News
R-CALF sues to halt USDA RFID requirement
R-CALF USA and a couple of individual cattle ranchers have
sued to stop USDA’s plan to narrow animal ID methods to only radio frequency ID
(RFID) devices and premises registration. The suit says USDA’s RFID cattle ear
tag mandate, along with the requirement that cattlemen obtain premises ID
numbers, eliminate other viable ID options and violate current traceability
regulations. Existing regulations allow cattlemen to use ID methods such as
brands, tattoos, metal ear tags, and backtags on animals destined for harvest. Plaintiffs
want to block the RFID mandate issued in April. The mandate is to be fully
effective in early 2023.
R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says the USDA is catering to RFID tag makers by forcing
cattle producers to incur extra costs for the tags that he says could run into billions
of dollars. He calls it blatant government overreach.
Individual plaintiffs include Kenny and Roxie Fox from Belvidere, South Dakota and
Tracy and Donna Hunt from Newcastle, Wyoming.
Great job R-Calf. USDA’s mandate is another example of Government over reach adding unnecessary expense to the Cow/calf sector.