01/05/09 USDA cancels controversial memo on premise registration

Washington Ag January 5, 2009 R-CALF USA says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cancelled a September memo dealing with animal identification. R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says that in the memo, USDA said state veterinarians would have to register premises of all producers who participate in any federal disease program and who engage in interstate commerce. Bullard says his organization believed USDA's position was unlawful. Bullard: "USDA promised that this would be a voluntary program only. But yet this memo circumvented that promise and instead essentially mandated animal identification on our U.S. cattle industry." The cancellation memo from USDA was issued December 22nd. The new memo states that APHIS has established a procedure for producers who request their premises record be removed from the National Animal Identification System premises databases. The Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association will be donating a truck load of potatoes and apples to the White Center Food Bank in Seattle tomorrow. Association president Ron Reiman says its members recognize that many people in Washington are struggling and they are happy to support the food bank to provide for those in need. I'm Bob Hoff.