Imports of Argentina Cattle Raises Concerns

Senators from Western ranching states including North Dakota are objecting to a Department of Agr...  More »

Senators from Western ranching states including North Dakota are objecting to a Department of Agriculture plan they say would loosen restrictions on beef and lamb imports from Argentina. Argentina has seen outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle and pigs. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad say they've asked the department to analyze the cost of the proposal including the cost of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak before implementing the policy. The USDA estimates that the economic costs of an outbreak in the U.S could reange from 40 billion to 47 billion dollars over a 15 year period.  « Less