Ag Secretary urges precautions against hoof and mouth disease

Iowa’s Ag Secretary is urging Iowa farmers to take extra precautions to ensure “foot and mouth” disease doesn’t reach Iowa.Ag Secretary Patty Judge says “Iowa farmers should close the farm gates to animals of unknown origin.” And Judge says visitors from countries where “foot and mouth” disease has been found should be kept off the farm until the incubation period’s over.Many public events have been cancelled in Europe, and some public places closed, to stop the spread of the disease. Judge says she’s not trying to create a panic, but she wants Iowa farmers to practice prevention and be keenly aware of the disease.Judge has convened a special committee to review the state’s emergency plan for responding to a “foot and mouth” outbreak in Iowa.