National Pork Producers Council’s Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom testified last week in front of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology. Wagstrom told the lawmakers that they need to renew their commitment to funding agricultural research.
She says it’s important to properly fund ag research to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers can continue to produce the safest food in the world.
Wagstrom told the Subcommittee members that research has helped the U.S. pork industry deal with diseases such as PRRS (purs) (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) and the H1N1 influenza virus. She says they’ve been able to combine those federal dollars with private contributions to battle those diseases.
Wagstrom says the feds need to increase ag research funding as it would be counterproductive to leave them at their present levels or even cut them.
