REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Beagle Brigade Act to provide statutory authorization and reliable funding to the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia.

The legislation led by Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., helps support the training of a specialized group of canine units stationed at airports and ports of entry to prevent the spread of foreign animal diseases. The Beagle Brigade has been protecting American agriculture at ports of entry since 1984. Led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists, these dogs help detect harmful plants, pests and foreign animal diseases in luggage, carry-ons and cargo from other countries.

National Pork Producers Council President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minnesota, said, "American agriculture relies on the National Detector Dog Training Center to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant diseases that would cripple our food supply. For the pork industry, the Beagle Brigade is the first line of defense for keeping threats from foreign animal diseases, like African swine fever, out of the United States. America's pork producers greatly appreciate Senator Ernst and our Senate champions and urge the House to take this up before the end of the year."

Once the dog shows signs, it will work at the USDA training facility in Georgia, then a handler is matched to the canine and more training takes place. A new handler needs 10 weeks of training with a dog used to sniff scents at the ports of entry. Cargo training is a 12-week course. Once a handler knows the system, the handler trains for just four weeks if the person is matched with a new dog.

The dogs are trained to find the items that can bring diseases in, even if they are vacuum-sealed. Dogs smell in layers and they will find what they are taught to search for; for example, people will try to disguise something like a mango in coffee, but these dogs will still find the mango.

"We need all hands -- and paws -- on deck to keep our agriculture community safe from foreign animal diseases like avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever," Senator Ernst said in a news release. "The Beagle Brigade is essential to sniffing out items that may harbor these threats, stopping them in their tracks before they can endanger our farms and food supply. As this bipartisan legislation moves forward, we can better support another critical line of defense against harmful diseases, pests, and plants, offering our farmers peace of mind as they work to protect their livestock and crops."

Senator Warnock agreed the legislation will help strengthen the nation's agricultural industry and well-being of U.S. communities. "As a member of the Senate Agriculture committee and champion for Georgia's farmers, I am proud to have worked with Senator Ernst to get this bipartisan legislation passed through the Senate and one step closer to becoming law," he said.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at Jennifer.Carrico@dtn.com

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