Oklahoma’s way of life for generations to come.
Q. How have those opinions changed over the past few years?
A. In the relatively short time I have been engaged in this program I have seen many farmers and ranchers who initially had concerns with this program sign up to participate.
The reasons for this change are numerous, but many have realized we need a quicker and more efficient way to notify our producers in the event of an animal disease outbreak. If a highly contagious disease outbreak would occur, we would have hours instead of days to determine were the disease came from and how extensive the spread has been to minimize the effect on the animals as well as on the livelihood of farmers and ranchers.
No matter the size of the farm or ranch, producers want to continue to provide the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. And by helping to create and implement this program, farmers and ranchers can continue to safeguard their industry and their way of life.
Q. How do you respond to opinions shared by the folks who can’t accept the idea of NAIS?
A. I respectfully acknowledge that people will have differences of opinion on this program, and I understand that some people just don’t receive change well. However, I would challenge everyone to investigate this program for themselves and get the facts from a reliable source. The USDA has a very good Web site that explains the NAIS in great detail at www.usda.gov/nais.
I also challenge people who have concerns about this program to visit with their state or federal animal ID coordinator, county extension educator or local veterinarian to discuss the importance of a viable disease traceability program and the value of having the ability to contact farmers or ranchers quickly in the event of an animal disease outbreak.
Q. Oklahoma ranchers have been active in signing up. What do the numbers look like and can you give some projections for the future?
A. With more than 70,000 farm and ranch premises within our state, we rank third nationally for the number of locations keeping and raising livestock. Currently almost 11% of those locations have been registered in the voluntary program. However, because of the large number of livestock operations within our state, there is still plenty of work to be done.
We are continuing our Locate In 48 premises registration campaign outreach efforts to inform our farmers and ranchers of the importance of premises registration through radio and print ads. We are also mailing Locate In 48 brochures to all our farmers and ranchers, encouraging them to register. Our goal is to have 25% of those farms and ranches signed up by March 2008.
Q. Thousands of people read Cattlenetwork. What would you like to say to them?
A. The United States continues to produce the safest and most abundant food supply in the world, and animal health officials throughout the country want to ensure that it remains that way. With the continued development and implementation of a national animal identification system in this county, that goal can be achieved.
It is imperative that both small and large scale producers get involved to protect the health and well-being of not only the industry but the way of life we want to safeguard for generations to come. Please contact your state animal ID coordinator and register your premises today.