Johnson makes move to prevent Argentinian beef imports to keep U.S. free of foot and mouth disease

PIERRE — A part of an ag appropriations bill that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday may not be new legislation, but it remains important to local cattle producers.

The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008, written by U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and introduced in the House by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., among others, prohibits fresh meat and livestock from Argentina from entering the U.S. until Argentina is deemed FMD free. 

The bill came in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that cattle, sheep, swine and certain livestock products would be imported from Argentina.

“The USDA’s proposal is shortsighted, and I remain committed to ensuring that no dangerous products from Argentina cross our borders,” said Johnson.

Since Argentina had a case of FMD as recently as 2006, Bill Bullard, R-CALF USA chief executive officer, said keeping such livestock out of the country is necessary to protect cattle and cattle producers from the devastating disease.

“There is no justification for relaxing import restrictions that protect the United States against the introduction of FMD,” Bullard said.

The bill will need to go through the Senate before it goes into law and Johnny Smith, a partner at the Fort Pierre Live Stock Auction, said it is good legislation. 

“We haven’t had Foot and Mouth Disease in the states in 80 years and we sure don’t want more of it,” Smith said. “We have the best beef in the world by far.”

FMD affects cattle and swine and can be passed to elk, deer and antelope. According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the economic impacts of the disease in the United States could cost the economy billions of dollars. 

Though Bullard said he is pleased with lawmakers’ actions to keep the country free of FMD, he said R-CALF is fighting for greater regulation of livestock brought into the country.

“We are not yet doing enough to protect consumers and the U.S. cattle herd from the introduction of foreign animal diseases,” Bullard said.

Bullard said R-CALF is particularly concerned with cattle brought in from Mexico, as the organization believes cattle from there may have tuberculosis.

Another R-CALF concern is keeping the country safe from mad cow disease.