Animal Agriculture Coalition

Jay Lemmermen

March 27, 2001

Mr. Chairman, I am Jay Lemmermen, Chair of the Animal Agriculture Coalition (AAC), and the Director of Quality Assurance for Southeast Milk, Inc. in Ocala, Florida. The AAC appreciates the opportunity to present to you and the Senate Agriculture Committee our priority items for the Research, Extension and Education title of the Farm Bill.

The AAC is a coalition of livestock, poultry and aquaculture trade associations, and veterinary and scientific communities that monitors and influences animal health, environment, food safety, and research and education issues.

The AAC has four primary goals: 1) revitalizing APHIS; 2) increase animal agriculture research funding; 3) increase involvement and influence regarding international sanitary/phytosanitary standards (SPS); and 4) enhance animal agriculture product safety and quality.

Value of U.S. Animal Agriculture

In 1999, crop, livestock and poultry cash receipts were $190 billion, of which $100 billion can be attributed to animal agriculture. The U.S. animal agriculture industries are an extremely important part of our nation's economy, accounting for almost 24 million jobs and 13% of the gross domestic product. Total cash receipts from animal agriculture represent only a small portion of the overall value we bring to the economy. There are many sectors of the food industry rely on animal agriculture, such as suppliers, veterinarians, transporters, distributors, food processors, exporters, and restaurants.

Challenges to U.S. Animal Agriculture

The U.S. livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries have become very efficient in producing a safe, nutritious and high quality product at a low cost. Currently, U.S. consumers spend only 10.4% of their per capita disposable income on food, the least amount of any country.

The U.S. animal agriculture industries are under constant risk from the introduction of a foreign animal disease (FAD) that could devastate our industries and the effects ripple down the entire food chain. The increases in global trade of agriculture products and passenger travel provide greater opportunity for an introduction of a FAD.

The current outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom and other countries in the European Union and the spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) across the European Union have reinforced the need for prevention efforts in this country. The total economic impact of the current FMD outbreak in Europe is yet to be known, but will likely amount to billions of dollars with many hundreds of thousands of animals being destroyed. The total economic impact of BSE in the U.K. is still mounting, but currently totals $8 billion. An outbreak of Classical Swine Fever in the Netherlands in 1997 left $2.3 billion in economic damages with 8 million hogs destroyed. Also in 1997, an outbreak of FMD spread rapidly in Taiwan causing some 8 million hogs to be destroyed and $8 billion in economic losses.

U.S. animal agriculture must continue the development of new methods and technologies to provide a safe, nutritious food supply while protecting our environment. Healthy animals make safe food and we are committed to working to maintain a stable research and inspection infrastructure to protect animal agriculture.

Importance of Agriculture Research

The U.S. public investments in agriculture research, development and technology transfer have been cost effective in that they have guaranteed safe and wholesome food at a reasonable cost. An Economic Research Service (1999) comprehensive literature review found that studies consistently show a high rate of return (40-60%) for public investments in agriculture research and development. Further investments will continue to provide a high rate of return on investment.

Research plays an extremely positive role in enhancing livestock, poultry and aquaculture producers' opportunity for profit, while at the same time assisting them in the production of high quality, safe, and nutritious products that are desired by consumers worldwide. It has helped eradicate and control diseases, improve genetics and increase feed efficiency. In order to build on these accomplishments and be globally competitive, additional research which benefits the animal industries must be conducted and its results made readily available to producers nationwide.

The science behind animal agriculture affects America's international trade balance, our environment, our neighbors, local economies and individuals. Competitive farmers and ranchers with the right knowledge and tools can ensure that U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture enterprises thrive; consumers get safe and nutritious food; and wildlife benefit from improved animal health and enhanced environmental stewardship. Food animals fare better in the care of knowledgeable producers and processors, and communities reap financial rewards from food processing industries.

Gains such as these require public investments in research and education that, in turn, fuel the creation of industries and export profits that sustain communities and rural economies across the country. Keeping that edge will require a clear vision for the future and a strategic plan for research investments to attain the next generation of innovations.

Priorities for Animal Agriculture

I. Increase Funding for Agriculture Research

The U.S. must have a comprehensive nationwide biosecurity or infrastructure system to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases. We rely on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to provide the veterinary infrastructure to protect and promote the animal health of the U.S. livestock, poultry and aquaculture. However, the funding for APHIS has been decreasing over the past decade. We are weakening the very infrastructure that can prevent, diagnose and respond to a disease introduction and outbreak. We cannot become complacent; these efforts need to be fully funded to protect the U.S. animal agriculture industries.

Research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) provide the basis for the system to protect and promote the animal agriculture industries. Research is the vital component for proper disease diagnosis and surveillance. Funding needs to be increased in ARS and CSREES to meet the needs of animal agriculture with emerging, domestic and foreign animal diseases, food safety, nutrition, environment, genomics, germplasm preservation, animal production and technology transfer.

We would like to thank the Congress for the increases that ARS and CSREES both received in research funding in Fiscal Year 2001; 9.7% and 4.0% respectively, and also for funding the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). However, one important program, the National Research Initiative (NRI) in CSREES still received a 10.9% decrease. The NRI provides a wide spectrum of basic research needs and will result in future practical outcomes for U.S. agriculture and needs to be funded properly.

