Nebraska Farmers Union has filed comments on USDA’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection’s proposed rule that would relax restrictions on imports of livestock, meat and animal products from Brazil. Farmers Union President John Hansen says Brazil hasn’t been able to control foot and mouth disease and the proposed APHIS rule would allow those imports from the Brazilian region that has F-M-D.
Hansen says the potential economic damage from foot and mouth disease for the U.S. beef industry would be catastrophic if that disease were to get into the United States.
Hansen says not only would the U.S. domestic beef herd be at risk if these imports are allowed but also export markets. He says Nebraska Farmers Union, Cattlemen’s Association and the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska are all supporting a state passed resolution calling on USDA not to relax the rule until Brazil is free of F-M-D.
