Minnesota Poultry Testing Lab update
 Construction is on track with no delays and no
major surprises. Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL) staff are nearby in a temporary office location and eagerly await the project completion, which has an anticipated move-in date of late August or early September. In the meantime, they're busy providing input on the new building, equipment and general design of the space.
In mid-April, Dr. Jerry Torrison, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Director and members of his staff visited the construction site. They toured the building's framework and got a rough idea of where new equipment and staff will fit into the expanded space.
Staffing for the new building is also well underway and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technicians have been hired and are set to begin
their training next month in St. Paul. The MPTL Diagnostician Search Committee has met
and will begin their search immediately. Everything and everyone will be in place when the construction is completed later this summer.
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Bison Advantage Workshop stopping in Minnesota
The National Bison Association is pleased to announce
its Bison Advantage Education and Outreach training series will include a free
workshop in Becker this summer. On Tuesday, June 21; extension agents,
ag educators, officials, veterinarians, and new producers can learn about the basics of
bison production.
The training is scheduled to run from approximately 12 p.m. – 4
p.m. at the Snake River Farm in Becker. Registration is free and all participants have to do to register is email Jim Matheson, or call him at 303-292-2833.
The workshop includes an hour or two of classroom time
to review the basics of holistic bison production. A networking
lunch and a tour of the host’s working bison farm will follow. Participants get to take home a “bison toolkit,” including literature on sustainable bison
production, Insider’s Guide to Bison Handling and Management, a bison
learning curriculum, and
more.
This workshop runs concurrently with the National Bison
Association Summer Conference, June 20 – 22 hosted by the Minnesota Buffalo
Association and Snake River Farm. If interested, please feel free to register for the full conference at the
member rate by June 1.
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Fair season 2016
 It’s that
time of year again, fair season! As of May 10, 2016, the Minnesota Board of
Animal Health has permitted 53 county fairs and the Minnesota State Fair. We still
have about 40 more counties to go.
Great job to those working hard out there
getting their permit applications sent in. Getting a permit for the fair is the
first step in safeguarding our livestock from the spread of disease as they
come together for exhibitions. A second way we ensure the safety of our animals
is through official identification. For exhibitions, official identification is
required for Cattle, Bison, Sheep, Goats, Swine, Poultry, Deer, and Elk. To see
what official identification is required for your livestock, please visit our
Official ID page.
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New USDA office location in South St. Paul
 The USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Area Office in St. Paul is relocating. As of Wednesday, June 1, 2016, all correspondence should be addressed:
100 Bridgepoint Drive, Suite 180
South St. Paul, MN 55075
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New Board member appointed
On May 4, 2016, Governor Dayton appointed Dr. Graham Brayshaw of Minneapolis as Dr. Holly Neaton's replacement on the Board. Dr. Brayshaw is currently the Director of Animal Services at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley. His term is effective until January 6, 2020. He will begin his service on the Board at its upcoming quarterly meeting in September. Welcome Dr. Brayshaw!
Dr. Neaton served on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health for 12
years and represented one of the practicing veterinarian positions. She
also served as the Vice President of the Board and provided leadership
during disease outbreaks like Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus and Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Her contributions and accomplishments are
greatly appreciated by the Board staff.
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