The Ag Secretary-designate says responses to the ongoing human pandemic provide basic lessons for dealing with an infectious animal disease. (Stephanie Ho and Ag Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack)

Ag Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack listed some of the top issues he is concerned about during a talk to a coalition of land-grant universities.

USDA researchers are working together to better understand climate science. (Stephanie Ho and Chavonda Jacobs-Young, ARS Administrator)

USDA is a world leader in climate science. (Stephanie Ho and Chavonda Jacobs-Young, ARS Administrator)

Shelter's importance to protect livestock from the cold is understood, yet varies in degree, depending upon the species of animal. (Rod Bain and Iowa State University Extension expert Grant Dewell)

What are some areas that livestock producers must take care of to assure their animals are safe from adverse cold weather and its potential impacts? (Rod Bain and Grant Dewell of Iowa State University Extension)

A simple smart phone app, paired with facial recognition technology, may be the future for livestock identification and traceback. (Gary Crawford and Dr. KC Olson, beef cattle scientist at Kansas State University)

Dr. KC Olson, a beef cattle scientist at Kansas State University, with more details about how a livestock ID and traceback system based on facial recognition would work.

Dr. KC Olson, a beef cattle scientist at Kansas State University, saying that the faster livestock disease outbreaks can be traced to their origins, the better the chances of reducing livestock quarantines, liquidations and further spread of the disease.