Statewide AI Biosecurity
Regulations
(Continued from Pago A2l)
That’s the way he’d like to see it
continue, he said.
According to Smith, being able
to minimize the use of specific reg
ulations in dealing with such dis
ease problems is desired on the
part of government and industry.
The 1996-crcated Domestic
Animal Law, created through the
efforts of former state Secretary of
Agriculture Charles Brosius work
ins with the state Legislature, gave
considerable strength to the state
Department of Agriculture to pro
tect public health and the health of
the state’s domestic animals.
The authority to set specific
quarantine conditions on a case
by-case basis has been determined
to be a far superior method of deal
ing and reacting to contagious dis
ease breakouts than attempting to
stranglehold the industry through a
set of overly restrictive, slow-to
change regulations.
Further, the PDA has the author
ity over all animals kept in captivi
ty, not just the traditional farm
PDA can require identification of animals,
record keeping, the keeping and handling, the
safety of domestic animal feed, requirements for
insterstate and intrastate movement of animals,
and to monitor for the presence of transmissible
disease.
The department also has the authority to enter
and inspect any property or stop any vehicle sus
pected of carrying animals exposed to infectious
disease or contaminated by a hazardous
substance.
Smith said this last authority, to enter and
search, is one that carries the most concern
among citizens. However, he said it is only to be
used if there is good reason.
While criminal penalties are not extensive for
those who violate the Domestic Animal Law, the
civil penalties allowed actually provides the
PDA with greater flexibility in solving a problem
situation.
It has the discression to assess and collect a
civil penalty of up to $lO,OOO per violation.
Unlike a criminal violation, there is less bur
den of proof required to impose a civil penalty.
He said those familiar with the criminal and civil
trials of OJ. Simpson should be able to discern
the difference in burden of proof requirements
between criminal and civil cases.
“If reasonable minds can agree, then you don’t
have to use (the full authorities granted the
PDA), but they are good to have,” he said.
He said another complaint is that while there
doesn’t appear to a shortage of manpower by the
state during the initial discovery of a disease out
break, there are too few field inspectors for day
to-day enforcement.
It can be expected that those who wish to move
questionable birds or do something illegally
know what time regulatory field crews quit for
the day.
It has been recommended, “If you can be
everywhere all the time, just be everywhere some
of the tune,” he said.
Schmucker said that the flexibility allowed the
department in its authority granted by die
Domestic Animal Law is its success.
He said it seems more appropriate to have the
role of the department be more to provide educa
tion and promoting biosecurity measures than
attempting to enforce rigid rules.
The flexibility also allows the ability to adjust
strategies in balding any disease. “We’re dealing
with a moving target,” he said.
Further, the state has the strength of two
methods for discovery of poultry disease
through mandatory reporting provisions that
require producer and veterinarian to report pos
session of animals that knowingly died of
dangerous transmissable disease, or suspected of
having it
Further, through a regular system of survic
lance (blood testing and health certification), the
state’s birds are also monitored for disease.
In other disucssions, it was recommended that
all poultry producers should keep accurate
records and adopt and strictly follow biosecurity
measures.
Not Needed
animals.
They should also understand
that the virus is microscopic, and
can be carried on microscopic
materials, mainly organic.
For practical use, they did say
that it appears to remain mostly
active in manure, and in the birds.
Maintaining control of those two
nhysical things by preventing con
tamination of fields, vehicles, and
clothes, and taking precautions to
not be careless in any aspect of
control, is urged.
Disciplined rodent control and
wild bird control is also strongly
urged, not only to thwart the intro
duction of avian influenza, but to
prevent any variety of diseases
from infecting a flock.
It was recommended that, since
waterfowl cany the disease, those
raising poultry should not encour
age or allow waterfowl near facili
ties or in farm ponds.
Farm ponds that waterfowl may
be able to access should not be
used as a water source for poultry.
Dairy Compact’s Senate Passage
Earns Farm Bureau Approval
GLENMONT, N.Y - New
York Farm Bureau is very
pleased with the State Senate’s
recent passage of the dairy com
pact bill, and thanks the bill’s
sponsors for understanding and
supporting the needs of the
state’s dairy farmers.
“The dairy compact bill was
passed in large part because the
Senate sponsors understand the
needs of our dairy farmers,”
New York Farm Bureau
President John Lincoln said. “I
would especially like to thank
Senator Randy Kuhl and Senate
Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
for their leadership in not only
getting this bill to the floor of
the State Senate, but getting it
passed. They made this happen,
and we appreciate it.”
In addition to Senator Kuhl,
President Lincoln had praise for
the bill’s cosponsors, including
Senators Charles D. Cook, John
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 7, 1998-A23
DeFranciso, Hugh T. Farley,
Carl Marcellino, John J. Marchi,
Stephen M. Saland, James L.
Seward, Dale M. Volker and
James M. Wright.
“At the same time, it was
heartening to see Senate
Democrats support this very
important legislation,” Lincoln
added. He specifically cited
Senators Nancy Larraine
Hoffmann, Ada L. Smith and
Alton R. Waldon, Jr. for their
support of New York agriculture.
“We appreciate the fact that
they are working to help the
dairy farmers of this state,”
President Lincoln added. “The
dairy farms of this state provide
fresh, wholesome milk for the
millions of residents of New
York State. They need the com
pact, and these senators rose
above the rhetoric and support
ed this legislation.”
Lincoln added that Farm
Bureau has high hopes that the
State Assembly also will
approve the dairy compact bill
so it can be signed into law by
Governor George Pataki.
Banquet Set
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co)
- The Board of directors of the
Lancaster County Conservation
District wishes to invite the gen
eral public to its 47th annual
dinner meeting on Thursday
evening, March 19, at 6.30 P.M.
at the Country table
Restaurant, Mount Joy
The program will consist of
the Garden Spot Vocal Ensemble
from Eastern Lancaster County
School District, Followed by the
presentation of various awards
Tickets are $l3 50 each and
can be purchased from the dis
trict office by calling (717) 299-
5361