Animal Id - Good or bad?

ROB MCCLENDON: WELL, FROM FOOD SCARES TO THE THREAT OF ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS, MANY BELIEVE A NATIONAL ANIMAL ID SYSTEM WILL BE THE KEY TO EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION. BUT IN THE CATTLE AND PORK INDUSTRY, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A PROGRAM HAS BEEN A HARD SELL ACROSS PARTS OF FARM COUNTRY, WHICH IS WHY U S SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, TOM VILSACK, IS TAKING TIME TO MEET WITH BOTH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS, TO GAGE THE VIABILITY OF SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM. HERE'S OUR RUSS JOWELL. RUSS JOWELL: U S SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, TOM VILSACK, IS A BUSY MAN. SO WHEN HE SET ASIDE TIME TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT A NATIONAL ANIMAL I-D SYSTEM, LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS TOOK NOTICE. TOM VILSACK: A LOT OF THE CONCERNS STEM FROM A CREDIBILITY ISSUE THAT USDA HAS IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY; AND SO THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WORK TO DO TO CONNECT THE USDA MISSION TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE. RUSS: A NATIONAL I-D SYSTEM WOULD ENABLE PRODUCERS AND HEALTH OFFICIALS TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO ANIMAL DISEASE EVENTS IN THE U S. VILSACK: THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE CREATE A STRUCTURE OR SYSTEM, OR HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM TO THE POINT WHERE WE MAXIMIZE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT THAT KIND OF INCIDENT? RUSS: WHILE PRODUCERS APPRECIATED THE SECRETARY'S TIME, THEY REMAIN CAUTIOUS ABOUT A NATIONAL I-D SYSTEM. MARY KAY THATCHER, AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: I CAN'T THINK OF THE LAST TIME THAT A SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE SPENT TWO AND A HALF HOURS WITH GROUPS REALLY SEEKING WHAT THEIR OPINION WAS. CHUCK KIKER, U.S. CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION: AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A POINT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT PRODUCERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN WITH CONFIDENCE. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MANDATORY. THATCHER: WELL, I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE BENEFIT OF AN ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. BUT I THINK OVERCOMING THE COST ISSUE AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUE ARE HUGE HURDLES. RUSS: VILSACK SAID HIS MEETING WITH PRODUCER GROUPS WOULD BE THE FIRST OF MANY.