Letter requests answers on USDA EID Tag Mandate, resources for ranchers amidst federal support shortfall

USDA puts $500,000 burden on cattle ranchers with a 184,000 tag shortage.
USDA puts $500,000 burden on cattle ranchers with a 184,000 tag shortage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Final Rule mandating the use of electronic identification (EID) tags on certain cattle and bison will took effect on Nov. 5. Approximately 300,000 tags are needed for North Dakota ranchers to meet USDA’s EID mandate and brucellosis program, but USDA will only allocate 116,000 tags to the North Dakota State Veterinarian to meet the EID mandate. USDA told …