Utilizing funding from a USDA program, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) collaborated with stakeholders to develop guidance for producers in the event of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
The organizations received funding from the USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. In turn, they developed movement decision criteria resources for federal land grazers, which are available at www.securesheepwool.org and www.securebeef.org.
“For the first time, there are now resources that specifically consider those unique challenges and give detailed guidance to producers ranching on federal lands,” NCBA President Mark Eisele said in a statement.
ASI President Brad Boner added: “The ranchers’ and other stakeholder involvement on the Advisory Group is greatly appreciated. Their input helped ensure the guidance created represented the realities and capabilities of this important sector of our industry.”
ASI and NCBA gathered an advisory group of federal public land grazing stakeholders to help develop resources for FMD response. Over two years, the advisory group met at virtual and in-person meetings with sheep and cattle producers who hold federal grazing permits and the Public Lands Council. Federal agencies were also involved in the discussions, including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Wildlife Services and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The guidance provides resources to livestock producers to prepare before an FMD outbreak. Resources include real-time scenario exercises to ensure animal needs and response goals are met, including assessing adequate feed/water, mitigating wildlife interactions and implementing “just-in-time” biosecurity measures.
USDA will host a webinar on May 13 to go over the project and resources. Registration is available at www.zoomgov.com/j/1601496343.
“This collaboration across the sheep and cattle industries with state and federal partners demonstrates impactful results to secure business continuity and a safe food supply,” a joint NCBA/ASI news release read.
Background
While the U.S. is currently free of the FMD virus, the groups said these resources will help producers voluntarily prepare before an outbreak arises. If FMD is found in the U.S., animal health officials will limit the movement of animals and animal products to control the virus’ spread. Control areas would be established around infected areas and movement restrictions will be put in place.
“Given the nature of federal lands grazing, containment of livestock and mitigation of risk will require different strategies than private land containment measures,” the groups said.
If control areas encompass part or all of a public grazing allotment, potentially in one or more states, there will be unique challenges for producers to mitigate disease exposure risks, NCBA and ASI finished. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
