An article published in the August 17^th issue of Ontario Farmer magazine covers biosecurity initiatives in the Ontario Livestock and Poultry industry. The article reports on information presented at the “Livestock Insurance Project Communication Seminar” held in Guelph, Ontario in 17 August 2006, and sponsored by OLPC and PIC. 

 

Jim Romahn, Ontario Farmer staff, begins the article by citing “Ontario’s livestock and poultry industries are well on their way towards the development of an insurance program to cover disease losses” as part of Canada’s Agricultural Policy Framework (APF).  Jim continues with “what’s been done so far,” including

• the formation of an Ontario Livestock and Poultry Council,
• two studies to assess the biosecurity status of farms,
• discussions with the insurance industry, and
• joint sessions with federal and provincial governments, to determine what’s needed to develop programs that will be affordable and will work.

 

Present at the August 17^th seminar was Roger Heckman of Endurance RE, a New-York-based re-insurance company, bringing encouraging news of their willingness to continue working with OLPC to develop risk management programs.  Also present was Alan Douglas from CMi, a British certification organization which is the leading provider of independent assurance and certification services to the agriculture, produce and processing industries.  Alan identified “one of the next steps is to develop a structure for implementing risk management programs and the insurance component”. 

 

Jim Romahn reports, “Heckman and Douglas said they are greatly impressed by these initiatives and said Ontario is far ahead of peers in England and Europe in tackling disease issues, such as plans to deal with an outbreak of a foreign animal disease”.

 

One of these advanced programs was presented at the Seminar by eBiz Professionals Inc. of Guelph, Ontario. eBiz has recently completed the development of a set of standard Biosecurity operating procedures for the poultry services industry. These SOPs are based on the input provided by several working groups drawn from the catching, trucking, feed, fuel, manure management, barn cleaning and washing, and other services groups. The work supports the drive to insurability in the poultry and livestock industries, and also provides practices which will reduce the day-to-day risk of disease transmission between farms. Materials developed in the program are available at www.agbiosecurity.ca or through 1-888-767-9488, ext 211.