Tom Morang
12-11-2001, 08:29 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 10 Dec 01
Contact: Bridget Patrick, 517-324-3438
NRC furthers bovine TB eradication efforts
Authorizes Chair to enter into understanding with MDA and USDA
LANSING- The Natural Resources Commission passed a resolution Friday, authorizing the NRC Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the NRC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, furthering Michigan's efforts to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis from both wildlife and livestock.
The resolution further expresses its support for elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which fall under the authority of this Commission.
"This is a monumental step toward the eradication of bovine TB from Michigan," said Bob Bender, Michigan Bovine TB Eradication Coordinator. "Now that we have agreement at the state level, we can move our application for Split State Status forward to USDA.
"The Natural Resources Commission recognizes that the purpose of this MOU is to establish criteria for the maintenance of split state status, a USDA designation that will control the spread of bovine TB in Michigan," Bender added. "The MOU is a component of our State's strategy to eradicate the disease in northeastern lower Michigan."
Language in the MOU includes a ban on feeding and baiting of wild, free-ranging elk and white-tailed deer in any county in which bovine TB in wild, free-ranging elk or white-tailed deer has been confirmed. However, special pilot projects to further eradicate the disease may be implemented in specific areas, as long as they are designed by all parties signing the MOU.
If livestock or wild, free-ranging cervids are found to be positive for bovine TB in a county where previously, no positive cervids have been found, stepped-up surveillance of wild, free-ranging cervids will occur during the following hunting season.
"Large numbers of deer will continue to be looked-at each year in high risk counties," said DNR Director K.L. Cool, "and, the baiting ban may be lifted after TB is not found in wild free-ranging deer or elk in a specific county after two consecutive years. Bovine TB surveillance of free ranging cervids will continue for five years in each specific county after no additional disease is found."
The Bovine TB Eradication Project is a multi-agency team of experts from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture, Community Health, and Natural Resources; Michigan State University; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Contact: Bridget Patrick, 517-324-3438
NRC furthers bovine TB eradication efforts
Authorizes Chair to enter into understanding with MDA and USDA
LANSING- The Natural Resources Commission passed a resolution Friday, authorizing the NRC Chairman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the NRC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, furthering Michigan's efforts to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis from both wildlife and livestock.
The resolution further expresses its support for elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which fall under the authority of this Commission.
"This is a monumental step toward the eradication of bovine TB from Michigan," said Bob Bender, Michigan Bovine TB Eradication Coordinator. "Now that we have agreement at the state level, we can move our application for Split State Status forward to USDA.
"The Natural Resources Commission recognizes that the purpose of this MOU is to establish criteria for the maintenance of split state status, a USDA designation that will control the spread of bovine TB in Michigan," Bender added. "The MOU is a component of our State's strategy to eradicate the disease in northeastern lower Michigan."
Language in the MOU includes a ban on feeding and baiting of wild, free-ranging elk and white-tailed deer in any county in which bovine TB in wild, free-ranging elk or white-tailed deer has been confirmed. However, special pilot projects to further eradicate the disease may be implemented in specific areas, as long as they are designed by all parties signing the MOU.
If livestock or wild, free-ranging cervids are found to be positive for bovine TB in a county where previously, no positive cervids have been found, stepped-up surveillance of wild, free-ranging cervids will occur during the following hunting season.
"Large numbers of deer will continue to be looked-at each year in high risk counties," said DNR Director K.L. Cool, "and, the baiting ban may be lifted after TB is not found in wild free-ranging deer or elk in a specific county after two consecutive years. Bovine TB surveillance of free ranging cervids will continue for five years in each specific county after no additional disease is found."
The Bovine TB Eradication Project is a multi-agency team of experts from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture, Community Health, and Natural Resources; Michigan State University; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.