April 4, 2023

US legislation seeks to protect export markets for livestock producers during animal disease outbreak

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the US Senate to protect export markets for US livestock producers in the event of an animal disease outbreak.

Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith said she and Indiana Republican Mike Braun are leading the Safe American Food Exports Act, which would give the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) clear authority to preemptively negotiate regionalisation agreements for known animal disease threats.

"So when those animal disease outbreaks happen… we're ready and everybody won't have to be shut down when not everybody is affected," Smith remarked.

She told Brownfield exports are critical to farmer profitability.

"Very big for soybeans and corn, but also for pork, dairy, beef, and poultry," she said. "So protecting those markets and making sure that if there is an animal disease outbreak, it doesn't have to be devastating to everybody, though it is always terrible; (this) is a big priority of mine."

Smith added that she and her colleagues are working to get the legislation included in the next US farm bill.

- Brownfield Ag News