Thank you for all of your support thus far. If you are interested in helping, please copy and paste the letter below, sign you name, then click on the link and type in your address to find your state legislators contact information. (Be sure to click on State and not US) Thank you again for your continuous support of Lazy 5 Ranch. We are writing in regards to the House Bill that would transfer the regulation of captive deer from NC Wildlife Resources Commission to the NC Department of Agriculture. We strongly believe that the regulation of captive cervids in North Carolina should be transferred to the NC Department of Agriculture. In 2002 when NCWRC seized control of captive cervids regulation, there were over 100 deer farmers in the state. Now there are only 37. NCWRC has stifled and all but eliminated deer farming in the state of North Carolina. The reason NCWRC took over management was to stop the disease CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) from entering the state. Richard Hamilton of the commission said that “We haven’t had CWD in North Carolina because of the commission.” It is completely unproven that the commission had anything to do with this, and the concerns over captive deer spreading CWD to wildlife are largely unfounded. Transferring regulatory oversight will not harm efforts to mitigate CWDs spread. The NC Department of Agriculture currently regulates tb testing, brucellosis testing, and CWD testing within the state for captive deer and elk and all other animals. The NCDA and USDA are responsible for any health papers for most animals including deer and elk which are tested. The NCDA and USDA also work with private veterinarians to certify them in tb testing and other health regulated requirements with deer and elk. The NCWRC does not have the authority or experience to do this. There are a vast number of reasons why the NCDA is more qualified to regulate the captive cervids in North Carolina. North Carolina’s Veterinary Division maintains a strong infrastructure and demonstrated track record in the administration of successful disease surveillance and control programs involving commercial livestock. The division is regularly recognized and contacted by other state animal health officials for consultation involving its expertise in emergency disease response, information management and security, secure milk supply planning for the dairy industry, the feral swine identification program, emergency depopulation and disposal protocols, and collaborative programs with other agencies. The expertise and experience assists efforts across all species and emerging disease events. The NCDA is more than qualified to regulate deer farming in North Carolina as the agriculture business that it is. If the jurisdiction remains under NCWRC, deer farming will soon be extinct in our state. We should be encouraging and supporting our agriculture businesses in North Carolina, not destroying them. Please support the transfer of the regulation of captive cervids in North Carolina to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture where it belongs. Thank You, ncga.state.nc.us/representation/whorepresentsme.aspx
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:12:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015