The State Agriculture Department is holding an educational meeting in Ames today on Exotic Newcastle Disease. The disease, which is devastating to chicken flocks. began in California and has spread to Arizona and Nevada . Patrick Webb, a veterinarian with the Ag Department, says today’s meeting will update Iowa producers.He says they just want to let Iowa producers know what their plans are for dealing with the disease. Iowa has baned the importation of chickens from California, Arizona and Nevada to prevent the spread of the disease. Webb says it’s not something that has created a panic.He says he hasn’t received a lot of calls, as they keep in good touch with the industry. Webb says they’re acting now to prevent any future concerns.Webb says the best thing is to keep the disease from ever getting to Iowa and the state is doing what it can to be sure it never gets to Iowa. The stakes could be high, as Iowa is the nation’s leading producer of eggs. There are about 40 million egg layers in the state, according to the Iowa Poultry Association.