MSGA Secures Brucellosis Funding
HELENA - The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) recently applauded the Bush Administration and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for making 2007 funding available to continue implementation of the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP).
1 May 2007
1 minute read
The management strategy includes protecting Montana's brucellosis Class Free status and preventing disease transmission to livestock by preventing bison and cattle from commingling and removing bison from lands that cattle will occupy.
In a cooperative effort MSGA, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), and the National Public Lands Council (PLC) worked with APHIS to adequately implement the funding provisions for managing brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
"The IBMP has been the best tool available thus far to protect Montana's livestock industry from the devastating effects of brucellosis and protecting our brucellosis class free status," said Errol Rice, MSGA executive vice president. "Other neighboring states have recently felt the devastating economic impacts of losing their class free status and the costs associated with regaining that status."
Managing the disease until the agencies involved can develop better technology for eradication is critical, continued Rice.
"I hope that in the future the Montana Board of Livestock and the state of Montana recognize the importance of this funding as much as Montana's livestock people do," he said. "It has seemed as though members of MSGA are the only ones who felt the urgency of getting this funding secured."
For more information on Brucellosis, click here.
