Joined Apr 2009
1,130 Posts | 0+
Columbia, MO
I think this is a good place to discuss Missouri's battle and what we are doing to keep our industry going. Here is a quick summary:
THE MISSOURI CERVID INDUSTRY IS UNDER ATTACK!
Last year our Missouri Department of Conservation tried to put us out of business. The strategy they used was to try and place a moratorium on our industry that would eventually end both captive cervid breeding operations as well as captive cervid hunting preserves. By placing a moratorium and not issuing any new permits for either breeding operations or hunting preserves they knew that they could “sunset” our industry.
The Moratorium the Conservation Department tried to place on our industry was a ridiculous idea based on personal agendas and propaganda put out mostly by the Department itself. It would have done nothing to help with our CWD problem. When asked at a JCAR hearing on their proposed “emergency” moratorium, they couldn’t even begin to defend their actions. Their strategy is to miss-represent the facts and stir the emotions of the general public, the conservationists, and the hunters of the state. Then they can push their agendas based on a very emotional outcry which was generated by their own propaganda machine. Luckily our industry was able to stop this far-fetched over reach by our Conservation Department. But what’s next? Since they failed on their first plan we feel like their next move will be to try to regulate us out of business with ridiculous costly regulations that no one can afford. It’s time we make a change!
Our industry is tired of trying to battle an agency that is both our regulatory agency and a direct competitor for our business. This relationship makes no sense! While being regulated by the Conservation Department we are also being regulated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The MDA is full of very qualified animal experts that deal with producer’s problems and disease every day. Our industry works well with this agency and meets with them to propagate sound regulations and programs based on good science. In fact, during the last 10 years, most cervid operations are CWD monitored and a very high percentage of them are Tuberculosis accredited and Brucillosis Certified. No other animal industry can claim this and by working with our Department of Agriculture our captive cervids have become the healthiest animals in the state. We are extremely proud of this fact and want to continue to work with the DOA to make sure they remain this way!
Deer breeding and hunting preserves are a very crucial and historic part of the Missouri landscape. Records show that deer breeding in Missouri goes back to the 1800’s and the first hunting preserves were started over 30 years ago. Missouri has always been known as an agriculture friendly state that promoted alternative agriculture and the improvement and productivity of all lands in Missouri. Breeding operations and hunting preserves have a place in Missouri. They take marginal land and make it productive. Many non-targeted species benefit from these operations such as wild turkeys, birds, and many others. Most preserves are simply a wildlife paradise! Millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs are supported by this industry.
We are asking that the regulation and administration of our industry be turned over entirely into the capable hands of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. This has occurred in many other states and is being accepted as the place where this industry should be. Let the MDA control the privately owned animals on the inside of the fence and the MDC control the publicly owned free-ranging animals on the outside of the fence.
Our industry association, the Missouri Whitetail Breeders and Hunting Ranch Association is supporting a bill to move our industry control entirely over to the Department of Agriculture. We want to work with the agency that is the state’s expert and regulatory authority on all captive privately owned animals. It’s simply the right thing to do. We are asking for everyone’s support!
THE MISSOURI CERVID INDUSTRY IS UNDER ATTACK!
Last year our Missouri Department of Conservation tried to put us out of business. The strategy they used was to try and place a moratorium on our industry that would eventually end both captive cervid breeding operations as well as captive cervid hunting preserves. By placing a moratorium and not issuing any new permits for either breeding operations or hunting preserves they knew that they could “sunset” our industry.
The Moratorium the Conservation Department tried to place on our industry was a ridiculous idea based on personal agendas and propaganda put out mostly by the Department itself. It would have done nothing to help with our CWD problem. When asked at a JCAR hearing on their proposed “emergency” moratorium, they couldn’t even begin to defend their actions. Their strategy is to miss-represent the facts and stir the emotions of the general public, the conservationists, and the hunters of the state. Then they can push their agendas based on a very emotional outcry which was generated by their own propaganda machine. Luckily our industry was able to stop this far-fetched over reach by our Conservation Department. But what’s next? Since they failed on their first plan we feel like their next move will be to try to regulate us out of business with ridiculous costly regulations that no one can afford. It’s time we make a change!
Our industry is tired of trying to battle an agency that is both our regulatory agency and a direct competitor for our business. This relationship makes no sense! While being regulated by the Conservation Department we are also being regulated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The MDA is full of very qualified animal experts that deal with producer’s problems and disease every day. Our industry works well with this agency and meets with them to propagate sound regulations and programs based on good science. In fact, during the last 10 years, most cervid operations are CWD monitored and a very high percentage of them are Tuberculosis accredited and Brucillosis Certified. No other animal industry can claim this and by working with our Department of Agriculture our captive cervids have become the healthiest animals in the state. We are extremely proud of this fact and want to continue to work with the DOA to make sure they remain this way!
Deer breeding and hunting preserves are a very crucial and historic part of the Missouri landscape. Records show that deer breeding in Missouri goes back to the 1800’s and the first hunting preserves were started over 30 years ago. Missouri has always been known as an agriculture friendly state that promoted alternative agriculture and the improvement and productivity of all lands in Missouri. Breeding operations and hunting preserves have a place in Missouri. They take marginal land and make it productive. Many non-targeted species benefit from these operations such as wild turkeys, birds, and many others. Most preserves are simply a wildlife paradise! Millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs are supported by this industry.
We are asking that the regulation and administration of our industry be turned over entirely into the capable hands of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. This has occurred in many other states and is being accepted as the place where this industry should be. Let the MDA control the privately owned animals on the inside of the fence and the MDC control the publicly owned free-ranging animals on the outside of the fence.
Our industry association, the Missouri Whitetail Breeders and Hunting Ranch Association is supporting a bill to move our industry control entirely over to the Department of Agriculture. We want to work with the agency that is the state’s expert and regulatory authority on all captive privately owned animals. It’s simply the right thing to do. We are asking for everyone’s support!
