USDA Wants Your Ideas on ID

USDA June 10 said that it would hold 14 listening sessions on its efforts to develop a national animal identification system.  The public forums will be held across the country to discuss the development, structure and implementation of a national animal ID program for all livestock and poultry animals.  Sessions have already been held in Fayetteville, N.C.; Athens, Ga.; and Prineville, Ore.

NCBA continues to be concerned that any system fully contained under the umbrella of the federal government risks producer privacy.  That’s why the organization continues to work through its Animal ID Commission to develop a national animal identification system that would be implemented in the private sector.  Under the private sector plan, state and federal government officials would be provided with adequate information to improve the nation’s animal health surveillance systems.

The remaining sessions to be held are:

Stockton, Calif.            July 10

Socorro, N.M.               July 16

Pasco, Wash.               July 23

Greeley, Colo.              Aug. 10

Billings, Mont.              Aug. 13

Kissimmee, Fla.           Aug. 16

Columbus, Ohio            Aug. 18

Ames, Iowa                 Aug. 26

Joplin, Mo.                   Aug. 27

Appleton, Wis.             Aug. 30 

St. Cloud, Minn.            Aug. 31

More details about each listening session, including the site and time of the meeting, will be posted on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais.html.