Agrosecurity for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs): commentary on recent planning activities.
Agrosecurity has become a major concern for livestock operations. This paper reviews post 11 September 2001, American planning activities and offers commentary on issues related to these plans. A critical issue is the need for as many people as possible to be aware of plans and preparations already completed and actions still necessary. There is a sizeable disparity within the animal agriculture sector about information known and understood at different levels. Several readiness exercises have highlighted the need for better broad-spectrum communication: communication within disciplines, within agencies, across disciplines, across agencies, and most importantly everyone involved must talk with industry at all levels. The best preparation involves close coordination between law enforcement, industry, governmental agencies at all levels, academia, risk managers and communicators, veterinarians, engineers, economists, game theorists, and others. This paper features issues related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), highlights some of the lessons learned through these exercises, and discusses a plan of action patterned after the activities of a regional agricultural jurisdictional working group.
DeOtte
Robert E
RE
Department of Agricultural Science, West Texas A and M University, WTAMU Box 60998, Canyon, TX 79016-0001, USA. rdeotte@mail.wtamu.edu
D000383:Agriculture; D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D014481:United States