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Texas Agriculture Archive

July 5, 2002

Federal grant to
beef up diagnostic labs

The announcement that the State of Texas will receive nearly $4.6 million dollars from the United States Department of Agriculture as part of an effort to beef up state defenses against foreign animal and plant diseases is welcome news to Texas farmers and ranchers, said Donald Patman, president of the Texas Farm Bureau.

"The threat of a foreign disease like foot and mouth is all too real for Texas livestock producers," Patman said. "Such a disease could devastate the industry. These funds will be used as a front-line defense against foot and mouth disease and other animal and plant diseases that could wreak havoc on Texas agriculture."

The $4.6 million allocated to Texas—part of $43.4 million in nationwide state grants to strengthen homeland security preparedness—was announced in San Antonio by U.S. Congressman Henry Bonilla, chairman of the subcommittee that funds USDA, and USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture Bill Hawks.

"We applaud Congressman Bonilla's efforts in taking these actions to ensure a safe food supply for the American consumer and maintaining a strong agriculture industry," Patman said.

Hawks said $1.8 million will go to the Lone Star State for emergency preparedness; $458 million will go to animal disease surveillance; $300,000 will go for plant disease detection; and $2 million will go for rapid detection and diagnostic work.

Historically, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been responsible for diagnosis of foreign animal disease in this country. Currently, only one lab in New York can confirm a disease such as foot and mouth. Patman said USDA, acting in partnership with key agricultural states like Texas, would speed up response time during a foreign disease outbreak, where timely action is critical.

"Using Texas as a regional center that can diagnose a disease such as foot and mouth is just common sense," Patman said. "Through USDA's assistance, Texas can bring our diagnostic labs up to speed. Training will be conducted and equipment will be in place to keep response time to a minimum."

The funds are part of the supplemental defense appropriation bill signed by President George W. Bush earlier this year.