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Directors Adopt Policy to Oppose Relocation Billings, Mont. (April 29, 2008) – Because numerous R-CALF USA members expressed concern with the Department of Homeland Security’s proposal to relocate the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) in Plum Island, N.Y., to the U.S. mainland near livestock populations, the R-CALF USA Board of Directors has implemented interim policy to oppose the relocation. The current facility is isolated on an 840-acre island and has a perfect record of never allowing any of the live, pathogenic animal disease agents studied there to escape. One such malady that strikes fear in every livestock producer is the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). If moved, the facility would be called the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). Among sites being considered for the facility are Manhattan, Kan., Athens, Ga., Butner, N.C., San Antonio, and Flora, Miss., all with nearby livestock populations. “If it needs to be rebuilt and updated, then it’s just common sense to do it right there and keep it where it’s at,” said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group’s animal health committee. “North Carolina told Homeland Security they didn’t want it, but at the other locations, all they see are the dollar signs. “There are a significant number of cattle yards near Manhattan, Kan., and you can imagine what the economic impact would be if a strain of FMD got out of that lab into the cattle-feeding industry anywhere near there,” he continued. “What if they didn’t discover it quickly? Just think about all the movement of cattle between Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. There are literally hundreds of thousands of feeder cattle pastured there every spring and summer.” A Homeland Security report puts the number of livestock near Manhattan, Kan., at about 543,000, and approximately 133,000 near the proposed site in Athens, Ga. The FMD virus is so contagious that work with it has been confined to Plum Island for more than 50 years. The existing facility is classified as Bio-Safety Level 3. The new facility also would conduct research on foreign livestock diseases, but would be designated as Bio-Safety Level 4 status, which means research would occur on animal viruses that could be fatal to humans and on “microorganisms that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease and for which there is no known vaccine or therapy.” “OK, so we need to renew the facility, but why would we move it right where it could do the most damage,” asked R-CALF USA Member Aimee Hatchigian-Gould, a physician who ranches in Montana and serves on the group’s animal health committee. “I mean, I’m not feeling very secure right now. There’s a reason these facilities are placed where they are currently.” The policy adopted by the R-CALF USA Board of Directors is below, and is patterned after policy established by the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, an R-CALF USA affiliate organization. In 2009, R-CALF USA members will have the opportunity to make this policy permanent. WHEREAS: The Department of Homeland Security is receiving bids from states for a site for a proposed National Bio Agro-Defense Facility to replace the present Plum Island, N.Y., site; and, WHEREAS: The United Kingdom recently experienced an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease from a laboratory that was located in close proximity to farms and ranches; and, WHEREAS: The livestock population of the United States is susceptible to numerous foreign diseases, and an outbreak could have severe consequences for producers and consumers, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: R-CALF USA strongly promotes extensive biosecurity measures to prevent the release of animal disease agents into the environment. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: R-CALF USA strongly supports maintaining and implementing a workable emergency management plan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: R-CALF USA demands that any National Bio Agro-Defense Facility remain on Plum Island or be built in a similarly secure area, taking full advantage of natural barriers, out of proximity of farms and ranches. # # # R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516. |
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This page was last updated on Friday, June 06, 2008. |
