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WALZ URGES USDA TO APPROVE MINNESOTA’S APPLICATION FOR SPLIT STATE STATUS
Says Bovine TB in northwestern counties causing undue hardship for southern Minnesota farmers
For Immediate Release
September 3, 2008
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
Mankato, MN — In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent last week, Rep. Tim Walz urged USDA officials to expedite the consideration of Minnesota’s application for Split State Status to help address the recent discovery of Bovine Tuberculosis in some parts of northern Minnesota.
Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) was discovered in cattle in northwestern Minnesota in 2005 and since that time has remained isolated to two counties in that region of the state. Under the National Tuberculosis Eradication Program, positive Bovine TB test results lead to additional regulations that require all Minnesota cattle and dairy farmers to undertake additional food safety screenings before exporting their animals and/or meat and dairy products outside of Minnesota.
“For the areas where Bovine TB has been found, these additional screening measures are necessary. All appropriate precautions are being taken to protect the public from eating contaminated food,” said Congressman Walz, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “However, the vast majority of Minnesota is free of this disease. It doesn’t make sense to burden all cattle and dairy farmers in our state with excessive regulations just because they live in the same state.”
“The Split State Status would allow our animal health professionals to use precious resources in the most efficient and effective way,” continued Walz, “which is why I’m encouraging USDA to quickly consider and approve this application for Split State Status. Minnesota farmers who have consistently demonstrated their herds are free of Bovine TB and who are not in close proximity to the disease should have this burden eased so they can compete during these challenging economic times.”
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