Brucellosis Free – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

<a href="http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=147391" >Cattle Health: <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> Changes Idaho’s Brucellosis Status To Class Free</a> n n<blockquote>The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of cattle by changing Idaho’s classification from Class A to Class Free. APHIS has determined that Idaho has met the standards for Class Free status. n nClass Free status is based on a state finding no brucellosis in cattle for the 12 months preceding designation as Class Free. Restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves Class Free status. This action relieves certain restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle from Idaho.</blockquote> n nThis is good news for Idahoi for sure. Now I just get to worry about Montana. I wonder something. Usually a state can regain it's Brucellosis free status after a year of no critters testing positive. Why is it in the reports I've been reading Montana is going to have to wait two years to regain it's brucellosis free status? I know we are special but this is special in the wrong way. n nWe not only interpret the character of events… we may also interpret our interpretations. Kenneth Burke