America's farms - the subject of countless stories, poems, and songs for generations.
The food they produce fuels our Nation's economy as well as its inhabitants.
There are more than two million farms in the U.S. -
and more than half of them count livestock as their major business.
But what would happen to our Nation's economy, our food supply, and our food prices
if U.S. livestock were exposed to deadly foreign animal diseases?
And what would happen to our wildlife -
like birds, deer, and buffalo -
that are also vitally important to our Nation's ecosystems and tourism?
Some foreign animal diseases are so contagious
that they could devastate our food supply and our economy.
That is why U.S. Customs and Border Protection - or CBP -
has trained its Agriculture Specialists to intercept these pathogens.
CBP works closely with the United States Department of Agriculture
to enforce import restrictions that keep out foreign animal diseases.
The stakes are high.
The beef cattle industry alone
was worth approximately $80 billion in retail sales in 2012.
The broiler chicken industry is worth about $50 billion each year.
And total U.S. egg production averages a staggering 90 billion eggs each year -
worth about $7.5 billion.
The swine industry is also critically important to the U.S. economy.
The United States exported more than 2.3 million metric tons of pork in 2012,
valued at $6.3 billion, a record-breaking year.
Keeping U.S. livestock free of foreign animal diseases
not only avoids the imposition of trade sanctions on the U.S.,
it helps keeps prices down for American consumers.
Foreign animal diseases can be carried into the U.S. in a variety of ways.
Some of them are quite visible;
others are hidden in the fine print of processed food ingredients.
Sometimes travelers from foreign countries bring in something we call "bush meat."
Bush meat is raw, smoked or partially processed meat from a variety of animals,
including monkeys and other non-human primates, bats, antelopes, and rodents.
Whether it's antelope meat from Africa or chicken eggs from Asia,
whether it's a pet canary in the back seat of a car,
a feathered handicraft from an exotic vacation,
or ham sandwiches in grandma's purse -
CBP works diligently to block potential pathways of foreign animal diseases.
Two of the most devastating diseases are Foot and Mouth Disease, or F-M-D,
and Exotic Newcastle Disease, or E-N-D.
FMD is a highly-contagious virus that affects cattle,
swine, goats, sheep, deer, and buffalo.
If an outbreak of FMD occurred in the U.S.,
it could spread rapidly unless it was detected early and eradicated immediately.
The U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929.
But some parts of Europe and South America, Africa, and Asia
are affected by various forms of this deadly virus.
CBP also guards against Exotic Newcastle Disease - or "E-N-D."
E-N-D is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects all species of birds.
Many birds die before they show any signs of infection.
E-N-D first surfaced in the U.S. in the 1970s.
The most recent outbreak, in 2002-2003,
forced the poultry industry to destroy more than 3.4 million birds.
Although U.S. scientists have developed a vaccine for E-N-D,
the disease can still infect and kill even vaccinated poultry.
That could spell disaster for America's more than 280 million egg-laying hens.
Bird-smugglers, eager to avoid having to obtain the proper permits,
go to great lengths to hide their contraband.
Travelers and smugglers who carry these birds into the U.S.
jeopardize the health of all U.S. birds.
CBP Agriculture Specialists remain ever vigilant
protecting the U.S. livestock industry while facilitating
the flow of admissible agricultural products into the country.
You can help.
If you are bringing in any animal product, declare it.
We all have a stake in what each person packs.
You, too, are on the frontline in defending America's farms, wildlife,
and food exports from deadly foreign animal diseases.
For more information, visit CBP.gov or USDA.gov.
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