The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) announced on September 14, 2011 that 57 counties in the Lower Peninsula achieved Bovine TB Free Status. Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved shrinking the state's Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) even further by removing Presque Isle County. Only Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties in the easternmost area of the northern Lower Peninsula remain in the MAZ.  A YouTube interview with Dr. James Averill is available on-line for TV and radio stations in need of "B" roll.

As USDA grants Michigan counties TB Free Status, MDARD simultaneously updates the state's zoning rules to match the federal requirements. The Michigan bovine TB rules have special regulatory applications, as written in the on-line booklet, Split State Status and Zoning Rules, 2011, for the following zones:

• MAZ - Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda, counties.
• MAAZ - Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle counties.
• Bovine TB Free - Upper Peninsula and all counties in Lower Michigan not included in the MAAZ or the MAZ.

Michigan's WRMP, which began in 2009, provides expert guidance on cattle/wildlife interactions. Since the program began, both MDARD and USDA have provided financial assistance to producers so they can create plans and build barriers that keep wildlife away from their cattle and cattle feed. To date, 830 farmers have signed up to create their own plans. MDARD expects all farms in the MAAZ and MAZ that sell cattle to have risk mitigation plans by January 1, 2012. Signs, flyers and direct mail notification have gone out to affected cattle producers.

Since disease testing began, 52 Michigan cattle farms and four privately owned cervid operations have been affected by bovine TB. Most of these TB positive farms have been in the MAZ, and were depopulated. Visit the MDARD and Emerging Diseases websites for a map and additional information, including the booklet explaining the Split State Status and Zoning Rule changes, and to join the Animal Health Listserv at: www.michigan.gov/mda or www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.