18. AGROTERRORISM AND
BIOTERRORISM
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the actions
of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture,
United States Department of Agriculture, Department
of Homeland Security and other organizations to
identify the impact of terrorism on agriculture and
supply appropriate funding and manpower to protect
the industry.
19. 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. 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.
20. ANIMAL AND PLANT DISEASES
West Virginia 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.
WVFB should actively support mandatory disease
traceability because it will be a defining factor in the
export market.
21. CONTROL OF INJURIOUS INSECTS
West Virginia 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.
22. NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PLANTS
Labor is the biggest expense in eradication.
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends 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.
23. CONTROL OF RABIES AND
ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINE
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends stricter
enforcement of present laws for the control of rabies
in wild and domestic animals.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 11