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October 19, 2001

Commissioner Combs urges awareness in light of attacks

Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs has urged Texas farmers and ranchers to maintain a heightened awareness for unusual events around their farms and ranches in light of recent attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

"With federal officials voicing concerns about the potential for another domestic attack, I am encouraging our agricultural producers along the border and statewide to mobilize and be on the lookout for unusual activity and strangers on their farms and ranches," Combs said. "Texas is the largest cattle producing state in the nation, so we must continue to be vigilant about protecting our animal industry against the introduction of foreign diseases."

Texas has a Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Response Plan, which was initiated after the outbreak this year of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, Combs said. The animal disease plan is part of the state's overall Emergency Management Plan.

"Early detection and containment play a vital role in the state's animal disease response plan," the commissioner said.

Suggested appropriate security measures include:

•Maintain a list of all emergency contacts and numbers and post these throughout your operation.

•Review internal security and safety procedures and provide training to employees.

•Report to local authorities all suspicious activities, vehicles or persons.

•Report to local authorities all threats on personnel and facilities.

•Report to local authorities all thefts, inventory shortages or missing products that could pose a public health or safety risk.

•Report to local authorities any missing blank documentation forms, such as shipping bills, or missing identification cards.

•Report to local authorities all burglaries, sabotage to facilities or equipment, and all vandalism or activities that may pose a safety or security risk.

•If you notice an unusual occurrence of animal diseases, contact your local veterinarian and the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242.

•Agricultural aviators should contact local authorities if they notice suspicious activity.

Combs is forming a Texas Food Security Coalition of producer groups and associations including the Texas Farm Bureau; the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas; Texas Citrus Mutual; the Texas Produce Association; and the Texas Vegetable Association.

"The coalition will examine any additional measures that may be needed to maintain the best and safest food supply in the world," Combs said. "As a state and country we are standing together."