The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is calling on lawmakers to pass the minibus appropriations package announced over the weekend by congressional leadership.
The bill prevents a government shutdown and supports several key cattle industry priorities.
NCBA President Mark Eisele says, “While this legislation is not perfect, it advances a number of priorities important to cattle producers, including critical investments in electronic animal ID tags for producers and strengthening oversight of lab-grown protein.”
The Department of Agriculture is crafting a rule requiring electronic ID tags instead of existing metal tags on certain classes of cattle moving interstate.
This change is designed to facilitate faster traceability in case of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States.
If this rule is finalized, NCBA will support USDA in covering the entire cost of electronic ID tags for impacted producers.
Additionally, NCBA supports greater oversight of emerging lab-grown technology.
