March 13, 2008

A Request to the PSA Membership

The FY09 federal budget proposed by President George Bush includes a
$146 million cut to the USDA budget, resulting in an $84 million cut to
the USDA/ARS. This budget reduction involves the elimination of two
active USDA laboratories.

The Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL) in East Lansing,
Michigan ($3.7 million) works on genetic resistance to Marek's Disease
Virus (MDV) and Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV), MDV vaccine development,
MDV and ALV monitoring and test development. In addition, ADOL develops
and maintains specialized poultry lines for disease studies and is the
primary poultry genomics facility within the USDA. ADOL is the World
Animal Health Organization Reference Laboratory of Marek's disease.

The Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory (ABBL) in
Beltsville, MD ($8.4 million) works on mechanisms of feed efficiency in
poultry, plus gamete storage for turkeys and chickens.

If the proposed budget is approved, these two programs will cease to
exist. They are NOT being relocated. Poultry species have taken the
biggest hit in this budget, with elimination of 66% of the Animal
Production research funds for poultry.

The US congress needs input on this subject, so that they can decide if
this proposed budget is in the best interest for the nation.

We are all painfully aware of the current poor funding of poultry
research at all levels within the US. Poultry production is efficient
and economical due to the hard work of scientists in academia,
government and industry over the past decades. If passed, this budget
will have serious negative consequences for the future well-being of
poultry.

Further information on the research program that will be eliminated can
be obtained by contacting the research leaders

ADOL: Dr. Aly Fadly 517-337-6828 fadly@msu.edu

ABBL: Dr. John McMurtry at 301-504-8803 MCMURTRY@anri.barc.usda.gov

I urge the PSA membership to write letters to their representatives in
Congress and providing input on the negative consequences of these
proposed cuts.

Information on who your representatives are and how to contact them can
be found at

www.house.gov <http://www.house.gov/>

www.senate.gov <http://www.senate.gov/>

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies will be
discussing issue related to Agriculture soon. Written testimony related
to these topics must be received by Wed Mar 26, 2208 to be included in
the public testimony. Comments should be sent to:
AG.Approp@mail.house.gov

The Senate committee should be meeting soon. Letters should be sent to
both the House and Senate by e-mail, fax or mail.


Sincerely,

Janet Fulton, PhD
Molecular Biologist
Hy-Line International
Phone 515-992-4173
Fax 515-992-3203
jfulton@hyline.com

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