010416 U.S. Boosting Funds to Block Animal Diseases

Washington - President Bush will propose more money for keeping animal and plant diseases like foot-and-mouth or mad cow disease out of the United States when budget details are released.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has said there would be ''substantial increases'' in the fiscal 2002 budget proposal for animal and plant protection.

Nearly $531 million was appropriated for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. APHIS is the lead federal agency for preventing or eradicating exotic, damaging agricultural diseases.

The United States has stepped up inspections at international airports to prevent European visitors from carrying foot-and-mouth disease into the country. It has banned imports of raw meat products, live animals, used farm equipment and some dairy products from Europe.

Bush told Veneman during a White House meeting that the United States must be vigilant against foot- and-mouth disease, which cripples pigs, cattle, sheep and goats for months and sharply reduces milk and meat production.

The virus, which rarely endangers humans, is easily spread by shoes, farm equipment and even the wind. American officials have said an outbreak in the United States could cause billions of dollars worth of losses to farmers.

In late February, the White House said it would make few significant changes in Agriculture Department operations for fiscal 2002. A budget blueprint issued on Feb. 28 called for closing or merging more of the department's 5,600 local offices, cutting off federal money for new loans through the Rural Telephone Bank and saving $200 million by ending programs that were no longer needed or duplicative.

Administration officials have indicated they would support special aid to farmers to offset low grain prices, but they have let Congress take the lead in shaping the rescue package.

The Senate voted this week to make $5 billion available for a bailout this year. Congress has enacted nearly $25 billion in farm bailouts since late 1998.

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