Official: Kansas is 'wide open' to agriterrorism
UNITED STATES - Cattle trucks by the hundreds roll across Kansas each day, carrying thousands of head. They come from across the country, from states like Texas and Iowa and from other countries like Canada and Mexico
11 December 2006
1 minute read
While an economic boon for this agriculture state, the sheer volume of cattle - and the time they spend in transit - have long been a concern for animal health officials, especially after the Sept. 11 attacks brought home the fact that America is vulnerable.
And between contagious diseases and agriterrorism, some wonder: Could those trucks be carrying something more than beef for the dinner plate?
The fact is, said Kansas Livestock Commissioner George Teagarden, there isn't any assurance.
Checkpoints
More than 5,500 roads lead in and out of Kansas. An estimated 800 to 1,000 trucks travel those roads each day, carrying about 50,000 head of cattle.
Meanwhile, more than 4 million head of livestock come into Kansas each year from places like Florida, Oklahoma and Mexico. In all, within 24 hours of shipment, livestock from either coast can pass through Kansas as part of the production cycle - averaging more than 9 million head a year.
Source: The Hutchison News
