However, the quick response from Purdue University experts and our colleagues at the Indiana Board of Animal Health, the Indiana Commissioner of Agriculture offices under the lieutenant governor and at the Indiana Beef Council were quite valuable.

We fielded media questions about the potential economic losses of our beef exports, how testing is done for foreign animal diseases and whether consumers could safely eat beef.

People make rational decisions when they know the facts in a timely manner. Purdue and our public partners served an important role in putting this incident into context and quickly responding to the needs of agriculture and the public at large.

During this period of prolonged scrutiny of the beef industry, we will continue to assure the public of the safety of the American beef supply. We will explain the additional safeguards now in place, and we will help producers deal with the economic impact.