II. Research and Diagnostic Facilities

Research and diagnostic facilities are a vital component to the biosecurity infrastructure, which protects animal health. Currently, we have facilities such as the APHIS and ARS facilities in Ames, Iowa and Plum Island, New York, that are in dire straits, they are in need of proper maintenance and repair or need to be rebuilt. These facilities limit the research that can be conducted and the development of new diagnostic technologies that would further protect our animal health.

The AAC supports proper funding for the ARS and APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island, New York to maintain the site as it conducts the important work of foreign animal disease research and diagnostics.

The AAC supports the proposed ARS and APHIS Master Plan for $440 million to rebuild the National Animal Disease Center (NADC), the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) laboratories in Ames, Iowa. The existing facilities are antiquated, inefficient and seriously undermine USDA's role as a world leader in animal health and diagnostics. For example, the U.S. currently does not meet the standards that we require of our trading partners, leading us to rely on foreign laboratories and foreign diagnostic procedures. This new facility is urgently needed to meet the national needs for research, diagnosis and product evaluation related to animal health in order to protect the $100 billion U.S. animal agriculture industry.

III. Implement the Goals of FAIR 2002

The Food Animal Integrated Research (FAIR) 2002 is the outcome of the second national conclave to establish consensus on animal agriculture research and education priorities for the 21^st century. More than 250 leading veterinarians, animal scientists, farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, animal welfare proponents, commodity group representatives, government staff, rural advocates, and agribusiness and food service representatives gathered to determine the most pressing research and education needs of the animal industry.

Six goals became the foundation for FAIR 2002's research priorities and objectives, the necessary steps to ensure we raise the best quality animal products in ways that are economically competitive, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.

They are:

• Strengthen Global Competitiveness

• Enhance Human Nutrition

• Protect Animal Health

• Improve Food Safety and Public Health

• Ensure Environmental Quality

• Promote Animal Well-being

These goals address the emerging issues and competitive gaps in a national strategy to keep the American animal industry on top. A listing of the specific objectives under each goal is attached in Appendix 1. Tomorrow's problems cannot be solved with yesterday's thinking. Success will require the continued public investment in U.S. academic institutions and government laboratories whose record of achievement is the envy of the world.

The AAC member organizations took active roles in defining the FAIR 2002 goals. The AAC is also working to develop an initiative that would increase funding for animal agriculture research and educational programs in ARS and CSREES focused on the FAIR 2002 goals and also Animal Health Emergency Management. We ask that the FAIR 2002 goals be used for coordination and prioritization of animal research between ARS and CSREES.

Conclusion

Mr. Chairman, the AAC urges the Committee to strongly protect and increase the federal investment in agriculture research and education programs and facilities. This will ensure our society maintains an affordable, safe and high quality food supply, while protecting our environment and keeping our farmers and ranchers globally competitive. Making federal investments in agriculture research and facilities is investing in the future of U.S. animal agriculture.

The AAC appreciates the opportunity to share our thoughts with you on agriculture research and education as you prepare for the 2002 Farm Bill.

Appendix 1

FAIR 2002

Goals and Objectives

1. Strengthen Global Competitiveness

Develop the systems to keep American animal agriculture competitive in the global marketplace.

Objectives:

• Enhance production efficiencies and economic strategies at the farm and ranch level.

• Develop innovative animal products for specialized markets and new uses to boost local economies.

• Position producers and processors of animal products to succeed in a global market.

• Help producers, policymakers and other stakeholders decide what Agriculture will look like in the 21^st Century.

2. Enhance Human Nutrition

Improve animal food products to help people live better, longer.

Objectives:

• Research the contributions of meat, eggs and dairy products to healthy, balanced diets.

• Create and identify functional foods from animals.

• Determine how production and processing practices affect food quality.

3. Protect Animal Health

Develop strategies and technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat animal diseases

Objectives:

• Detect and control animal diseases that threaten the food supply

• Develop optimal production practices that promote animal health

· Improve capacity to deal with new and re-emerging animal disease threats

4. Improve Food Safety

Safeguard public health and reduce the risk of food-borne disease.

Objectives:

• Develop and demonstrate control procedures to eliminate health hazards in food production from the farm and ranch to the grocery store.

• Increase the accuracy and speed of pathogen detection systems

• Improve the effectiveness of pathogen destruction technology

• Reduce the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals to public health

5. Ensure Environment Quality

Devise animal production systems that sustain or improve the environment

Objectives:

• Develop better scientific measures and diagnostic tools of water, soil and air quality

• Design and demonstrate production systems and management practices that reduce the adverse affects of animal agriculture

• Invent technologies that capture value from manure and processed by-products.

6. Promote Animal Well-being

Enhance animal well-being throughout the food-production cycle

Objectives:

• Develop better scientific measures to assess animal well-being including pain, stress and behavioral needs.

• Determine the impact of current and alternative production systems on animal well-being and food quality including handling, transportation and slaughter.

• Explore ethical issues in animal production and research.