IDALS: Foreign Animal Disease Stakeholder Focus Groups

December 29, 2021 — 

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) wants to hear from YOU!

To best meet the needs of our partners and producers around the state, IDALS needs help to determine statewide producers':

• Awareness of FAD threats, response plans, and opportunities to minimize operational and supply chain disruptions if an outbreak occurs
• Current level of FAD preparedness
• Expectations of roles and responsibilities during an outbreak
• Needs to better prepare for an outbreak and how IDALS can address those needs

We want to hear the stories, concerns, and questions from the field.

Join IDALS and be a participant in one of our focus groups! We will be hosting 5 focus groups around the state, with dedicated, 2-hour species specific sessions to capture the diverse needs of each group (Poultry/Turkeys 1-3 pm, Swine 3:30-5:30 pm, Cattle and Sheep 6-8 pm).

• Jan 12, 2022 - Carroll
• Jan 13, 2022 - Sioux Center
• Jan 18, 2022 - Washington
• Jan 19, 2022 - Independence

Register Today: https://iowaagriculture.gov/fad-stakeholder-focus-groups

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
As modern agriculture has changed and grown, and concerns around a global animal health incident have increased, it is vital to ensure Iowa veterinarians and producers are informed regarding current state processes to deal with a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. The economic impact of a foreign animal disease outbreak, such as foot-and mouth disease, in the United States has been estimated at $14 billion -- roughly 9.5% of U.S. farm income. This potential impact underscores the importance of prevention, early detection and rapid response.