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Senate bill intends to protect export markets in wake of animal disease outbreaks

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to protect export markets for livestock producers in the event of an animal disease outbreak.

Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith says she and Indiana Republican Mike Braun are leading the Safe American Food Exports Act, which would give USDA clear authority to preemptively negotiate regionalization agreements for known animal disease threats.

“So when those animal disease outbreaks happen, God forbid, we’re ready and everybody won’t have to be shut down when not everybody is affected.”

She tells Brownfield exports are critical to farmer profitability.

“Very big for soybeans and corn, but also for pork, dairy, beef, and poultry. So protecting those markets and making sure that if there is an animal disease outbreak, it doesn’t have to be devastating to everybody, though it is always terrible, is a big priority of mine.”

Smith says she and her colleagues are working to get the legislation included in the next farm bill.