Summary: The High Lights

Steve Van Wie, DVM

St. Louis - October 8, 2008

First, a Thank you…Steve Cain and Abigail Boron, Purdue EDEN HQBilly Dictson, New Mexico, 2007Dave Filson, Pennsylvania, 2007Tom McBride, Colorado, 2008Charlie Stoltenow, N. Dakota, 2008Conne Burnham, Missouri, 2008

Where we started…“Hank Kimball” goes to WashingtonWe realized – boy did we realize – that Extension has a role in disasters.EDEN meetings created a thousand-strong network of industry, government and Extension folks we’d never met.Those contacts cross international borders.Extension has become a key and respected stakeholder in every phase of any disaster.

Where we started…FMD drove the thinking. We’ve gone beyond….– Avian Influenza– Lessons from END– Rift Valley Fever

We talked about “Who, How and Why” an FAD could arrive. And the necessary response.We’ve heard how close we’ve come.Dispelled the idea that a good “terrorist” may not have a beard, robes and a turban on his head.

Along the way…

Dr. Tickle quantified the loss due to FMD

We learned of the expansive National Animal Health Lab Network– And, the as yet unfilled

need for rapid cow-side diagnostic tests

Along the way…We heard from top researchers at Plum Island about the work done so far to perfect FMD and other vaccines that would not cost animal lives or export markets.– We’re not quite there.

Along the way… Law enforcement joined with Extension from the start in Las Cruces.From quarantine management to evidence collection, any response will be a joint effort.And that effort includes the skills and community credibility inherent in the Extension mission.Among those skills? – Negotiation with affected

producers in words they will understand

Along the way…The complexities and inter-agency relationships that form “response” were outlined time and again.Non-traditional responders have not been invited to training as a “matter of course”.Today the information is all in one place!– “An Extension Job

requirement”

EXTENSION

How far we’ve come…Today we can say Extension is truly an “All Hazards Agency”– The Mission expanded

beyond “biosecurity”. But,we sure can teach it!

– More than doomsayers predicting disasters and diseases.

– Extension is available to assist in all manner of Natural Disasters

Colorado Blizzards Lessons Learned

“ Community response toFunding Issues during

response and recovery”

We tackled the thorny issues…Indemnity for producers who loose animals.

At Fargo Dr. Clifford explained why indemnity payments need to be flexible and float with market conditions.

And, regarding FMD, he said “We may just have to live with it”.

We exercised…Harrisburg – A “walk through” exercise detailed the sequence of events that would happen during an Animal Agrosecurity Incident.Denver – wrestled with a sudden need to provide care to animals in transit caught up in a Stop Movement Order.Unanimous Conclusion? “Darn glad we didn’t have to do this ‘for real’.”

Outstanding Presentation Awards

Compassion Award: “Producers are People, too”

At Denver, Dr. Kathy Connel described one of the first orders she gave the evening of the Washington State BSE diagnosis:

– “Every affected farmer will have one point of contact with this Department.”

– The first “Case Manager” approach to an agricultural crisis.

Critic’s Choice Award to…Charlie Powell from Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine speaking at Fargo:

Traditional after-the-fact Risk Communications say “Trust us, your food is safe to eat even though there is a bio-disaster affecting our industry.”

Powell’s Perpetual Paradigm: “Your food is safe to eat today. It will be safe to eat tomorrow no matter what may affect a portion of our industry.”

Outstanding Presentation Awards

Pick of the Litter Award…To John Adams from the US Animal Health Association at HarrisburgDr.Teena Middleton from AgProvisions speaking at ClemsonIntroduced the term “Stop Movement Order”Graphically spelled out the effect on industry.

Industry take……Contributed by Dr. Teena Middleton:

Lead to an “inescapable conclusion”

Like it or not, it will be in YOUR lap!

Extension heard the call…Led by Billy Dictson, Chairman of the EDEN Agrosecurity Committee“SCAP” will provide a tool for Extension to lead community level Agro-Disaster prevention, mitigation and survival planning9 Regional Pilots next spring– Tool Kit for distribution mid to

late 2009

Agribusiness

SURVIVAL

OUTSIDE

A DISEASE

CONTROL ZONE

-or-

During any NATURAL

DISASTER

Extension heard the call…Julie Smith of University of Vermont Extension

3-Workshop Series this fall compliments SCAP– Emergency Biosecurity

– Assessing Farm Risk

– Community Based Emergency Management

Both SCAP and “Plan to SurviveAddress the 3 crucial producer complaints and reasons for despondency and suicide during FMD in the UK, 2001– “I was not consulted in decision making”– “I failed to protect my livestock”– “I do not know how to pay my bills and feed

my family”

FIRE CHIEF

LOCAL RADIO/TV

RETIRED EXTENSION

SCHOOL PRINCPIAL

PHONE CO PRES ZONING OFFICER RET. ARMY BANK PRES.

PHONE BANKCALL CENTER

TRAN STATIONS

FACILTIES

CRITICAL NEEDS

MAPPING GIS

TRADES UNIT

SUPPLY PLANS

INPUT UNIT

OUTPUT UNIT

C&D UNIT

STAFF SUPPORT

VENDOR A/R

VENDOR A/P

COOP FINAN.

UNIFIED COMMANDLIASION

PHONE BANKCALL CENTER Ag Crisis Center

An Ag-EOC will

Source and deliver critical inputs like feedCoordinate BIOSECURE delivery of critical service inputs such as repairmen, breeders and veterinariansCoordinate BIOSECURE collection and transport of saleable FARM PRODUCTS to market.By its “very existence”, it will provide community based support.

As a “Non Governmental Organization” an AgEOC is “By farmers, for farmers…”

They Plan it.They Equip it.They Activate it.They Staff it.They Finance it.The local farming community survives – or perishes – together.“Regulatory” is relieved of half the burden.

Steve Van Wie, DVM

newfvt@sover.net

920/ 757-9709