This email was sent to members of the state legislature by a person from New York. Take note of the comments she makes at the end that could significantly affect our dairy industry. We are publishing this letter so if a rumor or accusation spreads of a possible link between CWD and dairy products the fault will be with those state legislators who blindly opposed the deer baiting and feeding bans. It is irrelevant that these notions may be false and unsubstantiated, but perceptions by others outside our state can be very difficult to control. The deer baiting and feeding rules are not restricted to CWD as some legislators like Scott Gunderson insist, they affect a wide range of people and industries. Thus one reason why the deer baiting and feeding bans are supported by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association and the Dept. of Agriculture.

I am a resident in New York who has been following the Chronic Wasting Disease issue in your state. I follow it because I purchase most of my dairy products from Wisconsin. If you lift the feeding ban, and risk adding to the spread of this disease, I will buy my dairy elsewhere -- and encourage others to do so as well. The fact that this disease is not clearly understood is more the reason you should err on the side of caution. We have no good proof this does not jump species - hasn't shown up in cows? How would we know -- we don't test them!

Continue to support your DNR. They are the experts. You put them there to do a job -- protect and manage wildlife. Don't let the committee castrate them politically and make them impotent.

Remember a time when people didn't know if AIDS was really spread via the blood supply because they didn't have "proof?" A lot of people died as a result of that thinking -- I see the same pattern here. Granted, it's only in the deer population right now (as far as we know) which is bad enough, but what if that changes? Ask your colleagues if they'll take responsibility if it spreads elsewhere.

Keep the ban until you know more about this disease. The compromise on the ban really doesn't do anything but psychologically stroke those who want to feed. Wisconsin cannot afford to be anything but diligent dealing with it.

Stay strong! Go with the experts! Don't make me shop somewhere else!