The purpose of the Joint Strategy Forum on Animal Disease Traceability was to provide an environment for all interested producers, producer groups, State and Tribal animal health officials, and representatives of USDA’s Veterinary Services have an open and candid dialogue on the various issues surrounding the new framework for animal disease traceability. Although USDA held several public meetings on the new framework during the spring and summer of 2010, the Forum was the only gathering which was directed by the industry and state/tribal animal health officials and worked from an agenda developed to elicit concerns, questions, and propose viable solutions.

“It has been announced by USDA that they intend to publish new rules on disease traceability this winter, which makes this Forum crucial in conveying input before the rule is complete,” stated Dr. Michael Coe, co‐chair of the Forum Planning Committee. “Given that timeline, industry and the States and Tribes need to make their positions known to decision‐makers.”

As stated by Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, California’s state veterinarian as well as the current president of USAHA, at the beginning of the event, “this Forum will allow for the open flow of ideas and concerns among those producing animals; State and Tribal officials responsible for protecting the health of animals in their areas; and USDA. Unless we have a discussion including all parties, the development of a viable animal disease traceability framework will be much more difficult.”

The Forum Planning Committee was comprised of leadership from both NIAA and USAHA, animal identification leaders from both organizations, and a USDA representative.

Forum Planning Committee:

• Co‐chair: Dr. Michael Coe, Co‐Chair, NIAA Animal Identification and Info. Systems Committee

• Co‐chair: Dr. Bill Hartmann, Treasurer, USAHA and Minnesota State Veterinarian
  

• Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, President, USAHA and California State Veterinarian
  

• Dr. Robert Fourdraine, Chairman, NIAA
  

• Dr. Tony Forshey, Chair, USAHA Livestock Identification Committee and Ohio State Veterinarian
  

• Mr. Kevin Maher, Vice Chair, USAHA Livestock Identification Committee
  

• Mr. Victor Velez, Co‐Chair, NIAA Animal Identification and Information Systems Committee
  

• Mr. Glenn Fischer, Treasurer, NIAA
  

• Mr. Neil Hammerschmidt, Traceability Program Staff, USDA Veterinary Services
  

• Mr. Ben Richey, Executive Director, USAHA
  

• Mr. Scott Stuart, Managing Director, NIAA