People in the beef industry are working to put steps in place to help prevent and prepare for potential disease outbreaks in cattle. Jennifer Houston with NCBA believes Tennessee can lead the way in putting these practices in place.
Thomas Capps
Biosecurity in the beef industry. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I'm Thomas Capps.
Jennifer Houston
Traceability, we're a little bit further along, biosecurity is something we need to start thinking about.
Thomas Capps
Protecting our food sources is critical to our Nation's security and well being. That's why people in the beef industry are working towards steps that will keep our beef supply safe from potential diseases that aren't even in the US yet. Tennessee native Jennifer Houston it's on the National Cattlemens Beef Association board and believes Tennessee can lead the way in being proactive and taking steps to prevent the spread of foreign diseases.
Jennifer Houston
Tennessee is going to be starting trying to participate in the secure beef supply plan. I just think it's important that we really start thinking about that now to prepare for what could happen with an animal disease outbreak. I think there's no question we're vulnerable. And I think if we can't really realize that after the pandemic that we went through with our human our human folks, that it's there for animals, and it can be just as devastating to us in the agriculture industry, for our livelihood, maybe not our lives, but certainly our livelihoods. So the more we can do to prepare, whether that's by electronically IDing our calves, enrolling in some kind of program, working with our state vet, getting our biosecurity plans in place, the more we can do, the better off we're gonna be. Again, like I said, not if, but when it happens, and hopefully that's a long time from now. But we are vulnerable.
Thomas Capps
Houston hopes that taking these steps now will make any potential outbreak a non issue for both beef producers and consumers.
Jennifer Houston
Consumers they need to have the trust in our product. That's one thing that traceability system, biosecurity plans, it just they have trust in our product, they trust farmers, but we've got to keep that on and we got to prepare ourselves so their trust is not misplaced. And we can keep supplying them with that healthy secure beef that they love.
Thomas Capps
Exploring systems and technology that could help keep our beef supply going, and our food systems secure. For Tennessee home and Farm Radio. I'm Thomas Capps. Thanks for listening and have a great day.
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