USDA Announces New Brucellosis Testing Guidelines

U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Greg Ibach Oct. 14 at a ranch outside of Belgrade to announce new testing guidelines for brucellosis which will help expand research and improve efforts to eradicate the disease and reduce its impacts on Montana ranchers and Montana agriculture.

Daines was joined by Montana agriculture leaders including the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and other stakeholders. Daines was awarded the “Friend of Farm Bureau award” by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation for his support and work on behalf of Montana agriculture in the U.S. Senate..

Before this policy change, researchers could only study animals infected with brucellosis in a contained indoor facility, limiting researchers’ ability to study livestock and wildlife.