Since bovine tuberculosis was first identified in a cattle herd in 2005, this infectious disease has been identified in 11 beef cattle herds and 17 free-ranging white-tail deer in Roseau and Beltrami counties.
While it is true that this disease has been detected at low levels in both cattle and deer, TB testing efforts have identified four cattle herds in the last six months. As a result of these herds testing positive in the last year, the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture will down-grade the state of Minnesota from a Modified Accredited Advanced to a Modified Accred-ited status due to bovine TB.
This downgrade in the TB status first means all livestock leaving the state will have to have a TB test within 60 days of movement. Second, other states can place restrictions on the movement of cattle from Minnesota. In fact, on Feb. 21, the state of North Dakota tightened movement of cattle into that state from Minnesota.
Third, whole cattle herds will have to have an annual TB test. Fourth, it is estimated that these TB tests will cost the livestock producer over $10 a head plus labor charges. And, fifth, Minnesota has a shortage of veterinarians, estimates suggest even if the vets worked full time with TB, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to test all the cattle in Minnesota.
These are some of the reasons given for a proposed split-state status for Minnesota due to bovine TB. How many cattle herds? What is the area? What is the timeline? Will all cattle herds leave this area? These and many other questions are on the minds of livestock producers in Roseau and surrounding counties.
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The TB issue has been on the minds of livestock producers since 2005. However, recent developments added a new level of stress and anxiety to the entire livestock industry.
The livestock industry is important to the local economies in northern Minnesota. The proposed split-state status has the potential to cause a collapse of the livestock business as we know it in northern Minnesota.
According to figures from Bagley and Winger, over 7,000 animals were moved to sales barns in the last week of February. Normal animal movement for this time of the year is approximately 1,000 animals. What would cause this accelerated movement of livestock to auction? The most likely reason is recent and pending changes in the bovine TB status for Minnesota.
Roseau County and surrounding counties cannot stand many weeks like last week and have the livestock industry be a vibrant part of the local economies. National Agricultural Statistics Service reports indicate that in 2007, livestock numbers were: 158,700 head in Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Kittson, Marshall, Beltrami, Clearwater Pennington, Red Lake and Polk counties. A breakdown of livestock numbers in this nine-county area: beef cattle, 62,000 head; feeder cattle, 88,600; and, dairy cattle, 8,100.
To date, 3,400 beef cattle from positive bovine TB operations have been depopulated. Of those cattle, 19 head have tested positive for an average of 0.558 per 100 head of cattle. Statewide 140,000 cattle have been tested with 24 confirmed positive for bovine TB. Statewide the average falls to 0.0171428 per 100 head.
White-tail deer statistics are similar. Of the 1,500 deer killed and tested in northern Minnesota, 17 have tested positive with a ratio of 1.13 per 100 head. Statewide tests on 3,000 deer found 17 positive cases or an average of 0.566 per 100 head. Free-ranging white-tail deer are known carriers of bovine TB. The number of free-ranging white-tail deer must be immediately reduced to minimize the further transmission and spread of bovine TB.
While it is true that 11 cattle farmers have had herds depopulated, the impact that this infectious disease can have on local economies are staggering. According to 2007 NASS statistics, the dairy and beef cattle industry contribute over $186 million to the economies of Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Kittson, Marshall, Beltrami, Clearwater Pennington, Red Lake and Polk counties. This number includes animal cost only, and not the flow of dollars that this sector of agribusiness generates.
When a herd of cattle is depopulated, the economic loss trickles well beyond the fence post. Main Street will suffer! Bankers won't have to lend money; implement dealers will sell less equipment, and there is less demand for feed, fertilizer, fuel and other supplies.
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If cattle producer cannot make a living off the land, these people may have to move to other communities to find employment. If families move, school districts will suffer, local business will be negatively impacted and there will be fewer people employed in local agriculture.
What will happen to this land that is best suited for livestock? It may be devalued, enrolled in a government CRP program, purchased by the state and taken off the tax rolls.
Immediate action on the part of the USDA, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health is needed to get a handle on this expanding problem. We need accountability and collaborative problem solving to address the spread of this infectious disease.
I would urge all concerned parties to contact our represen-tatives and senators at both the state and federal levels.
Russell Walker of Warroad is a Roseau County commissioner.
