WS Advisory Meeting Announced

The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (NWSAC) will be meeting on June 9-10 at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio.

The NWSAC advises the Secretary of Agriculture concerning policies, program issues and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services (WS) program. The committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the WS program to have a voice in the program's policies.

The meeting will focus on operational and research activities. The committee will discuss WS efforts to increase operational capacity through prioritizing research objectives. Additionally, the committee will discuss pertinent national programs and how to increase their effectiveness, as well as ensuring WS remains an active participant in the goal of agricultural protection.

The meeting will be open to the public. However, due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the discussions during the meeting.

In 2008, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) supported the re-nomination of four members of this committee that represent the sheep industry in these meetings. They include Nina Baucus, a Montana rancher; Bryce Reece, executive director of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association; Maurice Shelton, Ph.D., a Texas rancher and Texas A&M University educator; and Patti Strand, national director of the National Animal Interest Alliance from Oregon.