Agroterrorism and Your Farm

Agroterrorism is the deliberate use of biological agents (e.g., bacteria, viruses, toxins) against agricultural commodities, such as livestock or crops. The result can include economic damage, loss of confidence in the food supply and possible loss of life. These attacks may be extremely difficult to detect initially as signs of illness may not occur for several hours or days. Here are some steps you can take to prepare and protect your farm, livestock and crops from agroterrorism threats.

Before an Agroterrorism Situation

• Implement biosecurity measures on your farm.
• Limit entry to your farm.
  • Limit access to your farm to one gated road. This will help in monitoring visitors to your farm.
  • Keep all gates locked when not in use.
  • Keep all unused buildings locked.
  • Implement rodent and bird control in barns, especially feed areas.
• Monitor and document all visitors to your farm.
  • Post signs to inform visitors of rules to follow while on farm.
  • Do not take visitors to livestock areas or barns unless necessary.
  • Provide coveralls and boots (rubber or disposable) to any visitors accessing livestock.
• Employees.
  • Pre-screen new employees.
  • Train employees to recognized disease signs and patterns, so they can promptly detect illness in animals.
• All personnel on the farm should use personal protection measures.
  • Wash hands thoroughly with disinfectant soap before and after accessing livestock areas.
  • Wear clean coveralls and rubber or disposable boots when accessing livestock areas.
  • Coveralls and boots should remain on the farm for disposal, or cleaning and disinfection.
  • Do not wear contaminated clothing or boots off of the farm.
• Vehicles.
  • Post signs to designate specific parking and driving areas.
  • Park vehicles away from barns and livestock areas, preferably on concrete.
  • Clean and disinfect vehicles before and after transporting livestock.
  • Avoid the transfer of dirt, mud or manure by vehicles.
• Maintain an inventory.
  • Keep a current list of all animals on your farm.
  • Include their location and any records of vaccinations or testing.
• Animals.
  • Isolate any new or returning animals for a few weeks before adding them to the resident stock or herd.
  • This will help to detect any disease potential without exposing the entire herd.
  • Do not feed table scraps or garbage to farm animals.
  • Call your herd veterinarian immediately if unusual illness or sudden deaths are noticed.
• Keep a list of important phone numbers.
  • Herd veterinarian
  • Your State Veterinarian’s office
  • Local law enforcement
  • Local extension agent
  • Local and State public health department
• If you detect suspicious activity,
  • Contact personnel on the above list.
  • Isolate any livestock the intruder may have contacted.
  • Monitor livestock until authorities arrive.

During an Agroterrorism Situation

• Signs that may indicate possible agroterrorism:
  • Unusually high number of sick animals, deaths, or abortions.
  • Abnormal or unusual signs of disease not normally seen.
  • Disease occurring outside of its normal expected season (e.g., flu-like signs in the summer).
  • Repeated outbreaks of the same type of illness.
  • Illness occurring in both animals and persons in contact with animals.
  • Unusual traffic, suspicious activity, or trespassers near your farm.
  • Obvious signs of tampering or entry into vulnerable areas, such as tire tracks or shoe prints around storage areas, water supplies, or animal housing areas.
  • Open bags, empty containers, and other trash in vulnerable or remote locations.