This is my response to the paper, boy am I getting a fire storm from two outdoor writers.
Gary Olson
__________________________________________________________________________________
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxUnderstand this. The deer farming industry is not asking for relaxed rules. They operate strict rules set forth by USDA under the Federal CWD program, which was drafted by a former Veterinarian from the humane society. I'm sure she gave them a break!! The MDC"s new rules were not designed to control CWD, but to regulate these farms out of business.
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxThese farms are in direct competition to the MDC's deer hunting program. Allowing the MDC to control these deer farms, would be compared to having the U.S. Postal Service regulate and set rules on UPS and FedEx. Legislatures would never let that happen. Why then with deer?
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxYou speak of the management for health of the herd by the MDC. Consider this, the herd has grown from 2000 animals in 1930, to an estimated 1.5 million animals in 2010. That's a growth of 750 times, in just 80 years. Are they managing the herd for the health of the herd, or for the dollars, through more tag sales? Looking at the numbers, I would say it was for the later.
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxForestry managers claim that deer should only be present at about 20 animals per square mile, or they will do harm to the future of our majestic woodlands by eating the new growth. The MDC is currently holding these numbers at 3 1/2 times that number, or near 68 animals per square mile on ALL acres designated as woodlands in the state of Missouri. This is management? Again, they are raising deer for the money!! These forests will take 80 to 100 years+ to regrow. Instead the MDC is bowing to the demands of hunting groups wanting more deer to hunt. The over growth of the states deer herd is not only detrimental to the woodlands, but the overflow of this deer herd goes on to the landscape, and are a severe economic impact to the states farmers, trying to make a living raising crops that feed us. Also causing damage on the highways, with states reporting deer vehicle collisions up by 21%. This raises our insurance rates to ALL of us, not just the hunters!!
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxIf it is truley a disease issue you are worried about, then who better than the Board of Animal Health to manage these farms!!! They have only been managing the entire livestock industry [our food supply] for over 80 years, and doing an excellent job !!!!!
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxMaybe the legislature listened to the facts and not the hype and half-truths that your groups are spreading.
Gary Olson
__________________________________________________________________________________
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxUnderstand this. The deer farming industry is not asking for relaxed rules. They operate strict rules set forth by USDA under the Federal CWD program, which was drafted by a former Veterinarian from the humane society. I'm sure she gave them a break!! The MDC"s new rules were not designed to control CWD, but to regulate these farms out of business.
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxThese farms are in direct competition to the MDC's deer hunting program. Allowing the MDC to control these deer farms, would be compared to having the U.S. Postal Service regulate and set rules on UPS and FedEx. Legislatures would never let that happen. Why then with deer?
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxYou speak of the management for health of the herd by the MDC. Consider this, the herd has grown from 2000 animals in 1930, to an estimated 1.5 million animals in 2010. That's a growth of 750 times, in just 80 years. Are they managing the herd for the health of the herd, or for the dollars, through more tag sales? Looking at the numbers, I would say it was for the later.
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxForestry managers claim that deer should only be present at about 20 animals per square mile, or they will do harm to the future of our majestic woodlands by eating the new growth. The MDC is currently holding these numbers at 3 1/2 times that number, or near 68 animals per square mile on ALL acres designated as woodlands in the state of Missouri. This is management? Again, they are raising deer for the money!! These forests will take 80 to 100 years+ to regrow. Instead the MDC is bowing to the demands of hunting groups wanting more deer to hunt. The over growth of the states deer herd is not only detrimental to the woodlands, but the overflow of this deer herd goes on to the landscape, and are a severe economic impact to the states farmers, trying to make a living raising crops that feed us. Also causing damage on the highways, with states reporting deer vehicle collisions up by 21%. This raises our insurance rates to ALL of us, not just the hunters!!
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxIf it is truley a disease issue you are worried about, then who better than the Board of Animal Health to manage these farms!!! They have only been managing the entire livestock industry [our food supply] for over 80 years, and doing an excellent job !!!!!
(0,0,0);, ' ', 'Lucida Grande', ;12pxMaybe the legislature listened to the facts and not the hype and half-truths that your groups are spreading.
Thanks for speaking for us Gary, I havnt been on here in months. We have been spending a lot of time at the Capitol . Our fight in Missouri is critical in the future of our industry. Missouri is one of the largest buyers for bucks and used to be one of the most deer friendly states in the country. We need everyone's support and hopefully we can get this assault on our industry headed back in the right direction.
