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Trevor Ames- The veterinary diagnostic lab is the official laboratory of the board of
animal health. It’s estimated that we do one and a half million individual tests a
year to support the veterinarians of the state and their diseases control programs. If the
diagnostic lab does not receive adequate state support, specific tests that can only be done
at this lab, doing active surveillance to detect new immerging diseases or diseases
that need to be controlled would have to sent elsewhere. These diseases can grow and compromise
our industry that is associated with export of animals and animal products. It’s estimated
that agriculture in Minnesota contributes up to almost $65 billion of economic activity
annually, and animal agriculture is a big part of that. It’s very important that we
have an active diagnostic system that’s in place, that can diagnose disease early,
help with control programs and limit these production limited diseases and keep that
part of our agricultural economy healthy. In addition, the diagnostic testing that goes
on in the lab is also important for wild life, testing deer, elk, and freshwater fish. If
the diagnostic lab is not here supporting that act of surveillance, this could also
greatly compromise the natural resources and again affect the tourism with in the state.
So by protecting the animal populations, by ensuring the food supply is safe. It also
ensures our industries are viable and competitive.