by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer
I spoke at the groundbreaking for the expansion of the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center on Sept. 12 in Lexington. The laboratory is an important firewall for keeping Kentucky free of livestock disease.
Livestock accounted for more than $3 billion in farmgate receipts in 2007, so it’s important for Kentucky’s economy to have state-of-the-art diagnostic labs to keep our state’s herds disease free. Our outstanding diagnostic labs and our strong surveillance system assure consumers and trading partners that they can buy Kentucky livestock and livestock products with confidence. That assurance enables Kentucky livestock producers to compete in a global market, which means money in their pockets.
Every dollar invested in livestock medicine means $6 to our livestock industry. Our outstanding diagnostic labs are so important to Kentucky’s agricultural economy that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture gave $800,000 toward the labs’ operating budgets for the next two years, even though we are struggling to deal with deep budget cuts.
Kentucky is free of brucellosis, tuberculosis and virtually all major livestock diseases that affect other states and countries. In recent years, we have successfully contained limited outbreaks of equine disease. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Every November, Kentucky hosts the North American International Livestock Exposition, the world's largest purebred livestock expo, which brings 22,000 livestock entries to the Kentucky Exposition Center. Two years from now, human and equine athletes from more than 60 nations will come to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This is an opportunity for us to show the world why we’re Kentucky Proud of our commonwealth. We must be ready.
Western states are having problems with brucellosis, tuberculosis and avian influenza. Disease can spread like wildfire without the hard work of diligent veterinary officials and practitioners and the availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic labs to perform fast, accurate testing. The much-needed lab expansion will give Kentucky the capabilities we need in an extremely competitive world.
The expansion is the product of a team effort between Gov. Steve Beshear, the Kentucky General Assembly, the KDA, UK and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry. It’s yet another shining example of something good happening when people work together toward a common goal.
Livestock accounted for more than $3 billion in farmgate receipts in 2007, so it’s important for Kentucky’s economy to have state-of-the-art diagnostic labs to keep our state’s herds disease free. Our outstanding diagnostic labs and our strong surveillance system assure consumers and trading partners that they can buy Kentucky livestock and livestock products with confidence. That assurance enables Kentucky livestock producers to compete in a global market, which means money in their pockets.
Every dollar invested in livestock medicine means $6 to our livestock industry. Our outstanding diagnostic labs are so important to Kentucky’s agricultural economy that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture gave $800,000 toward the labs’ operating budgets for the next two years, even though we are struggling to deal with deep budget cuts.
Kentucky is free of brucellosis, tuberculosis and virtually all major livestock diseases that affect other states and countries. In recent years, we have successfully contained limited outbreaks of equine disease. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels. Every November, Kentucky hosts the North American International Livestock Exposition, the world's largest purebred livestock expo, which brings 22,000 livestock entries to the Kentucky Exposition Center. Two years from now, human and equine athletes from more than 60 nations will come to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This is an opportunity for us to show the world why we’re Kentucky Proud of our commonwealth. We must be ready.
Western states are having problems with brucellosis, tuberculosis and avian influenza. Disease can spread like wildfire without the hard work of diligent veterinary officials and practitioners and the availability of state-of-the-art diagnostic labs to perform fast, accurate testing. The much-needed lab expansion will give Kentucky the capabilities we need in an extremely competitive world.
The expansion is the product of a team effort between Gov. Steve Beshear, the Kentucky General Assembly, the KDA, UK and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry. It’s yet another shining example of something good happening when people work together toward a common goal.
