November 8, 2024 - Livestock Marketing Association urges USDA to suspend enforcement of the electronic identification, or EID, rule immediately. The current state of tag availability in various states is setting this transition — and the livestock industry — up for failure.
Our policy is clear in both opposing any move to mandatory individual identification of feeder cattle and demanding any mandate on currently covered animals be fully funded by USDA. This includes readers, infrastructure, tags, tag application, data collection and data management.
Despite our extensive efforts in working with Congress, USDA and state veterinarians to ensure this program is handled effectively, major issues remain with the allocation and availability of USDA-provided EID tags needed to comply with the rule. Since this sets up an unfunded mandate on cattle producers, enforcement must be suspended.
We will continue to work with Congress, state veterinarians, our member auctions and USDA to impact change on this issue.
You can read our most recent letter to USDA by clicking this link.
