In a letter sent to Congress, R-CALF USA and 45 other farming, ranching, and food groups urged immediate action to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) rule that mandates electronic ear tags for adult cattle and bison crossing state lines.
Set to take effect November 5, 2024, despite industry-wide opposition, the new rule amends the current Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule of 2013, which R-CALF USA says has been highly effective at disease traceback and allows producers to use their choice of animal identification best suited to their operation.
In the letter, the groups wrote that the USDA’s new mandate “will unfairly burden small- and medium-scale producers, further consolidate our food supply in the hands of a few large meatpackers, and undermine our national food security.”
The letter continued stating, “Multinational meatpacking corporations and high-tech companies are pushing mandatory electronic identification (EID) for livestock, claiming that it’s an animal health measure and supports food safety – but neither is true. The real story is that it promotes international exports, thus maximizing the meatpacking companies’ profits, while the high-tech companies will make millions selling tags, readers, and related infrastructure, all at the expense of farmers and ranchers.”
The groups’ letter discussed the concerns that rose following a USDA press release that claimed this mandate is an animal health program and is key to maintaining foreign markets but also described its intentions to create a “modern animal disease traceability system that tracks animals from birth to slaughter”.
According to the letter, USDA had stated 70% of cattle would need to be traceable for full traceability in the instance of a foreign disease outbreak, yet the Agency estimated that this new rule would only apply to about 11% of cattle.
The letter concluded by urging Congress to pass H.J.Res.167, S.J.Res.98, and S.4282 to block the mandate, three pieces of legislation that have growing support, particularly in the House as nearly 30 congressmen have signed on in support of H.J.Res.167 led by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY).
“The USDA’s plan for animal traceability has faced widespread opposition from cow-calf producers and livestock owners across the entire country from its first attempted National Animal Identification System to this new rule,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “Despite the fact that producers overwhelmingly commented in opposition to the proposed rule, USDA chose to ignore the needs and concerns of American ranchers and push ahead with its preplanned agenda.”
“This mandate is only the start towards mandating EID tags on all livestock and total control,” Bullard continued. “It will force thousands of farmers and ranchers out of business, and Congress must stop it now.”
We urge Congress to pass S.B. 4282, S.J. Res. 98, and H.J. Res. 167. These simple bills and resolutions prevent USDA from mandating electronic identification for cattle and bison, preserving the vital component of choice for producers.
Respectfully,
American Grassfed Association
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Cattle Producers of Louisiana
Central Texas Young Farmers Coalition
Community Farm Alliance
Dakota Resource Council
Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association
Devine Markets Association
Family Farm Defenders
Farm Action Fund
Farm Aid
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund
Food Freedom Foundation
Health Freedom Defense Fund
Homemade Texas
Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming
Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas
International Texas Longhorn Association
Iowa Stock Growers Association
Kansas Black Farmers Association
League of Independent Voters of Texas
Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Montana Cattlemen’s Association
National Family Farm Coalition
National Health Freedom Action
Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council
Northern Plains Resource Council
Northern Wisconsin Beef Producers
Oglala Sioux Livestock and Landowners Association
OrganicEye
Powder River Basin Resource Council
Prairie Oasis Farm
R-CALF USA
Regeneration International
Rural Coalition
Rural Vermont
South Dakota Citizens for Liberty
South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association
Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
The Round Group
The Virginia Land Rights Coalition
The Weston A. Price Foundation
Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
Western Organization of Resource Councils
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