(Continued from Pago A 10)
opposition to the bill on a num
ber of issues, including the
requirement of facility registra
tion, the expanded scope of prac
tice of veterinarians, alternate
licensure of animal health tech
nicians, and some other periph
eral issues. Prior to the hear
ings, staff of the House
Professional Licensure
Committee met with representa
tives of the Pennsylvania
Veterinary Medical Association
Practice Act Task Force to dis
cuss House Bill 1418. It is now
generally agreed that many pro
visions of the bill would have to
be amended before the bill can
be scheduled for committee
deliberations. Before the bill is
considered, every attempt will
be made to find a fair solution to
the concerns that have been
raised.
During the critical review
and amendment process, it is
important that the staff and
members of the House
Professional Licensure
Committee receive as much
practical input as possible to
ensure that concerns of all inter
ested parties will be addressed. I
encourage your readers to sub
mit their written comments to
me at the following address:
Arthur D. Hershey,
Pennsylvania House of
Representatives, House Box
202020, Harrisburg, PA 17120-
2020.
I will not be able to respond
to their correspondence person
ally, but I will forward it to com
mittee staff to ensure that every
area of concern is considered.
Arthur D. Hershey,
13th Legislative District,
Pennsylvania House of
Representatives
Editor:
I would like to clarify points
raised in your recent article “If
passed, State Bills Could Have
Large, Long-Term Effects on
Animal Boarders, Farriers,”
regarding NJ Senate Bill S-
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2048,
Before I respond in detail, I
assure you that veterinarians in
NJ are among the strongest sup
porters of the equine industry in
the state. It would be contrary to
our interest to handicap this
industry and the revisions in the
practic act will not result in such
actions.
Specifically, S-2048 does not
change the scope of the practice
of veterinary medicine in any
substantive way. The proposed
changes fall into three general
categories: 1. Changes in defini
tions. 2. Changes in licensure
requirements. 3. Changes in
standards that apply to the
practice of veterinary medicine.
You are correct in stating
that persons may continue to
administer health care to their
own animals. However, your
statement “those who keep oth
ers’ 4-H project animals or oper
ate kennels or boarding houses
could be limited on what kind of
animal care, without a veteri
narian’s approval they could
give to animals they don’t own.”
is misleading. This is not a
change in NJ law. Currently NJ
law prohibits non-licensed indi
viduals from treating animals
they don’t own, unless under the
responsible supervision of a
licensed veterinarian.
The quote from Peggy Dillon
that the bill would require any
body “to get a prescription to buy
Vitamin C for a horse” is not
accurate. Federal law distin
guishes between drugs that are
restricted to use or prescription
only by a licensed veterinarian,
and other medications, nutri
tional supplements and vita
mins that may be purchased
over-the-counter. S-2048 would
not prohibit a livestock or pet
owner from continuing to pur
chase non-FDA restricted prod
ucts without a veterinarian’s
prescription. A consumer’s
access to over the counter or pre
scription drugs is not affected by
this legislation. Consumers are
not required to purchase phar
maceuticals directly from a vet
erinarian. Upon request by a
Excellent Di
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client, a veterinarian must pro
vide a prescription for pharma
ceuticals he has prescribed.
Concerns expressed the affect
of S-2048 on farriers are
unfounded. Farriers would not
be affected under the provisions
of the bill. The relationship
between veterinarians, and far
riers, chiropractors or equine
dentists is not changed by this
legislation. Currently, a chiro
practor or equine dentist can
only treat a patient under the
responsible supervision of a vet
erinarian. Veterinarians are the
only health professionals quali
fied to diagnose, prescribe and
perform surgery on animals. If
they so choose, they can refer
cases to other health profession
als, but they retain responsibili
ty for the case. 52048 does noth
ing to change this process.
The answer to the question
posed “Could you apply gauze to
an injury if the animal isn’t
yours?” is yes, provided it is an
emergency situation or a person
acting as a “good Samaritan,” or
is continuing a treatment regi
men prescribed by a veterinari
an. However, the answer to the
question “Could you surgically
remove a mole or a canker, is an
unequivocal no, unless the indi
vidual doing the procedure owns
the animal.
Upon adoption, the State
Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners will be required to
develop a set of minimum stan
dard of veterinary practice. This
will provide consumers assur
ances regarding standards of
practice.
The proposed changes to the
Veterinary Medical Practice Act
will have a positive impact on
the general health and well
being of all animals, large and
small, in New Jersey.
