CWD Found in North Missouri

We will all find out in the real near future after they get the other 50 tested and know where we stand. If the 25 mile radius stays in effect and I live in the 25 mile radius, there will be action taken. I am guessing other guys that fall with in that radius will be asked to take action as well. A little class action suit might make a little difference. We have all played by the rules, tested, done all of our paper work, and still are considered criminals. The animal that is in question was in a preserve that has not sold an animal in over 10 years and was not even sick. What is the purpose of a CWD Monitored herd if we all don't have any say in what happens when there is a positive. I have several questions about the whole system. Why do all breeders have to test 80 t0 100% of our animals but the conservation department only test the ones that they want too? If we test 80% they should have to test 80% as well. That is why they find more in our pens and none in the wild. I would also like to know if the Cervid industry has a non biased vet in the department where the test are being performed. How do we know that there is not a positive outside of the breeder pens and it is being covered up? The Missouri Dept. of Conservation is the richest conservation dept in the United States. In Missouri we have the Sunshine law where 1/8 of every cent of tax dollars goes to the Conservation Dept. The 2009 FY budget for the Missouri Dept of Conservation was $145,534,841. Another thing I would like to know is how many deer have been tested in the last 7 years and how many tested positive from all of our deer in the breeding industry and Preserves. I'll bet it is less than 1/10 of 1/10 of 1%. We will see what happens, just hope and pray that Mo Dept of Ag/USDA has some common sense and works to keep integrity in the industry and the process we have in place.

What would happen if Indiana found CWD tommorow and all states were as closed minded towards them? The deer farmers of Indiana would be in a bad way.

Eric,



You are exactly right. Our monitoring programs should stand on their own merit! A rouge positive test should have no effect on anyone. I can't even believe they publicize it until the additional testing is done. To me its like a suspect TB test. Additional testing needs to be done. And even if the area is found to have additional positives (and I don't think it will) deer should be allowed to move from ANY 5 year monitored herd no matter where it is! That's the purpose of why we monitor those herds. WE NEED THE FEDERAL RULES!



Bill and I have already talked about the fact that there are about 30 producers in the county or surrounding counties where the positive was found. At the task force meeting I mentioned the fact that the Missouri Department of Conservation has tested very little since they did that 3 year testing project. Obviously, if we are the only ones looking for it, when we found it (and we knew we would), we would be blamed for it and be the ones that suffer for it. We stressed that the next stage of testing must be done quickly and that all the necessary precautions need to be taken to make sure everything is done right!. Then we will call a board meeting and decide what we need to do as an association. We will pursue every avenue we can to open up the market for the producers that are affected.



We have your back and will be working to free up the market. We will be calling the Department of Ag every week to see how the testing is proceeding. We all know that all our deer are the healthiest, most highly tested animals ever raised. No other industry has had to test or has the restrictions that they have placed on our animals. As a result of that, we have built up an amazing pile of paper trails that will prove how healthy our animals really are. Next week at Nadefa we can hopefully exchange some ideas on how to use that to our advantage. Keep positive and we'll see you next week.

Darren,



I just wish we would find the positives in EVERY STATE and get it over with. Then maybe we could move on to more important items. The Feds are really the ones to blame for not coming out with the federal rules. They have only had 10 years! Level the playing field and take down all the borders! Then watch our industry grow!

Sam, I was thinking the same thing, after they find it everywhere then all borders should be open, and by the way the deer that tested positive in Mo. died of a gunshot wound, not CWD. How many of the millions of "healthy" wild deer in the U.S. would test positive?

Which states has cwd been found in so far? The wild deer probably have way higher rates of cwd but how would you test the wild herd? The fact that they find any in the wild herd would indicate the rate is a lot higher because so few get tested.

Every state needs a Sam on thier board of directors, thanks Sam.

Sam, keep up the good work. I know that you guys will pull through this in great shape. With you, Bill and the rest to the MO gang good things are bound to happen.

Sam,



Do you know how many states still have there borders closed to Mo.

Indiana and Hawaii

Good point Darren! If we tested every deer harvested in the US I can assure you that every state would have a CWD positive! In Missouri, during that 3 year period of testing the free-ranging deer, they tested about 15-20,000 deer out of about 1,000,000 deer that were harvested. Thats about 2%



Our industry tests somewhere between 80-100%



I just read where Ohio was proud that they tested about 500 deer. I don't know how many they harvest in OH each year but 500 is a VERY small percentage.



And the wild deer can travel across state borders and have been recorded to move over 100 miles!



If they keep looking they will find one in every state.



As far as closed borders, only IN remains closed but we are seriously concerned about the 25 mile rule or county rule that some states have implemented. We'll be talking about it next week at Nadefa. A good reason for everyone to try and attend!

Sam

Could you please post the states that won't take animals with in the 25 mile radius from Missouri? I know Indiana and Louisianan won't. Who eles won't take them?

Eric

I called the Oklahoma AG Dept yesterday and they are not excepting our animals either. They are waiting for the next 50 animals to be tested.

Sam you are right on it being found in all states. The sooner that happens the better - then we are all on the same playing field. That is a comment Gary has made several times. Since WI had the honor of being the first state to come up with a positive - we've been waiting a long time for it to trickle through.



The only thing that should matter with movement is your CWD monitoring status. If you have 5 years you should be good to go anywhere. And as for federal rules - just goes to show - don't start counting on government to do anything for you.

Paul,



We talked with OK yesterday. Bill told me he had visited with Joel Trammel and that they thought we had it worked out. I'll talk to Dr. Woods today and see what he says. If the state vet from OK has talked with Dr. Woods and still does not open up OK we are going to be extremely disappointed in them. That would simply be a political decision instead of using common sense. We'll let you know as soon as I talk to Dr. Woods.

Actually Jane, WI wasn't the first state. It was just the first state that some bleeding heart liberal decided to push a personal agenda in.

I agree that it is everywhere. These places that test small percentages aren't really looking for it they are just making it look like they tried to find it so they can claim they made the effort.

Our industry should push that all states must test significant numbers in the wild to show one way or the other that they have it or don't have it. Get it over with and show this is all hokus pokus. Then the "news story" can die away once and for all.

Testing 2% or even 5% of the wild deer don't prove squat.

i called the Oklahoma dept of ag today and they said they are still closed and do not have any more info on when they thought they would be able to reopen. when are the other 50 animals being tested and about how long is it suppost to take?

Trigger,



I called today as well and was told it would not be anytime soon. They said that there were going to be more test and the results of those test need to be in before they would consider opening the borders back up.

We'll work on it today. I thought we had something worked out. I'll let you know what we find out.

Here are the rest of the states that have found CWD. Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.