WHY PARTICIPATE

Protect your premises and your livelihood

Choosing to participate ensures you will receive the information you need – when you need it most – to protect your animals and your investment
Rapid disease response limits the impact of the outbreak on your operation—and could even stop disease spread before it reaches your animals
It also reduces the economic strain (decreased incomes, lost jobs, loss of animals and livelihoods) on affected communities

USDA has stated this intiative will remain a voluntary market-driven initiative
Maine has no plans now or in the future to make this a mandatory intiative
Federal and State law protects individuals’ private information and confidential business information from disclosure

NAIS and IDME continues to evolve to meet livestock and poultry owner demands. Participation and input from producers is critical to ensure NAIS and IDME makes sense for everyone

In an animal health emergency, we can’t help you or your animals if we don’t know where you are
Contact information voluntarily provided during premises registration facilitates communication between animal owners and animal health officials

When a disease is detected, animal health officials must quickly locate affected premises and exposed animals and notify at-risk producers
A streamlined, modern system ensures that this process won’t take days, weeks, or even months to complete
Choosing to register your premises ensures that we can pinpoint quarantines and speed disease eradication efforts

When a disease outbreak occurs, response is local — it’s next door; it’s down the road
A disease outbreak can affect every segment of the agricultural economy resulting in lost jobs and decreased incomes
The action of a single producer can affect the industry in more ways than ever before
Choosing to participate shows your commitment not only to your animals, but to your neighbors
Hardships associated with an animal disease outbreak (potential loss of animals, markets, and income) are often felt far and wide
The faster the disease response, the faster an outbreak is isolated, the sooner life gets back to normal for everyone

In an emergency, you expect first responders to rush to your aid
In an animal health emergency, you want the same for your animals
Voluntary participation in premises registration ensures that your animals will receive the protection they need in an emergency