Legislators hand over more money for hoof and mouth disease

Legislators are putting more money in the Ag Department’s budget to deal with the threat of “foot and mouth” disease. House Speaker Brent Siegrist, a republican from Council Bluffs, says rural members of the legislature are concerned the state doesn’t have an “action plan” in place should the disease reach Iowa.Legislators will set aside 200-thousand dollars, and apply for a 50-thousand dollar federal grant to plan how the state would intervene if there’s a “hoof and mouth” outbreak.State Ag Secretary Patty Judge has said she wants to hire a new coordinator who would prepare an action plan for “foot and mouth” and other infectious livestock diseases.