BRM Session 1 Announcement
Biological Risk Management.
An innovative approach to disease control on the farm
What is Biological Risk Management or BRM?
Biological risk management is an innovative approach to managing the risk of disease introduction and spread on your livestock operation. BRM is designed to help livestock producers identify disease risks and manage them through practical measuresfor common, everyday infectious diseases as well as new or unexpected ones.
BRM was developed by the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) at IowaStateUniversity,College of Veterinary Medicine. Risk assessment and management recommendations focus on a route of disease transmission approach, rather than focusing on specificdiseases. The advantage of this approach is that control measures for one route of transmission can minimize the risk and impact of a number of diseases.
Why is BRM important?
The agricultural industry affects every American and accounts for one in six U.S. jobs. Nationwide beef production is the single largest segment of the agricultural industry, accounting for 1.4 million jobs and $188.4 billion dollars of direct and indirect economic activity. The dairy industry provides employment for over 900,000 people and creates $29 billion dollars in household earnings with an overall economic output of $140 billion dollars.
[Personalize the article by adding some of your state agriculture statistics]
(Example) The value of agricultural production in the state of Iowa from corn, soybeans, cattle, hogs, sheep, milk, eggs and turkeys totals $11.3 billion. The state hasapproximately 3.55 million head of cattle, 16.1 million swine, 240,000 head of sheep, 41.8 million chickens and 215,000 dairy cows. The beef and swine industries alone support nearly 100,000 jobs and have a $17.32 billion impact on the economy of Iowa.
Additionally, the increasing global nature of personal travel and importation of animals increasesthe risk of diseases that could enter the U.S. and disrupt our economy. In 2000, approximately 16% of the 14 million animals imported into the U.S. were cattle. An outbreak of a foreign animal disease, such as Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) would virtually shut down the animal and livestock industry across the nation greatly restricting or prohibiting animal movement and trade.
How can I implement it on my farm? Biological risk management involves multiple components, but results inpractical measures for implementation.The first step involves understanding your own perception and tolerance of risk. Start by asking yourself, “What do I perceive as the biggest risk on my livestock facility?” Then the assessment of risk areas on the livestock facility can be done, based on a‘routes of disease transmission’approach. Once risk areas are identified, disease management measures can be determined, prioritized and started. The success of any BRM plan involves communicating the importance and measures needed to all people involved on the animal or livestock operation.
Biological Risk Management Training.
The ______County Extension Office will be offering a Biological Risk Management overview and training session on __date for livestock producers and others that work with them in allied industries. The focus of the session will be to provide an introduction to the BRM approach and discuss how to make a plan that will fit your farming operation. The meeting will be held from ___time_____ at the _____location______. For more information contact _____contact person______at ___phone/email______.