Just before Christmas 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule on “Animal Disease Traceability.” In brief, the final rule requires official identification and some form of documentation when adult beef cattle, dairy cattle, or show cattle cross state lines. Metal ear tags, brands, and other forms of low-tech identification are included, and there are several exemptions and provisions for flexibility. …
Press Release: USDA Issues Final Animal ID Rule
The USDA issued a final rule on Animal ID today. While we are still working on a complete analysis of the rule, USDA’s announcement identified several important changes that it made to the proposed rule, which make this final rule far less burdensome on family farmers, ranchers, and backyard poultry owners.…
Press Release: Farm and Consumer Organizations Protest Animal ID Scheme
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judith McGeary, Executive Director
(P) 254-697-2661 | (E) judith@farmandranchfreedom.org
Farm and Consumer Organizations Protest Animal ID Scheme
Drought-Stricken Farmers and Ranchers Cannot Afford Costly Government Program
AUSTIN, Texas – September 18, 2012 – Organizations representing family farmers, ranchers, and consumers from across the country are fighting to protect drought-stricken livestock producers from a new costly regulatory program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) system, originally known as the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), remains a contentious issue because of the undue burdens that it will impose on livestock producers and costs that will be passed down to consumers, contributing to even higher food costs.…
63 Organizations Urge the Administration to Reject Animal ID Rule
The letter below was sent to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on September 14, 2012. The PDF version with footnotes is available here.
The 63 undersigned organizations, representing family farmers, ranchers, and consumers, urge you to return USDA’s final rule on Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) to the agency for a legally adequate, thorough, and complete cost analysis.…
FARFA Urges OMB to Stop New Animal ID Rule
The following letter was sent to the Office of Management and Budget on July 24, 2012. Send a copy to your Congressman, and urge him to also contact OMB! The PDF version with footnotes is available here.
The 62 undersigned organizations, representing family farmers, ranchers, and consumers, urge you to return USDA’s final rule on Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) to the agency for a legally adequate, thorough, and complete cost analysis.…
FARFA Submits Comments to USDA Opposing New Animal ID Rule
Submitted through www.regulations.gov
Re: Docket No.APHIS–2009–0091
Proposed Rule
Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate
FARM AND RANCH FREEDOM ALLIANCE
P.O. Box 809
Cameron, TX 76520
www.farmandranchfreedom.org…
Action Alert: Submit Comments on USDA’s Proposed Rule for Animal Disease Traceability
Having dropped the plans for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), USDA is back again for Round Two. The agency has proposed a rule that would require livestock producers, related businesses, and state livestock agencies to incur significant expense tracking animals that cross state lines.…
Letter Urging Secretary Vilsack to Extend the Comment Period on Proposed Animal ID Rule
FARFA and 48 other organizations submit a letter urging USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to extend the comment period on proposed Animal ID rule.
Dear Secretary Vilsack:
The undersigned organizations urge you to extend the public comment period on the proposed rule for animal disease traceability an additional 60 days, until January 8, 2012.…
USDA Proposed Rule for Traceability of Livestock Moving Interstate
FARFA and 48 other organizations request an extension to the public comment period.
Below is an outline of some of the key provisions and definitions from USDA’s new proposed rule. References are to the section numbers in the proposed rule.
Basic rule: No person may move covered livestock interstate or receive such livestock moved interstate unless the livestock meet the requirements of new Part 90. (Sec. 90.2)…
Animal ID: Round Two
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just proposed a new rule that would expand requirements for tracking livestock that cross state lines.
We’re working with our allies to thoroughly analyze USDA’s proposal, which will take some time, but here are some quick highlights:…
