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.
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