Animal disease threats a focus of ag committee

Livestock disease threats have the attention of the Minnesota House Agriculture Policy and Finance Committee. Chair Samantha Vang says highly pathogenic avian influenza and African swine fever were discussed during a recent hearing.

“We have an emergency response account (and) we can consider refilling that. I think last time we gave funding to the Department (of Agriculture) to make sure that they’re able to pay for staff and personnel to respond to the disease.”

Vang says about 2.5 million has been used and legislators are considering putting more money back into that account:

“That’s an immediate step that we can do to make sure that we have the funding for staff, personnel, and equipment.”

Vang says the committee believes there needs to be a plan of action if African swine fever enters the state.