Consumers will be assured that
the veterinarians whose services
they retain are qualified and
aware of the latest veterinary
medical advances. Developing
standards of practice will
encourage veterinarians to com
mit to practicing high quality
medicine so consumers will
receive a level of services that
they demand and deserve.
Richard J. Alampi
Executive Director,
New Jersey Veterinary
Medical Association
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 18, 1999-A35
Editor:
It is surprising that the
Lancaster Sunday News—posi
tioned in the heart of farm coun
try and so much advanced farm
ing technology and research—
could imply that agriculture is
poised to ruin the world through
intensification (Oct. 10 front
page story).
The opposite is true. And
PennAg Industries Association
and its members are in the fore
front of ensuring that we
achieve the best balance of safe,
efficient food production and
environmental protection.
Our members continue to
help “write the book” on stan
dards for siting and manging
advanced farms. We cooperate
with federal and state govern
ment on setting standards and
rules. We help educate oversight
agencies on advanced farming
techniques. We are in the fore
front of developing new tech
niques for everything from odor
control to water conservation,
improved feeds and best man
agement practices.
And we firmly believe .that
the public deserves the truth.
The article points out “spiral
ing land costs” are a factor in
encouraging farmers “to intensi
fy.” It neglected global competi
tion, low commodity prices and
the need for greater safety and
efficiency as key factors in dri
ving this inevitable trend.
Modem practices make the dif
ference between survival and
failure of our farms.
The article tried to create a
Odor Research Field
Day Oct. 28
LEWISBURG (Union Co.) -
An odor research field day is
scheduled 10:30 a.m. until 1:30
p.m., here Oct. 28 at the David
Groff swine farm.
The purpose of the field day is
to provide producers and the
public with an opportunity to
see biofilters that were installed
on the swine grower finisher
buildings at the Groff farm.
The study included a total of
nine Pennsylvania farms on
which one of three technologies
were used to reduce odor emis
sions: dust filtration of exhaust
ed air, floating straw covers for
outside manure storages, and
picture of pathetically drugged
animals wedged in giant factory
bams. A tour of local advanced
farm would show that is wrong.
The truth is that these livestock
get better care and live in better
conditions than many people do
around our globe.
The article also implied there
are not advanced farms in
Lancaster - but there are many
in the county and the rest of the
state. No one notices them
because they are not a problem.
There were other factual
errors and illogical conclusions
drawn in the article - not the
least of which is that eating
burgers and soda will lead to the
destruction of the planet.
It is okay to explore the rela
tionship of diet and health sta
tus. But it is irresponsible to use
such scare tactics and unfairly
tar the agribusiness to affect
dietary change.
Misleading the public about
modern farming has serious
implications for the future of
farming in Pennsylvania and
the nation, consequences for our
efforts to preserve farmland and
produce food.
Our industry will not tolerate
the dissemination of misinfor
mation and will continue to be
dedicated to working the public
interest and for public educa
tion, so that the consumer can
make informed choices.
Walt Peechatka
Executive Vice President
PennAg Industries
Association
biofiltration of exhausted air.
Effectiveness of the odor remedi
ation measures were evaluated
by direct odor measurement and
by surveying neighbors who live
near the swine operations
Based on the data collected
thus far, biofilters such as the
one at the Groff farm, show
promise for being an effective
odor-reducing method.
The research project is spon
sored by the Pennsylvania State
University, The Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture, and
The Pennsylvania Pork Producers
Council. Allied industry partici
pants include Hostetter Manage
ment and Farmer Boy Ag
Systems.
Researchers Ken Kephart
and Robert Mikesell will be
available throughout the day to
answer questions. A brief pre
sentation will be made at 12:30
p.m.
Directions to the farm:
• From the north - take Rt.
15 south from Rt. 80 toward
Lewisburg. Turn right on
Colonel John Kelly Road (next to
Bierly’s Meat Market). Proceed
about two miles, turn right onto
Churches Road, and bear right
at the Y. The two swine barns
will be on your left.
• From the south - Take Rt.
15 north from the Harrisburg
area. Cross Routes 45 and 192,
pass the Country Cupboard, and
turn left on Colonel John Kelly
Road (next to Bierly’s Meat
Market). Proceed about two
miles, turn right onto Churches
Road, bear right at the Y. The
two swine barns will be on your
left.