NAHLN Accreditation A Game Changer For Idaho

Earlier this summer, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Laboratory became the state’s first to become a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.  ISDA Director Chanel Tewalt said gaining this NAHLN accreditation is big for livestock producers not only in Idaho, but across the region.

"It is such an important relief valve when we have an animal disease issue," Tewalt said.  "NAHLN-accredited labs, there aren't a lot of them in the country, probably fewer than most folks think. And up until this point, we had to send out all of our samples. And, you know, mind you, these are things we're worried about. We want expedited processing. We want quick results, we want information, we're having to send that previously to Washington or Utah. And then, get in line too with all of their state samples.”

This Will Help Producers Get The Information They Need Quickly

Tewalt noted with this NAHLN accreditation, ISDA can prioritize local samples, run them through a USDA accredited system, and determine if a disease is present or not.

She added when looking at the make-up of Idaho Ag, this is huge.

“If you remember, the livestock industry far and away is our state's biggest industry," Tewalt said.  "It's, you know, #1, dairy, #2, beef cattle. We have more cattle in the state than people. It's a big deal that we have our pulse on animal disease. And again, there seems to be a theme on this call today that we are able to respond quickly, I hope at the speed of business, and to get in and help producers as quickly as possible and then get out of the way.”

Click Here to learn more about the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.  Other Northwest NAHLN labs include Corvallis, OR, Pullman, WA and Puyallup, WA.

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