USDA Awards Animal ID Grants

USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced Aug. 5 that 29 state and tribal projects have been selected to receive $11.64 million to advance the national animal identification initiative.  The agency began taking applications June 15, and asked that emphasis be placed on coordination within the beef, dairy, sheep and swine industries.  The projects will focus on registering premises and establishing necessary data transfer procedures. 

NCBA believes that premises systems are the first priority, or hurdle, that must be addressed before additional work can be completed on a National Animal Identification System.  Many projects will also conduct field trials or research in order to test and fine-tune ID technologies and collect animal movement data.  Additional information about the programs is posted at http://www.usda.gov. 

APHIS officials told NCBA that total requests from states far exceeded the level of funding available. A number of key cattle states will receive little to no funding in the first round of cooperative agreements. APHIS officials have also told NCBA that they expect another round of funding to be available following approval of the fiscal year 2005 budget, which includes $33 million for development of a National Animal Identification System.