Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that the threat of bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been eradicated from the entire state of New Mexico.

In September 2008 USDA placed ranches and dairies across the state of New Mexico under tough mandatory movement restrictions and testing requirements after a single positive bovine TB case was identified in the state earlier that year.  Such regulations are not only enormously costly to New Mexico's livestock industry, but they place undue burdens on producers far from the site of the one bovine TB case.

Two years ago, those restrictions were lifted for all counties except Curry and Roosevelt.  But on Tuesday, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will officially lift the restrictions on those two counties.

"The drought is having a devastating impact on ranchers throughout New Mexico, with many having to sell of their herds," Bingaman said.  "This is a bit of good news for ranchers at what is otherwise a very difficult time."

"This is a welcome reassessment that will allow all of New Mexico's cattle growers to more easily do business, and it is a reflection of the diligent care that New Mexico dairy and beef producers give to their herds," said Udall. "Dairy and beef production are central to New Mexico's agricultural sector.  This restored accredited-free status is testimony to the quality products distributed by New Mexico's producers."

There are over 1.5 million cattle and calves in New Mexico, including 330,000 dairy cows.  Total annual sales of milk and beef cattle in 2010 were over $2.4 billion.