R-CALF Says Requiring Use of RFID Ear Tags is Government Overreach

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America Chief Executive Officer, Bill Bullard, says they support the producers’ right to use RFID ear tags, as well as other cattle ID options. What they do not support is the mandatory use of RFID ear tags and it's technology.

“So we support of various types of tags in the year we support brands, of course, and we support the ongoing use of tattoos in Baghdad. So we believe producers should continue to have the flexibility to choose among those various identification devices, including to choose whether they want to use RFID, or it's the mandate. That's a problem for us when the government mandates that the industry must comply with this, they are establishing a condition for the privilege of being a cattle producer who now must comply with this onerous requirement that you have to expect a $4 tag on every one of your animals' ears regardless of the size of your operation. And that's just for the privilege of shipping cattle across state lines.”

Bullard says this proposed mandate is fundamentally wrong. It's an intrusion

on our liberty and freedom to operate the cattle ranches. The United States the way that cattle rancher believes it should be operated with the government should not be overreaching in this respect.”

According to USDA, they believe that the proposed mandatory use of RFID tags will provide the cattle industry with the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases.