Iowa will share in two million dollars in federal money aimed at bolstering animal disease prevention and preparedness. She says it’s to improve preparedness at tackling “foreign” diseases, should they appear, like foot-and-mouth, and will train animal health pros like veterinarians. The state Ag Department’s Machelle Schaefer says Iowa’s share is fifty thousand dollars, more than some others get.
She says that’s because we’re number-one in hog production, fifth in cattle. As an example, Schaefer says the money might send some state vets to Plum Island, New York, to learn how to build diagnostic labs and scan for new animal diseases. Some projects getting that federal money are already underway.
The response plan already in place for foot-and-mouth can be finalized, and a communications system instate and with other states will help. The 32 states getting the federal animal-disease preparedness money include Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri and South Dakota.
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