CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are the latest to join a growing coalition of more than 50 U.S. farm groups who recently called on Congress to pass the Beagle Brigade Act of 2022.

“The Beagle Brigade is crucial for preventing foreign animal diseases, invasive species and pests from entering the country,” said Allison Rivera, NCBA executive director of government affairs.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) and a bipartisan coalition of Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, would authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Ga.

The center primarily trains beagles to detect fruits, vegetables and meats in international passenger baggage, mailed packages, and vehicles entering the United States. Dogs are selected from animal shelters, rescue groups and private owners.

“To continue the success of the Beagle Brigade program, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging Congress to provide specific authorization for the National Detector Dog Training Center so canine teams can continue to provide robust inspections at U.S. ports of entry,” Rivera said.

In a June 20 letter to U.S. congressional ranking members, the coalition said these canine teams play a vital role in trade and travel safety, and work every day to prevent the introduction of harmful foreign animal and plant diseases, and pests into the country.

“The introduction of foreign animal diseases, such as Foot and Mouth Disease, African swine fever, or virulent Newcastle Disease, or plant diseases, such as tomato brown rugose fruit virus, maize lethal necrosis, or citrus greening disease, would have a devastating impact on U.S. agricultural producers, their communities, and the economy if introduced into the U.S.,” the coalition told congressional leaders in the letter.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 116 agricultural canine teams currently provide screening at border crossings, airports, cruise terminals, cargo warehouses and mail facilities.

Mary Kelpinski, CEO of the Michigan Pork Producers Association, said the importation of infected animals or contaminated products is the most likely path for a foreign animal disease to enter the United States.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the first line of defense to protect American pork production and American agriculture from devastating diseases,” she said.

“If African swine fever entered this country, it would cost the pork industry billions of dollars in lost revenue, so we fully support this measure to get more trained dogs to the border to help detect unauthorized imports,” she added.

Terry Wolters, NPPC president and owner of Stoney Creek Farms in Pipestone, Minn., said, “Healthy animals ensure consumers have safe food and allow American producers, their communities, and the U.S. economy to thrive.

“Early detection at our U.S. borders has never been more critical,” he added. “Training canine teams against threats like animal disease and identifying potentially contaminated products at our nation’s ports of entry is critical to the safety of U.S. agriculture. We urge Congress to act fast.”

The National Detector Dog Training Center also oversees the private adoption of retirement-age trained dogs, as well as dogs that do not complete training.

The coalition said Congress has consistently supported this work, including through the passage of the Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019, which authorized the training of additional canine teams.

“The Beagle Brigade Act would provide specific authorization for this highly successful training center, and lay the groundwork for its continued success in the future,” the coalition told congressional leaders. “It would also require a report from the USDA on current and emerging threats to domestic agriculture and natural resources, and improvements that could be made through the center to minimize these threats.

“We ask Congress to support the National Detector Dog Training Center, and the important work done by the Agriculture Canine Teams at our international ports of entry to guard against national security threats, address public safety risks, and grow the economy.”