Agri-Beef Oops
Tighten up the ship ...An Agri-Beef error has Washington State cattlemen up in arms! I’m Susan Allen stay tuned for the story. Cattle producers from Washington State are furious over the fact Canadian cattle have entered the US without disease testing. It isn’t supposed to happen, but it did, and it wasn’t just a couple of cows, 402 head of cattle were shipped to a ranch in Laurier Washington and the lackadaisical manner in which both state and federal agencies responded to this error has made producers furious. Of the herd to date half have tested negative and been released into a quarantine feed yard while another 93 are in the process of being tested and another 90 yet to be caught. Four cows responded to tuberculosis testing but were found to be negative. It’s a big oops for Agri-beef who admitted to an error in paper work that allowed the Canadian herd to be shipped to a Washington ranch prior to having been tested for disease. But the beef conglomerate has yet to even have it’s wrist slapped causing ire among ethical cattle producers who are demanding both the ranch and Agri Beef’s import licenses be suspended. Producers want tighter federal control and worry that a tuberculosis find in Washington State could destroy cattle producers who would have to deflaut on contracts. Dan Newhouse Washington State Depart of Agriculture Director recently promised producers that both his department and the state attorney general office would investigate the need for tighter rules. I’m Susan Allen
