Pawlenty signs bovine TB prevention bill

by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed legislation aimed at stopping the spread of bovine tuberculosis in northwestern Minnesota.

The bill allocates money for herd buyouts and authorizes regulators to assist in erecting fences and other prevention efforts. Eligible cattle owners will receive $500 per head plus annual payments until the designated zone is declared free of bovine TB.

During a signing ceremony today at the state Capitol, Sen. Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, said Minnesota is leading the way on bovine TB.

"We needed to act pretty agressively to get this under control. We needed to remove the animals from the area, the deer and the cattle. I think with this bill, we're going to make significantly good progress toward that goal and not have any more positive tests," Skoe said.

Skoe, who was one of the bill's chief authors, said it will take up to four years for the cattle business to return to normal in northwestern Minnesota.