Guest Opinion: Split-State Status Wrong For Montana’s Cattle Industry

By Guest Writer, 6-30-08

In light of Montana’s recent loss of brucellosis Class Free status, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) would like to reiterate its opposition to split-state status as means for managing brucellosis in Montana.

Members adopted policy opposing regionalization for brucellosis in Dec. 2007, at the MSGA Annual Convention, after the first brucellosis case was discovered in herd a near Bridger.

Our organization continues to have a number of concerns about split-state status. Aside from our practical concerns about the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of two classification areas in MT, philosophically, we do not support geographically isolating ranchers according to problems they experience. We believe that the industry’s integrity and future depends on uniting producers against common threats. Sacrificing some for the short-term gain of others only serves to weaken these goals and the industry’s foundation. Cattle producers must remain united on all fronts against brucellosis to protect the livelihood, stability and heritage of our industry.

As we have learned with other natural resource and wildlife issues, what begins as a small problem for several producers soon grows to impact the entire state. Our primary concern is that if split-state status is implemented, there will be less incentive for Montanans to work together to attain the ultimate goal: complete eradication of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA).

Ranchers have worked hard in an effort to effectively manage brucellosis. The U.S. cattle industry has spent almost 75 years and nearly $2 billion to eradicate this disease from our cattle. Now, our herds are facing increasing threats from infected wildlife. Even cattle that have been vaccinated have become infected. Montana’s second case was discovered as a result of producer-initiated herd plans, which are designed to closely monitor the threat of a brucellosis transmission from elk to cattle. Because of this herd plan, the rancher was able to identify the transmission and prevent further spread of the disease. The source of this latest transmission has yet to be determined, but, so far, wildlife seems to be the culprit. Wyoming and Idaho have lost their Class Free status in the past due to confirmed transmissions from elk. Ranchers have taken all necessary precautions, yet brucellosis transmissions from infected wildlife remain a major threat to the health of our industry.

One promising mechanism for dealing with this threat is the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee (GYIBC). The GYIBC is responsible for developing tools and criteria to eliminate brucellosis in bison and elk in the GYA. A Memorandum of Understanding designed to set this committee into motion has been signed by both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior, and has been sitting on Governor Schweitzer’s desk for three years awaiting his signature. The Governor’s failure to sign this important document undercuts the industry’s ability to address the root of our brucellosis problem.

MSGA believes that rather than wasting already limited resources on creating a two-area classification for Montana, the Department of Livestock should first focus its resources on fulfilling the requirements for our entire state to regain its Class Free status. Then we all—ranchers and conservationists alike—need to work together to eliminate this disease from cattle, elk and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We can develop a plan that eradicates brucellosis in the GYA, maintains livestock grazing in the GYA, and maintains a healthy, vigorous wildlife population.

Split-state status it is not a viable, long-term solution to our brucellosis problem. We cannot afford to waste any more time or resources on so-called “quick fixes.” We must work together to regain our Class Free status and rid the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of brucellosis, once and for all.