Daily News Update, Feb. 13, 2008

Louisiana academy offers course on agro-terrorism

Caddo, La., Sheriff Steve Prator and the Sheriff's Regional Training Academy are hosting a course to raise awareness regarding the impact of agro-terrorism on the food system, animal and plant health, and communities.

Prator said the course, which is free, should be of particular interest to farm managers, trade associations, emergency response groups, public health and environmental personnel, livestock boards and producers, plant and animal processing facilities, educators, extension services, veterinarians, and medical personnel.

Instruction will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, April 3, at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Ag Center, Pecan Station, on Harts Island Road in Shreveport, La.

Class size is limited, and pre-registration is required before Feb. 29. To register, contact the Caddo Sheriff's Training Academy at 318/681-0735.

The training is being held in conjunction with the LSU Ag Center, the National Center for Biomedical Research & Training, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education.