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Fourdraine’s resignation triggers transition in Wisconsin ID program

WILC photo

Robert Fourdraine has accepted the position of Vice President of Product Services and Development with AgSource Cooperative Services. Fourdraine has been Chief Operating Officer of the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) for the past eight years.

Fourdraine has represented the Wisconsin livestock industry on the national level in the area of livestock identification and has held numerous leadership positions on national boards. He just completed a two-year term as Chairman of the National Institute of Animal Agriculture.

A native of the Netherlands, Fourdraine received his bachelors and masters degrees in agricultural engineering at Agricultural University of Wageningen. He earned a PhD in animal science from Texas A & M. He spent eight years developing analytical computer programs for the Texas DHIA, the Holstein Association and various A.I. companies. He also led the national Farm Animal Identification and Records program (F.A.I.R.) development team.

Fourdraine will assume his new position with AgSource on May 1st where he will coordinate the research, development and support of current and new management information products for dairy producer members of the cooperative. He will also manage activities in support of academic and independent research pertaining to the dairy industry.

With Fourdraine leaving, the WLIC Board “has begun work on developing a transition plan and evaluating all of the needs of the organization as they enter a new era.” Last week, Governor Walker signed into law SB396 which provides the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) with funding to contract with an independent agent to administer the state’s premises registration program. WLIC has been the contracted agent for Prem I.D since 2005. With an end to federal funding for livestock identification, state funding and industry funding through the Identifying Wisconsin branded tag program will be utilized to support the program.

DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel issued a statement thanking Fourdraine for his work with WLIC over the past eight years and says; “I look forward to continuing Wisconsin’s leadership in premises registration and to building additional marketing opportunities for the state’s quality products.”

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