NRCS Role in Biosecurity

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NRCS Role in Biosecurity

• National SRC Meeting
• St. Louis, Missouri
• March 24, 2004
• Barry L. Kintzer, P.E.
• National Environmental Engineer

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Biosecurity

• Broad Meaning
• The literal safety of live things
• Freedom from care for live things
• In Relation to Agriculture
• Protecting livestock from any type of infectious
  agent viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic

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Biosecurity - Background

• Modern confined animal production practices have
  resulted in the need for better biosecurity.
• Recent outbreaks of communicable animal diseases
  such as
• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in England
  February 2001
• Avian Influenza in the Shenandoah Valley area of
  Virginia March 2002
• Exotic Newcastle Disease (Poultry) in California
  and Arizona June 2003
• have further increased awareness and
  demonstrated vulnerability.

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Biosecurity - Background

• The potential also exists for agrobioterrorism.
• All of these have devastating consequences for
  the livestock industry and US agriculture in
  general.
• 2001 FMD Outbreak in England
• Financial Impact - 3.8 6.5 Billion
• More Than 8 Million Animals Destroyed
• 9,996 Operations Affected

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Biosecurity - Background

• 2002 Avian Influenza Outbreak in Virginia
• 138 Million Loss to Poultry Industry
• 2002 2003 Outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease
  - California
• 160 Million Spent on Eradication Efforts
• 3.5 Million Birds (poultry) Destroyed

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Tastes Like Chicken!
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Biosecurity - Trends

• There Is Anecdotal Evidence That Outbreaks Are
  More Likely Due To
• Larger production facilities with more animals in
  one location
• Higher concentrations of animals in specific
  geographic regions
• Less genetic variation within a given animal
  species decreasing potential for natural immunity
• Mobility of humans increased national and
  international travel
• Threat of biological terrorism

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Biosecurity NRCS Response

• Issued Bulletin No. 130-1-2 dated July 10, 2001
  providing guidance to field personnel
• Provided reminder by letter from Chief Reed dated
  November 9, 2001 with memorandum from the Office
  of the Secretary attached
• Issued General Manual Policy GM 130 Part 403
  Subpart H Biosecurity Preparedness and Response

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NRCS Biosecurity Policy GM 130 Part 403 Subpart
H

• Based on guidance provided by APHIS through the
  National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC)
• Provides three levels of biosecurity measures
• Level 1 Visits to farms/ranches that entails
  office or home visits only
• Level 2 Visit to farms/ranches where minimal
  contact with livestock/poutlry or their housing
  is unavoidable to atain the goal of the visit

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NRCS Biosecurity Policy(cont)

• Level 3 Visit to farms/ranches where there will
  be close contact with livestock/poultry (walking
  through narrowly confined pens/lots where animals
  are within reach or actually handling/inspecting
  the animals)
• Level 1 is to be followed at all times
• Levels 2 or 3 may be implemented as recommended
  by APHIS and the State Veterinarian

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NRCS Biosecurity Responsibilities

• Designate an individual in the state to keep up
  with the issues and current status of outbreaks
• Establish regular communications with the state
  veterinarian
• Keep employees and partners informed
• USE COMMON SENSE

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NRCS Biosecurity Concerns

• Health and safety of NRCS and partner employees

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NRCS Biosecurity Concerns

• Health and safety of NRCS and partner employees
• Health and welfare of livestock and agricultural
  production facilities

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Biosecurity - Challenges

• Adequate funding for states to acquire and
  maintain required equipment and supplies.
• Adherence to appropriate biosecurity measures
  without significantly increasing the time
  necessary for field people to deliver programs
  and services to producers.
• Assurance that TSPs also follow policy and
  utilize appropriate biosecurity measures.

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There are numerous websites that can provide
additional information.
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