Comment from Ernesto Hurtado

I am a Cattle producer in the state of New Mexico within the Counties of Mora and San Miguel, I offer the following as consideration on the interim rule amending the status of New Mexico from Accredited Free to Modified Accredited Advanced. 1. Out of 33 New Mexico Counties, 2 have been affected by TB, these Counties are Curry and Roosevelt. 2. Consider placing these two counties under Split State Status, keeping the rest of New Mexico Counties (31) as Accredited Free. The State of New Mexico has been divided into two zones for the purpose of tuberculosis status classification, with one listed as accredited-free and a second listed as modified accredited advanced. 3. New Mexico has had an ongoing investigation to detect bovine tuberculosis in domestic cattle herds since April 2007, when an epidemiological investigation of a tuberculosis-positive cow found through slaughter surveillance confirmed an affected dairy herd in the accredited free zone. Recently, a second affected herd was identified in the SAME ZONE. It is my understanding that this downgrade is the result of a SINGLE COW having been found to be positive for bovine tuberculosis in a feedlot in eastern New Mexico in one of two counties, either Curry or Roosevelt. Because of this downgrade the entire state is now considered Modified Accredited Advanced (MAA). This downgrade has resulted in tremendous financial difficulties to New Mexico Livestock producers especially now when we are getting our calves ready for the fall market. Is the Federal Government going to bail out the New Mexico Livestock producer when we will be unable to meet our yearly financial obligations to our banker? I would hope that you have thought of this since the Federal Govenment is in the business of bailouts at the moment for these big Coorporations. Thank you for your time and consideration. Ernesto Hurtado