Animal disease outbreaks pose risks to nation’s food supply

WASHINGTON D.C. — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are trying to figure out how to better protect the nation’s food supply, by focusing on preventing and responding to diseases in farm animals.

Even if you don’t work on or live near a farm, you’re still likely impacted by an outbreak of diseases there.

“We have seen the price of eggs go up in part due to the Avian flu,” Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) Virginia. “As a mother of three children, I certainly know how important this nutritious food staple can be to families.”

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USDA officials believe the programs Congress authorized in the last Farm Bill are working.

They gave lawmakers the data they say backs it up.

This past March, they reported five cases of Avian flu in commercial facilities across the country.

In March of last year, they saw 51 cases, which is about ten times that amount.

“We are better prepared today because of those programs,” USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt said. “I remain confident that we can keep this disease away, but we are all prepared to respond to any incursion and the Farm Bill, and the Farm Bill programs have helped us improve our readiness.”

But as Congress works on this year’s legislation, Republicans warn there needs to be balance.

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“We want to make sure strong measures are in place across all production methods,” Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R) Pennsylvania said. “That said we also have to ensure these measures don’t unduly burden the day-to-day operations of our dedicated producers.”

Some worry those restrictions have caused the U.S. to import more agricultural products than we produce.

“I’d like to see us open them up a little bit so we can produce pork and poultry and serve it around the world, as opposed to potentially importing animals into the country that introduce these horrible diseases,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R) Wisconsin said.

“We are working and actively working on supporting and protecting our own industry, so our own industry can continue to grow and thrive to produce food for our domestic consumers, as well as abroad,” Lester Moffitt responded.

This debate is important, as some believe the cost of an outbreak will far exceed the cost of disease prevention programs.

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