Congressional leaders and address- ing the challenges that accompany eradicating cattle fever ticks on a national wildlife refuge.” Fever ticks are capable of car-
rying a microscopic parasite that causes bovine babesiosis, also known as cattle fever. This dis- ease causes acute anemia, fever and an enlarged spleen and liver, often leading to death for cattle. Fever ticks have been contained since 1943 to a thin strip of land along the Texas/Mexico border, known as the permanent system- atic quarantine zone. Due to changes in the ticks’ en-
Freddy Nieto, left, and Dave Delaney testifi ed at a Congressional forum regarding fever tick issues impacting the cattle industry in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.
amount of time and personal resources toward treat- ing and inspecting their livestock. I am glad we got to speak on behalf of these hardworking cattlemen and women today in Washington. TSCRA looks forward to continuing our work on the fever tick issue with
vironment in South Texas, lack of action from the USFWS and exist- ing regulations on ranchers, fever
ticks appear to be moving north. Without necessary attention to this destructive pest, the outbreak in Texas could spread throughout the country, lead- ing to a potential economic impact exceeding $1.2 billion.
TSCRA Submits Comments on USDA Organic Marketing Rule Proposal
T
EXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASSOCIATION (TSCRA) submitted comments on July 13 on the
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program, Organic Livestock and Poultry Prac- tices rule proposal. “TSCRA opposes the USDA’s recommended changes
to the National Organic Program,” said Richard Thorpe, TSCRA president and rancher from Winters. “The Na- tional Organic Program is used strictly as a marketing program; however, USDA AMS is going far outside of its purview by including animal welfare practices in these proposed changes. “Whether producing organic or conventionally raised beef, American ranchers continue to be the best
tscra.org
caretakers of their cattle. This commitment has led to a successful Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program that provides guidelines and recommendations from animal care experts who utilize peer-reviewed science. The USDA should be encouraging organic producers to become BQA certifi ed instead of attempting to ad- dress animal welfare concerns of activist groups in an onerous federal rule. “We urge the USDA AMS to withdraw this rule
proposal and work to address the concerns stated in TSCRA’s comments. TSCRA will continue to actively monitor this proposed rule and keep its members in- formed,” Thorpe concluded.
September 2016 The Cattleman 113
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