26 Governors Create Border Strike Force ‘In the Absence of Federal Leadership’

by Charlotte Cuthbertson, Epoch Times

Twenty-six U.S. governors, all Republican, announced the creation of a Border Strike Force to “disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations” on April 19.

The group of governors signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging to work together to “serve as a force multiplier to target cartels and criminal networks financially and operationally.”

“Together, governors will improve public safety, protect victims from horrific crimes, reduce the amount of drugs in our communities, and alleviate the humanitarian crisis at the Southern Border,” the agreement states.

The group includes two border states— Arizona and Texas—as well as 24 others: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. “In the absence of federal leadership, states are partnering together to create the American Governors’ Border Strike Force to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations by increasing collaboration, improving criminal organizations “to ensure that such intelligence, investing in analysis, combat- crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent ing human smuggling, and stopping drug of the law.” flow in our states,” the agreement states. For example, Arizona doesn’t currently The governors will coordinate to share have a state law against human smuggling, intelligence, disrupt smuggling corridors, while Texas just strengthened its anti-smugand assist border states. They plan to focus gling laws last September. efforts on targeting cartel finances and States can request help from other parborder-related crime. ticipating states and state-specific The participating states also plan to certifications and licenses will be honored review state laws regarding human traffick- among the states. Each state is responsible ing, drug trafficking, and transnational for its own costs. The Border Strike Force was announced days after Customs and Border Protection released its March statistics, which show

ANIMAL & RANGE SCIENCES animal & range sCienCes the highest number of Border Patrol apprehensions—209,906—along the southern border since early 2000. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves wrote on Twitter that “we’re all border states now & The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences we’re going to protect ourselves.” “Despite what the Biden Admin would Four on-campus animal facilities house: beeF CaTTle/horses/swine/sheep have you believe, criminals, drugs & human trafficking don’t just stay on the border. They make their way to every state,” Reeves Students can major in Animal or Rangeland Resources and are provided with the very wrote on April 19.best of “hands on” academic instruction by our faculty. Fully equipped labs allow students access to cutting-edge research in: LIVESTOCKNUTRITION / GENETICS / PHYSIOLOGY / ENDOCRINOLOGY / MEAT SCIENCE / WOOL / TOXICOLOGY / WATERSHED & RANGELANDECOLOGY / WEED & BRUSHCONTROL / PLANTSYSTEMATICS / GRAZINGMANAGEMENT The Department also offers pre-veterinary studies –our graduates have a high acceptance rate into veterinary medicine programs. We offer graduate degrees at the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy levels. The M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal Science can emphasize nutrition or physiology, and offers a Ph.D. in Range Science to study range management, range ecology and watershed management. • The Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (The College Ranch) – 64,000 acre ranch just outside of Las Cruces • The Corona Range & Livestock Research Center – 28,000 acre ranch & facilities in Corona, NM • Student organizations, including a Block & Bridle Club, Pre-Vet Club, Range Club, Horsemen’s Association, Therapeutic Riding Club, & Judging Teams • Clayton Research Center hosts research on shipping protocols, particularly evaluating the health and performance of newly received cattle, and nutrition and management from feedlot to slaughterTHE DEPARTMENT ALSO OPERATES Idaho Gov. Brad Little accused President Joe Biden of refusing to address the border crisis. “America’s governors are stepping up. Our multi-state partnership is designed to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations taking advantage of the open border with Mexico,” Little wrote on Twitter on April 19. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said his state has had a similar state-level border strike force in operation since 2015. “What we’re doing in Arizona works,” Ducey said in an April 19 statement. “If our entire southern border isn’t secure, our Dr. Shanna Ivey – 575-646-2515 • Dr. John Campbell – 575-646-6180 http://aces.nmsu.edu/academics/anrs Dr. John Campbell –575/646-6180 / Dr. Dennis hallford –575-646-2515 http://aces.nmsu.edu/academics/anrs/ nation isn’t secure.” ▫

A Border Patrol agent walks from the wreckage of Wanda Sitowski’s car after a 16-year-old smuggler ran a red light at 105 miles per hour and caused a fatal crash in Cochise County, Ariz., on October 30, 2021.

Study Examines Three Retail Meat Opportunities for Producers

Source: Virginia Farm Bureau

More than two years after the abrupt arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market for direct-to-consumer meat sales continues to flourish.

In response to food-related supply chain disruptions in the early months of the pandemic, consumers looked beyond traditional grocery outlets to find meat products. In some cases, shoppers turned to local farmers to fill that void.

“The disruptions resulting from the pandemic have further increased consumer demand and interest for locally produced meats,” says Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “This increased demand presents a unique opportunity for farmers to expand their retail sales of meat products directly to consumers. And, as a result of supply chain disruptions, Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have launched new initiatives to improve meat and poultry processing capacity among small- to medium-sized businesses in an effort to enhance supply chain resiliency.”

Despite having proposals in place to help increase capacity, meat processing continues to be heavily regulated due to raw meat and poultry safe handling concerns. These regulations can create barriers for farmers to direct-market their meat.

To identify barriers and help farmers learn the requirements to sell processed meat, the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation, and Rural Sustainability conducted a retail meat sales study.

The study examined three retail formats—farmers markets or roadside stands, on-farm stores and on-farm butcher shops—and identified required permits and regulations for each. The study also serves as a guide for farmers and other interested parties to consider the logistics of operating a retail enterprise.

“All three models have the potential to be profitable,” Banks says. “However, each model has its own unique opportunities and challenges, and all require access to qualified labor, a reliable and steady supply of meat or poultry, and a strong commitment to marketing.”

SALE EVERY TUESDAY 11 AM

Bill Martin: 970-302-5834 Clay Paige: 806-679-5883 Office: 806-677-0777

Meat processing requires a large amount of capital, so interested Virginia farmers can partner with their local government to apply for grants from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. Grant funding can be leveraged to construct new processing facilities, expand existing facilities or to plan and establish retail facilities, Banks says.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin announced March 10 that Madison County’s Hidden Pines Meat Processing LLC received a $40,000 AFID grant to expand its operations to meet “surging consumer demand for locally produced meats.” The grant is expected to enable the company to improve their processing volume to over 1,100 locally raised beef cattle, goats, hogs and lambs each year.

“The pandemic has presented many challenges to Virginia’s agricultural community. This is especially true of those livestock producers whose livelihoods rely on being able to process and sell their animals locally,” says Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “By making strategic investments like this to help grow the commonwealth’s meat processing capacity, we are creating important new market opportunities for our farmers, as well as local options for our consumers.” ▫