This photo was taken at Hudson Pines Farm in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) issued the long-awaited proposed rule on Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate. The new proposed system will replace the National Animal Identification System (“NAIS”) and will be primarily managed at the state level. The USDA is currently seeking comments on the proposed rule for Animal Disease Traceability. Comments are due by November 9, 2011. You can submit a comment here.
I would like to encourage all of my readers to get involved in the government process. Read the proposed rule. Get informed on the issues. Talk to various agriculture commodity groups that have lobbying arms in Washington D.C. Speak to an attorney so you can understand how the proposed rule might affect your particular livestock operation. Submit a comment on the proposed rule before the deadline.
You can read the proposed rule from the Federal Register here. You can find APHIS’s summary of the proposed rule by species here and its factsheet here.