VETERINARY HEALTH
ENHANCEMENT ACT
The number of veterinarians practicing in rural
areas continues to decrease. Most veterinarians
that do practice in rural areas do not provide
services to large animals. The West Virginia Farm
Bureau believes that the passage of the Veterinary
Health Enhancement Act will help prevent a rural
veterinarian crisis. We support passage of this bill,
which would establish a scholarship program for
veterinary students and a student loan repayment
program for veterinarians who agree to practice
in areas where there are veterinarian shortages,
provided that, it is amended to require participants
to offer large animal veterinary services. We also
recommend that a national tuition relief program
be established for veterinary students who agree to
enter the food animal and rural veterinary fields.
Furthermore, we support the large animal
veterinarian retention program sponsored by the
USDA Veterinary Services.
ANIMAL AND PLANT DISEASES
Farm Bureau recommends that West Virginia
University Experiment Station increase
investigations and research into the prevention
and/or cure of destructive livestock, poultry and
plant diseases. Because of the influx of new and
current diseases, permit regulations and strict
biosecurity procedures should be followed when
any research is conducted.
Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are diseases
common to livestock and humans. We recommend
continued efforts to maintain Class FREE status in
West Virginia.
We also urge the West Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Department of Environmental
Protection plan for removal and disposal of
infected material when a highly infectious disease,
such as avian flu, occurs.
The WV Department of Agriculture has been
mandated by the USDA to develop an Animal
Disease Traceability program. WV Farm Bureau
should collaborate with WVDA to develop a
program that will work by involving livestock
producers in the development of this program.
WVFB can be proactive in organizing regional
meetings to solicit producer input for development
of this state program.
10 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
WVFB should actively support mandatory
disease traceability because it will be a defining
factor in the export market.
CONTROL OF INJURIOUS INSECTS
Farm Bureau recommends that the State
Department of Agriculture, working with the
Agricultural Experiment Station, devise and use
effective controls over Gypsy Moth, Japanese
Beetle, Tent Caterpillar, Grasshoppers, Emerald
Ash Borer, Asian Long horned Beetle, Brown
Marmorated Stink Bug and other injurious insects.
We recommend that all counties of West
Virginia infested by Gypsy Moth be included in
the Department of Agriculture spraying program,
and that all private landowners be provided
financial assistance and encouraged to participate
in the program.
NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PLANTS
Labor is the biggest expense in eradication.
We recommend that the state supply the materials
and training, and landowners provide the labor to
eradicate noxious weeds. It is also recommended
that all landowners, both private and public, be
encouraged to participate in this process.
It is further recommended that Chicory
(chicorium intybus) be added to the list of noxious
weeds.
CONTROL OF RABIES AND
ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINE
Farm Bureau recommends more strict
enforcement of present laws for the control of
rabies in wild and domestic animals.
We recommend that the state give financial
aid to farmers who find it necessary to vaccinate
livestock due to exposure to rabid animals.
We further recommend that the law designate
the State Health Department as the leading agency
to control rabies. The sheriff, conservation officer,
county health department and any other agencies
appointed by the State Health Department will be
responsible for having the collected specimens
of suspected rabid animals taken to the health
department laboratory for examination.
In addition, because of the decline in numbers
of large animal veterinarians, WVFB recommends
that livestock producers have access to purchase