Please look at the insert in this newsletter for the scheduled lineup of speakers that we have confirmed for the Annual Convention. We believe it will prove to be the most informative group of speakers on agricultural topics in the coming year in Wisconsin. These will not be your typical convention ‘rah-rah’ presentations; instead they are presentations regarding information you can use in your operation today. They will be covering what is happening now and what to expect in the very near future in our industries. Whether you are in the feed, seed or grain business, or all three, some of the top authorities and experts in those fields will present the latest and most ‘cutting edge’ research. And, when you look over the schedule, these are not topics and subjects to which only senior management should be exposed. Rather, you’ll want to bring staff responsible for those areas that will be covered. For folks in the feed industry, think Four State Applied Nutrition Conference and that’s what it’ll be. For members in the seed and grain industries, think of the best national conference you have attended. It’ll be that good and right here in Wisconsin at the Dells at the great Kalahari Resort.

We also have a few presentations that anyone and everyone can benefit from hearing, including ‘How you can help yourself regarding property & casualty insurance’ and ‘Controlling your energy costs in a feed mill or grain elevator.’ To top it all off, the closing speaker will be Vince Lombardi. No, not an actor portraying him, but the late Green Bay Packer coach’s own son. He is a very dynamic speaker and you’ll remember him long after the convention. And yes, he does sign autographs.

Mark your calendars now for January 24 & 25. This is one you won’t want to miss.

That headline may be misleading. The full meaning was borne out at a meeting in Minnesota earlier this month. At that meeting, a vet from the University of Minnesota Vet School stated his belief that the feed industry in the US is at risk of bioterrorism based on the fact the industry is so widespread and the sheer volume of feed produced. In addition, there is little security currently in place in the industry, which allows relatively easy access for those wishing to cause harm. That said, it would be very difficult for a single biological agent to wreck vast devastation and cause shortages of food in this country. Instead, the most likely scenario would involve creating a skepticism in food safety by the general public, dramatically altering consumption and thereby disrupting the national economy and potentially inciting distrust and anger toward our government. Think foot and mouth or mad cow in the US on the evening news and you get the picture. Not a pretty sight.

Every authority involved in bioterrorism says the best action we can take is education. We don’t need to be Chicken Little, but we do need to be aware and be vigilant. To that end, the MN Department of Agriculture put together, for those involved in the transport, manufacture or storing of commercial feed, a listing of security tips aimed at preventing problems before they occur by making it as difficult as possible for potential troublemakers to adulterate feed. That department is recommending companies share these tips with their employees and implement any that apply:

• Keep feed/ingredient storage areas secure and locked, where fire codes permit.
• Secure rail and truck containers when stored at the facility.
• Keep an updated and accurate inventory of all feed and feed ingredients.
• Walk the perimeter of the facility and storage areas daily.
• Report any suspicious activity to supervisors.
• Be suspicious of unusual purchases and odd behavior by employees or customers.
• Consider background checks on new employees.
• Restrict access of non-employees (deliveries, maintenance, etc.) to the facility.
• If someone from an outside vendor is hired to work in the facility (plumber, pesticide applicator, repairman, etc.) verify that they work for the company hired.
• Invite the local law enforcement agency to review facility security measures.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity or threat to local law enforcement officials.

As was evidenced by the 1997 feed adulteration case that occurred here in Wisconsin, it is of utmost importance that accurate recordkeeping is maintained so that either inputs or output can be traced and tracked. That case didn’t result in harm to the public or in animals being slaughtered because both the industry and regulators were able to trace the adulterated product. There was an element of luck in the containment of that case, let’s hope we can maintain that ‘luck’ with a level of preparedness.

In addition, it is important to have a plan of action just like you would have for any other emergency as in the case of fire or severe weather. Make sure your employees know what they should do and whom they should notify in your organization with suspicions.

In addition, we are already seeing some firms that buy food grade commodities in Wisconsin requesting from their vendors written documentation of what biosecurity precautions are being implemented. The requests are much like what was seen earlier this year when McDonalds asked their suppliers for certification that prohibited proteins were not being fed to any of the livestock that McDonalds was ultimately purchasing. The certification process simply went down the line to the endpoint in which local feed mills were being asked by their customers to certify the feed that was being sold. Don’t be too surprised if we begin seeing similar certification statements regarding biosecurity working their way through feed channels fairly soon.

This entire situation is not simply something that is currently on the front burner and will soon fade away. Just as BSE precautions were in the news during the summer and now may seem to be a distant memory, don’t bet on it for long. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reexamining their rules regarding prohibited feeds in ruminant feeds. They are still accepting comments for another week and there isn’t a definite idea what changes, if any will be made. If there are any announcements or changes in the standard, we’ll keep you informed.

Unfortunately, as has been said many times since 9/11, our world has changed. Every one involved in agriculture is going to have to look at their operations with a different set of eyes from now on.

Three seats on the WASA Board of Directors will be up for election this year. The current Board of Directors has asked staff to publicize these Directorships and to solicit nominations from the membership-at-large.

The three seats up for election are the Northwest District and the Southeast district seats and the Grain industry seat. An employee of any member firm of WASA operating within a particular district may fill that district seat. The state is roughly divided in quadrants along the north-south line of I-39/Hwy 51 and on an east-west line from LaCrosse to Sheboygan. An employee of a member firm involved in the Grain industry must, however, fill the Grain industry seat and will serve as chair of the association’s Grain Committee.

If you are interested in running or know of someone who you feel should run, please notify the WASA office immediately. The list of nominees will be presented to the Board of Directors at their next meeting on December 12. Ballots will be mailed to you shortly after the New Year.

Thought you might want to know the latest on where ethanol plants and production stand in the state. Two plants, one in Monroe and another in Stanley, are well under construction. Both plan to be operational in July or August of next year.

Other potential plant locations actively being pursued and promoted by various groups around the state include Menomonie, Oshkosh, Portage and LaCrosse. An interesting point is the wide range of local public response that has been encountered around the state by the various groups. Both the Monroe and Stanley facilities were basically received with open arms by the local area. Others, most notably the attempted Dodge County facility, have met fierce and very hostile receptions.

The use of and interest in Action Ads in the monthly newsletter has certainly grown over the last several years. Members regularly reference the feature and we’re glad it is proving so useful. To supplement that usefulness, we are adding the page to the WASA website www.wasa.org where it will be updated throughout the month as changes are made known to the staff. Invariably, we will receive a change or addition, just after the newsletter has gone to press. Those changes will have to wait for the next month’s print version, but they will be posted immediately on the website. In addition, by placing Action Ads on the website, a greater number of potential interested parties will have access to the ads. In fact, just last month, there were over 4,400 visits to the WASA website. Not a bad number.

To access the online version of Action Ads simply go to the website and look for the link on the front page.

In last month’s newsletter, an article incorrectly gave the dates of the upcoming WASA Convention and Trade Show. The correct dates for the event are January 24 and 25, 2002. We apologize for any confusion.