Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Iowa secretary of ag lobbies for more support in event of disease outbreaks

Iowa secretary of ag lobbies for more support in event of disease outbreaks

U.S.D.A nominee in pursuit of $150,000 in his home state

By Kate Ayers

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Bill Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture, is seeking an additional $150,000 to develop a statewide response framework in the event of an animal disease outbreak.

The state governor and legislators allocated $100,000 earlier this year for the response plan but Northey suggests more should be set aside, according to yesterday’s RadioIowa article

The extra funds will be used “for foreign animal disease preparation,” Northey said to RadioIowa.

“So, this is some staffing that helps us work with the farm organizations that are working with their producers on biosecurity.”

A bird flu outbreak impacted Iowa’s poultry industry in 2015. The outbreak resulted in a loss of $1.2 billion, as well as the death of over 30 million hens and 1.5 million turkeys, according to a report from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

“The one we all worry about it foot-and-mouth disease,” Northey said in the article.

Animals that have divided or “cloven” hooves, such as cattle and swine, are most susceptible to this disease. However, the United States has kept the disease at bay since 1929, according to the article. 

Yesterday, Northey spoke in the governor’s office to present his budget plan for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. 

 

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/7024074719


Trending Video

Pork Industry Seeks Clarity on Trade Deals, Labor Policy and Processed Food Definition

Video: Pork Industry Seeks Clarity on Trade Deals, Labor Policy and Processed Food Definition

When Duane Stateler joined the National Pork Producers Council board, he expected his biggest challenge would be pushing back against California’s Proposition 12 while working to expand markets. Instead, he’s now navigating trade disputes and a new MAHA report that puts sausage in the crosshairs as a processed food. Labor shortages and the next farm bill are also on the agenda — all while he continues running his Macomb, Ohio farm and serving as board president.