PRESS RELEASE
FROM: INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA
Contact
person: ICON Director Chris Abbott 308-282-2826
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE - February 24, 2009
CATTLEMEN MEET IN
DIERKS OFFICE ON LB 585
A pre-hearing meeting on
Monday, February 23 in Senator Cap Dierks office brought together several agriculture
groups to discuss LB 585, the Bovine Trichomoniasis bill.
Chris Abbott
and David Wright represented the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) along
with Jerry Stodola and ICON lobbyist Jim Pappas.
The morning meeting brought
ICON, the Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska
Livestock Market Association and the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association.
The Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture and the office of the State Veterinarian were
not able to attend.
The formal hearing was held on Tuesday, February 24,
but positive input by the farm organizations in Dierks office on Monday
contributed valuable information to be presented at the hearing.
Three
main areas of interest were expressed by all the groups.
Concern about
notification of neighbors was the first discussion topic. Current laws were questioned
and what actions were required when reporting diseases. Liability worries for
neighbors were voiced.
Next, the farming groups questioned what authority
the state vet has in these situations. They also asked what information is shared
with practicing vets and how information is gathered from the state labs and out-of-state
labs. Another concern is just what kind of specific information is available to
the state and would producers herds be identified.
The third area
explored was the proof of slaughter of infected bulls. Many wondered if it is
required now to prove the slaughter of infected animals and were jaw brands used
for identification. Other questions included what actions were currently taken
to assist Nebraska livestock markets contain Trich.
It was agreed by all,
the voiced concerns would be asked of the Department of Agriculture during the
hearing held by the Ag Committee on Tuesday.
The cattlemen represented
Monday are not interested in seeing a mandatory program created from the LB 585
legislation. The bill was originally written to bring all interested parties to
the table to see what can be done in the cattle industry to contain this disease.
This
legislation, today, is brought for the benefit of cattlemen, veterinarians, regulators,
and auction market operators, said Dierks in his testimony at the hearing
on Tuesday. These folks all have the same concern, that of the availability
of information on animals diagnosed with Trich should be open and shared information
on the presence of the disease and that is absolutely essential for control of
the infection on the local level, as well as the state level.
Independent
Cattlemen of Nebraska
"Solid as a windmill. Always working for the independent
producer."
The Mission of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska
(ICON) is to protect and promote the interests of Nebraska's
independent cattle
producers. Office of the Organization is located in Hyannis, Nebraska and membership
can be obtained by calling (308) 458-7282.