Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Last month, we took an important step forward in keeping our country free of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

After introducing stand-alone legislation to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) flawed plan to import questionable meat and livestock from Argentina, I decided we needed to take more immediate action.

That's why I introduced an amendment in Senate Appropriations Committee to stop the USDA from spending any money to implement this unsound proposal next year. As a member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I am pleased my amendment passed the full committee as part of the 2009 agriculture funding bill.

The disease affects ruminants and swine and is considered to be the most economically devastating of all livestock diseases. The USDA itself has said that an FMD outbreak in the United States would cost our economy billions of dollars, but the USDA wants to open the door to Argentina without assurance that their FMD problem is fully under control.

My amendment was based on a bill I introduced with Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., which is supported by 11 additional senators in both political parties. The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008 was crafted with the input of animal health experts and livestock organizations across the state and nation, and would prohibit Argentine livestock and fresh meat imports until Argentina is free of FMD. This bill is a common sense response that USDA's proposal is simply not good policy for America's ranchers and farmers and for our livestock herds.

My Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008 requires that Argentina's FMD-free status must be gained without vaccination. The United States has been free of FMD since 1929 and is free of the disease without vaccination so I believe this is an acceptable standard for trade and also makes certain that FMD is truly eliminated from the herd, and not hidden.

While one region in Argentina is believed to be FMD free, other surrounding regions and countries still battle this disease. This bill will not disrupt trade, in that it only prevents product that may be at risk for FMD, including fresh products or live animals.

The bill enjoys significant organizational support from our livestock sector, including the American Sheep Industry Association, the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, R-CALF, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, the South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association, the U.S. Cattlemen's Association, the Western Organization of Resource Councils, Dakota Rural Action, the South Dakota Farmers Union, and the National Farmers Union. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, an organization representing agriculture secretaries in 50 states, also supports the bill.

A poll was taken within the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) and an overwhelming majority of veterinarians oppose importing meat and livestock from Argentina. Our South Dakota state veterinarian and the president of NASAHO, Sam Holland, has been invaluable during this process and I thank him for his guidance and extensive knowledge. As a nationally recognized livestock health expert, we are very fortunate to have him in South Dakota.

As discussed by NASAHO, Argentina has quite simply failed to remain free of FMD for any length of time. In 2001, Argentina experienced an FMD outbreak that it failed to report for months. I believe this raises serious questions about Argentina's approach to communication about this disease, and they just don't have a handle on the problem. Until they do, we need to put the best interests of our American farmers and ranchers first, and I will continue to do just that.

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