Eastern Region Signs WS Letter

June 8, 2007 - Eastern state livestock organizations united this week to formally request support for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Wildlife Services (WS) livestock protection program. With more than 250,000 sheep and 150,000 cattle lost each year to predators, the WS livestock protection program is vital to the economic survival of the livestock industry.

The organizations strongly support an increase of $3.6 million in the WS livestock protection program for the Eastern Region in the fiscal year 2008 agricultural appropriations.

"The $3.6 million would help finance livestock protection programs in the WS Eastern Region in the states of Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin," the signators stressed.

In fiscal year 2006, WS provided predator damage management assistance in the 11 states at varying levels. A total of $878,480 was spent on livestock protection with 74 percent ($650,480) coming from cooperative funding from state and country governments, livestock groups and livestock producers. This funding was in addition to funds designated to protect livestock from wolf depredation in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Livestock production is an important component of agriculture in our states; however, predator problems and wildlife conflicts are increasing," concluded the group. "The proposed increase we support in livestock protection funding will assist our individual producers, state and county governments and WS to better address predator management."

Joining the cause by lending their name to the letter are the following: Florida: Florida Cattlemen's Association, Florida Farm Bureau Federation and Meat Sheep Alliance of Florida; Kentucky: Kentucky Cattlemen's Association and Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association; Michigan: Michigan Sheep Breeders Association; Minnesota: Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Association and Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association; Mississippi: Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation; Ohio: Ohio Cattlemen's Association, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Livestock Association, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and United Producer's Inc.; Pennsylvania: Century Commercial Lamb Producers and Feeders, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Livestock Association and Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association; Tennessee: Tennessee Cattlemen's Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and Tennessee Sheep Producers Association; Virginia: Virginia Cattlemen's Association, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and Virginia Sheep Producers Association; West Virginia: Nicholas County Commissioners, West Virginia Cattlemen's Association, West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and West Virginia Shepherds Federation; Wisconsin: Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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