knowledge or control. A clear set of standards and/
or legislation needs to be established which addresses
any civil or criminal liability relative to loose farm
animals, to ensure that farmers are protected from
criminal charges when animals escape confinement
(fences, buildings, etc.) through no fault of the owner.
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the
development of loose animal standards through the
Livestock Care Standards Board and/or the West
Virginia Legislature.
Agriculture
4. NOTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL SPILL
In the event of a hazardous material spill by an
1. FORGING & FALSIFYING ANIMAL
outside party, property owners/operators shall be
HEALTH PAPERS
notified immediately by the proper authorities (but no
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports updating and
longer than 24 hours) of the nature and magnitude of
modernizing the existing laws and fines in Chapter
the materials spilled. The landowner/operator should
19 of the West Virginia Code and adding laws and
have input in the clean-up procedure. One agency
penalties for forging or falsifying animal health papers.
should be responsible to keep the landowner/operator
fully informed of all materials and progress of the
2. POULTRY LITTER
cleanup and recovery.
No commercial litter may be transported or spread
The landowner/operator should have the right
within one (1) mile of a primary poultry stock breeder
to discuss any concerns with ONE designated
site unless the litter meets all four of the following
representative who has the exclusive knowledge
conditions:
and authority to make a lasting decision. WVFB
• All litter shall be properly composted or dry
recommends that the Department of Environmental
stacked at least thirty (30) days
Protection (DEP) be the agency of contact.
• All litter shall be tested and certified by the
5. FOOD PRODUCTION AND GOOD SCIENCE
WVDA to be free of salmonella, mycoplasma
and avian influenza prior to movement
West Virginia Farm Bureau recognizes the need
for environmental protection, as well as the need
• All litter being transported off the premises of
to balance the dietary and economic needs of our
origin shall have a certification accompanying
citizens. Due to the urgency of needed remediation
the load
in many environmental areas, application of good
science is often lost in the rush to accomplish an
• All litter used for soil amendments must be
spread according to best management practices environmental objective. The failure to apply good
science, the result of which can be the passage
to reduce the chances of a breach in bioof inadequately considered laws and regulations,
security of other agricultural enterprises
has an economically burdensome impact upon
• If this policy is not acceptable to the primary
agricultural production. Farm Bureau recommends
breeder, we recommend the primary breeder
careful consideration of good science and adequate
pay the difference in cost between commercial notice prior to enacting laws and regulation affecting
fertilizer and litter to the farmers within the
agriculture and the costs of producing food products.
restricted area who are incurring extra