The work of the omnibus environment, natural resources, climate, and energy finance and policy bill conference committee isn't complete yet.
However, in the Star Tribune's sports/outdoors section, Tony Kennedy shares an update about legislation designed to counter Chronic Wasting Disease. In Legislators vote for moratorium on new deer farms to fight chronic wasting disease:
The agreement also calls for the DNR to take oversight of the industry away from the Board of Animal Health.
No new deer farms could be started in Minnesota under an agreement reached Thursday night by state lawmakers concerned about the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state's invaluable wild deer population.
The negotiated deal, brokered by Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, also would shift oversight of deer farms from the Board of Animal Health to the Department of Natural Resources. Among other new provisions, the agreement would strengthen fencing requirements around captive whitetail herds and place new restrictions on the importation of captive deer from areas where CWD is a problem.
"I'm feeling relieved and happy this morning,'' Morrison said Friday. "This is a big deal for our state. … Our goal is to contain this disease.''
The deer farm measure was adopted by House and Senate negotiators as part of a larger environment, natural resources, climate and energy bill that would be sent to Gov. Tim Walz to be signed into law. On Friday, the conference committee was working to resolve differences over other aspects of the bill.
Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, said the agreement is a big payoff for five years of work by various groups to tighten controls on an industry that has been linked by DNR researchers to CWD outbreaks in the wild deer population. Nationwide, many wildlife officials, hunting groups, public health experts and economic development officials see CWD as a disease that must be reckoned with before it spins out of control.
"This is the most comprehensive chronic wasting disease package passed anywhere in the country,'' said Hansen, chairman of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.
As of this week, Minnesota had 211 "cervid" farms containing 6,474 animals, mostly deer. The farms serve various purposes, including the raising of genetically engineered monster bucks for private, enclosed hunts. Other deer are raised for meat, antler velvet, urine scent for hunters or for the trade of semen to breeding operations. . . .
Morrison said the shift of deer farm oversight from the Board of Animal Health to the DNR is meant to improve on the existing system of joint oversight. A state legislative auditor's report from several years ago knocked the board for being cozy with deer farms and lax on enforcement. . . .
Another piece of the reform measure deals with live animal testing of captive deer. The University of Minnesota has developed what could become the first workable test for CWD in live deer. Current testing relies on tissue sampling of dead deer. Once the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves a live test, new requirements for the testing would already be written into law if the bill is passed. . . .
Read the entire article at the Star Tribune for more details.
Related posts
- Session Daily: Bill targets deadly deer disease with tighter proposed restrictions on farms
- VIDEO: MN House environment committee passes most sweeping anti-CWD measure to date
- 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: A wild whitetail buck in Minnesota.
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