DORGAN ANNOUNCES ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION ACTION SUMMIT AT DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 6
Top USDA official to answer questions about national Animal ID program
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced Tuesday ranching experts from across the region will gather Monday, November 6, at Dickinson State University for an Action Summit to examine ways that animal identification technology can be used to improve the security of our nation’s food supply.
Dorgan said that many producers have questions about the cost, confidentiality, and operation of USDA’s proposed national Animal ID program, so he has invited Burton Eller, the Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to answer questions about the program and provide an update. Dorgan is co-hosting the Animal ID Action Summit along with Dickinson State University (DSU), North Dakota State University (NDSU), NDSU Research Extension Center and the Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center.
Participants at the Action Summit will discuss issues that are vital to the security of our food supply – such as the ways public policy and advanced technology can change the way we trace, transport and collect information on livestock. The event will also feature demonstrations of a radio frequency identification (RFID) research project supported by funding Dorgan secured through his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“North Dakota’s economy is driven by our agriculture and, increasingly, by the high-tech research being conducted as part of the Red River Valley Research Corridor initiative.” Dorgan said. “The advanced RFID technology that is being developed through the joint research study at Dickinson State and North Dakota State Universities has the potential to revolutionize the way ranchers and processors do business in a way that’s good for our producers and good for the security of our nation’s food supply.”
“Dickinson State University is proud to participate in an initiative that has such significance for not only southwestern North Dakota but for the entire state and beyond,” said Dr. Lee Vickers, DSU president. “DSU students and faculty will play an active role by providing area agencies with maps of the region and to assist with communications in the event of a crisis in North Dakota.”
Those interested can register for the Animal ID Action Summit at www.theresearchcorridor.com, or by calling 701-775-3354. Registration is also available at the door. The cost is $25 to cover meals and Action Summit materials.
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