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Money for bovine TB issue

Published (4/18/2008)
By Lee Ann Schutz
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A bill that would provide more than $6 million in 2008-09 to address the outbreak bovine tuberculosis affecting cattle herds in northwestern Minnesota passed the House 131-0 April 17. It now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) is the sponsor.

“This is having a huge impact to the cattle industry,” said the sponsor of HF4075, Rep. Dave Olin (DFL-Thief River Falls).

The developing problem took center stage last week, when the federal government downgraded the state’s bovine TB status, effectively stopping cattle shipments out of the state unless the animals are certified as bovine-TB-free.

“It is not a good place for the state of Minnesota to be sitting. Now you need authority to take your cattle across state lines,” Olin said.

The bill would offer ranchers inside an established bovine tuberculosis management zone the choice to voluntarily depopulate their cattle herds by Dec. 31, 2008. To that end, the Board of Animal Health would be allocated $3.1 million in Fiscal Year 2008 to help cattle owners comply with new requirements that could include fencing or a buyout. Cattle owners in the zone would have until July 15, 2008 to decide whether to participate in a buyout program. Those who do would be paid market value plus $500 per head by the state and an annual payment of $75 for each animal slaughtered until the area receives a bovine-tuberculosis-free status and the owner is authorized by the board to have cattle located in the zone. Ranchers choosing to keep their herds intact would be subjected to several testing and control requirements, including adequate fencing of their herd and grazing areas so they cannot be accessed by deer or elk. The state would provide a cost-share payment of up to $75,000 or 90 percent of the cost of an approved fence.

The board would use $2.7 million of the appropriation for monitoring, testing, outreach and other required activities to comply with federal regulations.

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