R-CALF USA is concerned about potential harm that may be created through requirements under a US Department of Agriculture RFID tagging program.
USDA would reimburse producers for livestock that die when the government orders depopulation efforts during disease outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth disease.
R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says a branch of the USDA tried to circumvent Animal Disease Traceability regulations by requiring the use of RFID tags when adult cattle are moved between states. He says costs involved with the radio frequency technology could put some cattle ranchers out of business.
“Cattle producers will not recover the additional costs from the marketplace, so it’s an additional burden on cattle producers that is unnecessary because current law grants them several devices to use that are far cheaper.”
Brands, tattoos and back tags are allowed under current law, and Bullard says they provide the same results as RFID. He added that forcing the use of the expensive technology could be devastating to an industry that’s seen depressed prices for nearly a decade.
“By adding additional production costs in a marketplace that is not returning the cost of production will contribute to the ongoing exodus of independent cattle producers across the United States.”
R-CALF submitted formal comments to USDA in September 2022 against the required use of RFID tags.
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