Why Agroterrorism is more real than you think (or want to believe)

Glenn Schmitt, director of the Office of Research and Data at the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the former acting director of the National Institute of Justice, wrote an article in the May/June 2006 issues of Sheriffs magazine titled Argo-terrorism-Why We're Not Ready: A Look at the Role of Law Enforcement

What Mr. Schmitt writes about is the breadbasket of America, farms, ranches and feedlots. While the very thought conjures up blue collar images as old as the country itself.  Unfortunately when we drill down past those quintessential images, a very troubling fact comes to the surface. These ranches, feedlots and farms are open and unprotected. I was inspired by a recent drive down route 44 in Oklahoma. After the initial shock of the unparalleled beauty  of the rolling country side, the emergency manager in me realized what this article is talking about. In a country where the populace has become upset at the thought of going to the market to buy groceries to make food, the impact of a agroterrorism event would be disastrous.
 
Schmitt explains the worries of an event such as this. "Argoterrorism experts are especially concerned about the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into the food supply. Twenty times more infectious than smallpox, the disease cause painful blisters on the tongues, hooves, and teats of cloven-hoofed animals-cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, deer. This renders them unable to walk, give milk, eat, and drink. Although people generally cannot contract the disease, they can carry the virus in their lungs up to48 hours and transmit it to animals., The animal-to-animal airborne transmission range is 50 miles."

As Schmitt continues to describe the impact "With millions of farms, open fields, and feedlots in the United States, the introduction of foot and mouth disease would require the mass slaughter and disposal of infected animals. An outbreak could halt the domestic and international sale of meat and meat products for years. Foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 in the United Kingdom affected 9,000 farms and required the destruction of more than 4,000,000 cows. Researchers believe that a similar outbreak in the United States would cost taxpayers up to $60 billion."

As that last line indicate, argoterrorism is not meant to be an act of violence against livestock but an attack on the economic stability of the United States. A study funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) identify five groups that could pose threats to our agricultural industry:

1. International Terrorist
2. Domestic Terrorist
3. Militant animal rights groups
4. Economic opportunists seeking financial gain as a result of a change in market prices
5. Disgruntled employees seeking revenge 

Whether or not the theory that most grocery stores have only a three days supply of food is completely accurate, this article does point the thread that our food supply system rely on. If any dramatic events happen, panic sets in. Take a moment to think of the effects of lost $60 billion dollars of cattle, considering how dependent we are on meat here in America. Everyone reading this article has had this experience, either with a hurricane, snowstorm or when your sent to the store to get ice on 4th of July weekend.

What can you do to avoid this and be able to ensure you and your family can outlast the initial rush?

According to Ready.gov:

• Store at least three days of non-perishable food (Any type of canned good will do, lean towards to protein packed like black beans.)
• Avoid foods that will make you thirsty

These are the basics, but to take it to one additional level (that's the point here)

• Find a local farmer's market. Not to get all super hipster on you, but local is always better. If your relying on meat from Texas and you live in New Hampshire, then your susceptible to an argoterrorism event. Also, develop relationship with these local farmers (networking never hurts, potential barter partners in the future)  
• If you have the ability to, look into having a small garden, or even look into having some backyard chickens 
• Reduce meat in your diet. Breath, we Americans love meat, myself included. My suggestion is that if you can get yourself use to being less dependent on any specific food group, the more adaptable you will be if these scenarios play out. 
• Look into acquiring camping foods. Mountain House is a great option. The choices are great, the prices are very reasonable in comparison to Wise Company. 

This threat is out there, and it is not well known. We are blessed here in this country to be able to get virtually any food we want at anytime. While it should be enjoyed, we should not take advantage of it. Learn to be as self-sufficient as possible, so you can blunt the impact of a disasterous event like this.

Good Luck and Good Hunting