Could RFID ear tags soon be mandatory in Texas?

Preventing a devastating disease outbreak is always top of mind for the cattle industry as well as the USDA. It is why the Texas Cattle Feeders Association says they are on board with a proposal to make electronic ID tags mandatory.

“I think our expectation here is that we let this adult cattle ID program transition to electronic ID and then work from the learnings of that program to see how we can lift that over to the entire herd so that we have a really robust traceability system utilizing electronic ID for both adult cattle and feeder cattle,” said Ben Weinheimer.

The group does understand the costs associated with the switch to electronic tags, especially because they will require reading devices as well. NCBA says ID programs should be voluntary, mainly due to the added financial burden on producers.

Related Stories
National Milk Producers Federation: “Getting a contract hammered out as soon as possible is what we’re calling for, for the betterment of the industry”

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.