Update – Electronic ID Mandate Is Another Hit To Small Farmers

USDA decision will benefit foreign markets at the expense of local small-scale cattle producers, consumers and the resilience of our food system!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a final rule on the “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison.”  Under this new rule, in 180 days all official eartags sold for or applied to cattle and bison must be readable both visually and electronically (EID).

Judith McGeary, Esq., Executive Director of Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA), issued the following statement:

“This rule comes over the protests of independent farmers and ranchers across the country – in particular, small and regenerative producers that are vital to long-term food security in our country.”

While USDA was cautious in the official language of the rule to try to justify the new electronic mandate based on supposed animal health grounds, the agency’s press release shows what this is really about: supporting export markets.  The agency likes to echo claims from the big corporations that “international markets benefit everyone”.