WEBVTT

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America's farms - the subject of countless stories, poems, and songs for generations.

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The food they produce fuels our Nation's economy as well as its inhabitants.

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There are more than two million farms in the U.S. -

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and more than half of them count livestock as their major business.

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But what would happen to our Nation's economy, our food supply, and our food prices

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if U.S. livestock were exposed to deadly foreign animal diseases?

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And what would happen to our wildlife -

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like birds, deer, and buffalo -

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that are also vitally important to our Nation's ecosystems and tourism?

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Some foreign animal diseases are so contagious

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that they could devastate our food supply and our economy.

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That is why U.S. Customs and Border Protection - or CBP -

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has trained its Agriculture Specialists to intercept these pathogens.

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CBP works closely with the United States Department of Agriculture

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to enforce import restrictions that keep out foreign animal diseases.

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The stakes are high.

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The beef cattle industry alone

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was worth approximately $80 billion in retail sales in 2012.

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The broiler chicken industry is worth about $50 billion each year.

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And total U.S. egg production averages a staggering 90 billion eggs each year -

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worth about $7.5 billion.

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The swine industry is also critically important to the U.S. economy.

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The United States exported more than 2.3 million metric tons of pork in 2012,

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valued at $6.3 billion, a record-breaking year.

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Keeping U.S. livestock free of foreign animal diseases

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not only avoids the imposition of trade sanctions on the U.S.,

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it helps keeps prices down for American consumers.

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Foreign animal diseases can be carried into the U.S. in a variety of ways.

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Some of them are quite visible;

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others are hidden in the fine print of processed food ingredients.

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Sometimes travelers from foreign countries bring in something we call "bush meat."

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Bush meat is raw, smoked or partially processed meat from a variety of animals,

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including monkeys and other non-human primates, bats, antelopes, and rodents.

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Whether it's antelope meat from Africa or chicken eggs from Asia,

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whether it's a pet canary in the back seat of a car,

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a feathered handicraft from an exotic vacation,

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or ham sandwiches in grandma's purse -

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CBP works diligently to block potential pathways of foreign animal diseases.

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Two of the most devastating diseases are Foot and Mouth Disease, or F-M-D,

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and Exotic Newcastle Disease, or E-N-D.

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FMD is a highly-contagious virus that affects cattle,

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swine, goats, sheep, deer, and buffalo.

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If an outbreak of FMD occurred in the U.S.,

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it could spread rapidly unless it was detected early and eradicated immediately.

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The U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929.

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But some parts of Europe and South America, Africa, and Asia

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are affected by various forms of this deadly virus.

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CBP also guards against Exotic Newcastle Disease - or "E-N-D."

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E-N-D is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects all species of birds.

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Many birds die before they show any signs of infection.

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E-N-D first surfaced in the U.S. in the 1970s.

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The most recent outbreak, in 2002-2003,

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forced the poultry industry to destroy more than 3.4 million birds.

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Although U.S. scientists have developed a vaccine for E-N-D,

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the disease can still infect and kill even vaccinated poultry.

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That could spell disaster for America's more than 280 million egg-laying hens.

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Bird-smugglers, eager to avoid having to obtain the proper permits,

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go to great lengths to hide their contraband.

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Travelers and smugglers who carry these birds into the U.S.

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jeopardize the health of all U.S. birds.

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CBP Agriculture Specialists remain ever vigilant

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protecting the U.S. livestock industry while facilitating

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the flow of admissible agricultural products into the country.

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You can help.

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If you are bringing in any animal product, declare it.

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We all have a stake in what each person packs.

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You, too, are on the frontline in defending America's farms, wildlife,

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and food exports from deadly foreign animal diseases.

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For more information, visit CBP.gov or USDA.gov.

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