Other notes from BOL meeting
The second day of the Board of Livestock meeting began with a budget report, resolution of two brands disputes and division updates.
The Montana Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board reported that it is running out of money to compensate ranchers who have suffered confirmed wolf depredations. The board took over these duties from Defenders of Wildlife in April of this year. Defenders of Wildlife contributed $50,000 to the board this year to pay to ranchers, and has committed $50,000 for next year. However, other funding sources have been hard to find and unless another source is found soon, ranchers may not be compensated for further claims this year.
The Diagnostic lab reported a huge influx of brucellosis tests. There have been 49,342 tests since July this year, compared to 14,538 during the same time period last year. The lab is currently turning the tests around in one day, and can handle up to 3,000 per day. Currently the lab expects to receive a minimum of 1,800 tests per day.