Stockgrowers urge producers to be wary of animal ID plan

South Dakota

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association reminds ranchers to carefully consider the U.S. Department of Agriculture's updated animal ID plan, which may be just as unfriendly to independent producers as the previous plan documents.

According to SDSGA Animal ID Committee Chairman Kenny Fox, Belvidere, many producers have recently read or heard USDA's latest public relations message--a guarantee that animal ID will be voluntary at the federal level. "What USDA isn't telling producers is this: the states are being asked to carry out the original wishes of USDA by implementing statewide mandatory animal ID programs." Fox says that USDA sent the "cooperative agreements" to the state animal health departments in late November and asked that they be signed and returned by Dec. 18, 2006.

So in essence, Fox says, very little has changed. "USDA still hopes to obtain premise registration from 100 percent of producers. They still hope to trace the movement of every head of livestock. But now they want the states to mandate the program."

SDSGA member Rick Vanderway, Valentine, Neb., is also concerned about the feds' push for animal ID. "It looks to me like they are telling the states to make it mandatory in their state." But just how can USDA enforce it? "I don't know for sure but they're probably saying 'if you come up with a plan by Dec. 18, we've got more funding for you,'" says Vanderway.

According to Vanderway, USDA is focused on registering premises. "The question nobody seems to be able to answer is this: What's the significance of registering your ranch with a premise registration number? I think when you're doing that you're giving them authority over your property. If they already had that authority, this would be a done deal."

Producers who have registered for premise ID numbers can un-register, if they so choose, said Fox. "I've talked to several ranchers who registered for premise numbers before they really knew what USDA had planned. Now some of those folks have decided that they don't want to be registered--they need to contact the South Dakota Animal Industry Board to un-register their premise."

Fox said that the SDSGA is not opposed to animal ID. "We support animal ID--our organization oversees the state brand inspection program and we strongly encourage everyone to brand their cattle. Brand inspection has been proven throughout history to be a practical and efficient method of tracking cattle. It works and it's very inexpensive--that's the kind of animal ID program we favor." He adds that the Stockgrowers do not support a mandatory program of any kind--it is not currently mandatory to brand livestock, even in the brand area. "Brand inspection is mandatory, which provides a paper trail of the whereabouts of cattle, horses and mules. But ranchers are not required to brand their cattle." However, most ranchers in western South Dakota brand their cattle to prove ownership which helps prevent theft, says Fox.

"The Stockgrowers plan to stay involved in this issue until it is resolved," says Fox. "Our members have approved policy that requests that all imported live cattle shall be permanently marked with a hot iron brand to determine the country of origin. For the health of the U.S. cattle herd, tracking foreign cattle should be a high priority with USDA."

Fox urges producers to read the USDA plan documents online or to contact the Stockgrowers for a copy.

B

15

1/1/07

4 Star NE

Date: 1/18/07

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