The State Board of Animal Health is scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, in the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s conference room located on the sixth floor of the State Capitol in Bismarck.
Those interested in participating via phone can obtain call-in details by contacting Michelle Mielke at 701-328-2233 before 9 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
The draft agenda includes introductions and roll call, as well as approval of minutes from the March 12 meeting. Several reports are expected from various departments including the ND Game and Fish Department, ND Department of Health & Human Services, NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, ND Stockmen’s Association, Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND), USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, and USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services.
Topics for discussion include animal disease traceability, auction market veterinarian practices, electronic health certificates, federal rules on electronic tags, feeder heifers, and updates from the Wyoming Livestock Board. Disease updates will cover high path avian influenza and brucellosis among others.
Further agenda items focus on farmed elk updates and nontraditional livestock updates. Reports will also be given concerning the National Poultry Improvement Plan and field investigations.
A public health veterinarian update is expected along with a fiscal update. Discussions about inhumane care issues may also take place alongside legislative session outcomes and any violations that could necessitate an executive session.
Upcoming meetings include several events: USAHA Western States Meeting in Tucson from June 8-11; National Poultry Improvement Plan Meeting in Minneapolis from July 15-16; ND State Fair in Minot from July 18-25; ND Veterinary Medical Association Meeting in Medora from August 7-9; US SHIP Meeting in Minneapolis from September 2-4; ND Stockmen’s Convention in Minot from September 24-26; I-BAND Annual Meeting in Bismarck on October 4; and USAHA Meeting in Denver from October 30 to November 5.
Some discussions may be held during an executive session rather than being open to the public. The agenda is subject to change at the discretion of the President of the Board.
