Beagle Brigade Act Sees Reintroduction

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

The National Pork Producers Council is applauding the reintroduction of the Beagle Brigade Act of 2023. This legislation would provide congressional authority to the USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center, which is a vital program in training agricultural canine teams that work daily to prevent foreign animal and plant diseases from entering the U.S.

The Center started in 1984 with just one dog and one trainer. Today, it is located in Newnan, GA, on 17 acres with 8 buildings and 100 kennels

“Safe and reliable food production is critical to the United States’ continued national and economic security,” says Terry Wolters, NPPC President. “As African Swine Fever continues to plague the Dominican Republic and Haiti, strengthening early detection capabilities at our U.S. borders is more important than ever.”

The “Beagle Brigade” serves as the first line of defense for early detection at the nation’s ports of entry and is critical for keeping foreign animal diseases out of the country. NPPC led more than 50 agricultural and other organizations in supporting the Beagle Brigade Act’s reintroduction and urges Congress to pass it.