WV Farm Bureau Magazine January 2016 | Page 12

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 the rabies vaccine to inoculate livestock ( for example : cattle , sheep , equine , goats ).
24 . LYME DISEASE & WEST NILE VIRUS
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that the West Virginia Department of Agriculture , West Virginia Division of Health , West Virginia Department of Education , West Virginia University Extension Service , and public health agencies provide educational information about prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and West Nile virus as well as provide annual notification by county of outbreaks and detection .
25 . USE OF TRAPS
West Virginia Farm Bureau opposes legislation that would restrict the utilization of steel traps and snares in the control of predatory animals , year round , or prohibit the landowner from harvesting furbearing animals in season .
26 . WEST VIRGINIA DOG LAW
Unrestrained dogs are a nuisance and a source of property damage for farmers , and many urban families .
West Virginia Farm Bureau generally supports the present Dog Law , but believes the law needs to be more strictly enforced .
We recommend the Dog Law be amended as follows :

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County commissions shall pay all claims for livestock and poultry losses that exceed the dog fund . Excess money would be paid from the general revenue fund

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A leash law be put into effect for the period of
March 1 to May 30 of each year during which time dogs must be tied unless accompanied and controlled by their owners

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Agriculture or livestock dogs should be exempt from leash law ordinances provided they are actively herding or guarding livestock or performing other farm-related activities

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All animal shelters must scan dogs for microchips prior to adoption or euthanizing . County commissions shall provide scanners to each shelter
27 . RIGHT TO FARM ORDINANCE
One of the greatest assets of West Virginia is the vast farmland and timberland . The aesthetically appealing landscape has attracted many new residents . Increasingly , many new residents are not accustomed to agriculture management practices . On occasion , these residents have objected to , and in some cases initiated lawsuits against , the management practices responsible for the pristine landscape that attracted them to the area . Therefore , West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the State of West Virginia and any county that wishes to have a Right to Farm Ordinance , which shall :

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Create a legal presumption that agriculture management practices are not a nuisance and are an expected part of the quiet enjoyment of property

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Protect agriculture from nuisance lawsuits and or / complaints against generally accepted management practices

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Exempt agriculture from noise ordinances , light ordinances , dilapidated building ordinances , and other nuisance ordinances

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Establish a disclosure provision whereby the seller or his / her agent and the county clerk are required to notify potential buyers of the property of this right to farm ordinance

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Exempt agriculture from zoning restrictions and other regulatory tools that may interfere with generally accepted agriculture management practices
28 . PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF AGRICULTURAL LIVESTOCK
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the
12 West Virginia Farm Bureau News