We've been struggling with connectivity as Northeastern South Dakota's five-day storm lingers, and just now read Walker Orenstein's article at MinnPost, Minnesota Democrats hope to sharply limit the deer farm industry in push to fight CWD.
It's a must read for those concerned about the North Star State's wild deer herd, a piece that fills in the questions left by Outdoor News Minnesota editor Rob Drieslein's November 11 radio interview with Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul.
Orenstein reports:
Minnesota farms that raise elk and deer for meat or captive hunts could soon face sharp limits from DFL lawmakers concerned about a critical disease risk to wild herds.
Chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological illness, continues to spread in Minnesota. While Republicans in the past have protected the cervid farms, Democrats now have the upper hand in an emotional debate over the existence of the businesses — and their potential impact on Minnesota’s lucrative wild hunting industry.
tate Rep. Rick Hansen, a DFLer from South St. Paul, said he will try again to pass a moratorium on new deer farms, among other restrictions, since his party has total control of state government after flipping the Minnesota Senate in the November election. Sen. John Marty, a Roseville Democrat, also said a moratorium should be a starting point for lawmakers.
“When you’re dealing with disease, stopping the bleeding — metaphorically — is what a moratorium does,” said Hansen, who chairs the House’s Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. “A moratorium is the minimum, not the answer.”
“I’m guessing at a minimum not allowing new deer farms and probably more likely phasing them out,” added Marty, who won’t lead an environment committee next year but has been part of DFL efforts to restrict the industry.
Although both Hansen and Marty said it was too early to know exactly what they might propose, or what could pass the Legislature, their ideas will surely spark a major legislative fight at the Capitol, where many Republicans say the deer farms are being wrongly blamed, or at least unfairly treated, and argue the new regulations would cause the demise of an industry that has already taken a hit from government efforts to contain CWD. The Legislature convenes in January. . . .
Read the rest at MinnPost and consider making an end-of-year donation to the nonprofit publication.
Related posts
- Update: wild CWD detection in Beltrami County possibly connected to deer farm dump site
- DNR: Chronic wasting disease suspected in a wild deer in Bemidji area for the first time
- MN Chronic Wasting Disease dilemma: should new deer farms be blocked? The old bought out?
- Chronic Wasting Disease: St. Louis County permanently bans new or expanded cervid farms .
- Todd Miller's deer farm was depopulated Tuesday,
- On Facebook, operator of CWD doomed Winona County deer farm wears Miller Scrap hat
- MN Board of Animal Health: CWD confirmed in quarantined Winona County captive deer herd
- Update: More on Miller family deer farm interests
- Senate DFL Leader Franzen raises conflict-of-interest concerns in Republican leader's role overturning bipartisan vote to protect wild deer
Photo: Wild whitetail deer in Minnesota.
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