March 21, 2017 • Page 12 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com National Ag Week March 19-25, 2017 Agriculture Officials Highlight Importance of International Trade and Establish Priorities for Next Farm Bill SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEWS RELEASE Agriculture Officials Highlight Importance of International Trade; Establish Priorities for Next Farm Bill WASHINGTON, D.C.- The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) emphasized the importance of international trade and expanded markets for U.S. agriculture at its annual Winter Policy Conference this week in Washington, D.C. NASDA members, including South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Mike Jaspers, voted on a number of measures that called on the new administration to pursue new trade agreements that create opportunities for agricultural producers. The measures also renewed their call for expanded market access in the Asia Pacific. NASDA members recognize the gains U.S. agriculture producers have made under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and say that any renegotiation of the agreement must ensure the interests of agriculture are front and center. Members also voted to reiterate concerns about recent actions taken in Canada that adversely impact U.S. dairy producers. NASDA members also established priorities for the next Farm Bill. Their seven priorities focus on enhanced funding for invasive species programs, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Market Access Program as well as robust funding for research, new tools for animal disease coordination, investments in voluntary conservation programs and language that addresses the challenges producers will have complying with the Food Safety Modernization Act. NASDAs Animal Agriculture Committee passed approved action on the establishment of a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank, indemnification for national animal health programs and an enhanced National Animal Health Laboratory Network. NASDA represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect and preserve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit SDDA online at http:// sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SD Ag Chat podcasts can be found in the Ag News section at http://sdda.sd.gov/ news. You may subscribe, free of charge, through Google Play Music, iTunes or from https://sdagchat. podbean.com/. Brucellosis Vaccination: Still a Good Idea? Russ Daly, DVM, DACVPM – iGrow Imagine 10% of the nation’s beef and dairy cattle herd infected with a contagious disease causing pregnancy loss and reproductive failure. What’s more, that same contagious disease makes people sick, sometimes with long-term repercussions. That was the situation in the mid1930’s with brucellosis. This bacterial reproductive disease had already been implicated for decades as a significant animal and public health problem. USDA Brucellosis Eradication Program In 1934 the USDA, in conjunction with state officials, embarked on a brucellosis eradication program, remnants of which continue today. Early eradication efforts consisted of blood testing and slaughtering infected animals. While that helped rid herds of a source of infection, it did nothing to prevent those infected cows from spreading the bacteria before they were detected. That all changed in the early 1940s with the development of a brucellosis vaccine (the “Bangs vaccine”) for cattle. Named the “Strain 19” vaccine, it quickly proved to be effective. Even if it did not prevent 100% of infections, it greatly reduced abortions and therefore disease transmission. In the mid-1990s, Strain 19 was replaced as the approved vaccine by “RB51,” which offers similar protection but fewer problems with blood test interference. It took time, but the US brucellosis eradication program can now be considered a success. Cattle brucellosis has been eradicated across the country, except for areas surrounding Yellowstone Park, where wildlife remains as a reservoir. As a result, many states have dropped requirements for brucellosis vaccination of heifers for their resident cattle and for animals entering from other states. Brucellosis Vaccination Today If most brucellosis vaccination requirements are no longer in effect, why should cattle producers continue to make the effort? • Bangs vaccination time is a good time for other heifer management practices as well. Rules restrict brucellosis vaccination to heifers between the ages of 4 and 12 months of age. During this time, heifers identified as replacements can also be given their first dose of pre- breeding reproductive vaccine, palpated for reproductive score, pelvic measured, retagged, and have their udders examined. In addition, since brucellosis vaccine must be administered by an accredited veterinarian, it gives the operation a built-in chance to utilize veterinary expertise to help select and prepare replacement heifers. • Bangs vaccination automatically gives heifers a USDA official ID. Vaccinated heifers receive an official tattoo designating the year of vaccination as well as a metal (or possibly RFID) official identification tag. Even though brucellosis vaccination is not required to cross most state lines anymore, official identification is. • Bangs vaccination makes state officials’ jobs easier. Brucellosis-vaccinated heifers have their official ID’s recorded and sent to the state veterinarian’s office for storage. Those records and ID’s can become invaluable in investigations of disease outbreaks such as tuberculosis. Having identification such as the Bang’s tag number might mean the difference between an operation being declared “all clear” and having to test their animals when it comes to these disease tracebacks. • Bangs vaccination still holds value for many heifer purchasers. At the very least, it indicates that the heifers have been run though a chute and have at least had a chance to be examined and managed more closely than those not vaccinated against Brucellosis. • Brucellosis hasn’t been eradicated from the face of the earth yet. Yes, the chance of a dairy or beef cow encountering brucellosis in our South Dakota herds is so low as to generally be disregarded. But as long as a source of the disease exists in the greater Yellowstone area – and other countries – protection is not a bad idea. If the day ever comes when brucellosis vaccination is a rarity, we could have a cattle population once again quite susceptible to that important disease. The Bottom Line For beef and dairy producers, the best source of information on how brucellosis vaccination fits into an operation is their local veterinarian. In South Dakota, the Animal Industry Board has a great deal of useful information on brucellosis. Midstates Community and Economic Development Conference Brings Community Leaders Together U.S. Department of Agriculture The 14th annual Midstates Community and Economic Development Conference #RURALROCKS will be held April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Marina Inn Hotel and Conference Center in South Sioux City, Neb. The Midstates Community and Economic Development Conference is one of the largest rural development events in the tri-state area and is a joint project of ten agencies and organizations in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It is designed for local leaders and offers workshops on successful strategies and innovative ideas for rural development. The keynote speaker this year will be Deb Brown of Save Your Town who will share stories of small town successes and help attendees determine ways they can build possibility in their towns, improve the idea climate in their rural communities, and learn practical steps to take to draw a crowd of supporters, create more connections, and get started with small steps. Three breakout sessions will feature twelve presenters representing success stories in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Topics for these workshops include marketing, housing, vacant lots, workforce education, “old to new” and local food entrepreneurs. Communities are encouraged to bring two or more representatives to the conference so people can attend breakout sessions that will run concurrently. Registrations are due by March 31, and online registration is available at www.extension.iastate.edu/woodbury. The planning committee for the Midstates Conference is made up of the City of South Sioux City, East River Electric Power Coop, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Monona County Economic Development, South Dakota State University Extension, SIMPCO Council of Governments, Siouxland Community Foundation, Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, USDA Rural Development and Woodbury County Rural Economic Development. Financial sponsors of the conference include City of South Sioux City, Dakota Resources, East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., Great Southern Bank, Heidman Law Firm, Iowa West Coast Initiative, Nebraska Public Power District, Northwest Iowa Development, Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Plymouth County Economic Development, Security National Bank, SIMPCO Council of Governments, Sioux City Journal, Siouxland Community Foundation, Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, Siouxland Initiative, South Dakota Community Foundation and Wells Enterprises. For registration details and additional information, please contact ISU Extension and Outreach- Woodbury County at (712) 276-2157 or visit www.extension.iastate. edu/woodbury. March 19th - 25th For all your Ag & Industrial Supplies All types of Welding, Machine Work, Custom Fabrication. 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