Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to halt the enforcement of its Electronic Identification (EID) tag mandate for livestock herds. The rule, effective since November 5, 2024, requires producers to use tags that are both visually and electronically readable on cattle and bison herds.

Producers have expressed concerns regarding the security and confidentiality of EID tag data. Initially, USDA promised to provide these tags at no cost after receiving funding from Congress to address rulemaking expenses. However, animal health officials have not distributed these tags, forcing producers to purchase them independently or risk noncompliance with Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) regulations.

"Our American ranchers work hard every day to produce the highest quality beef in the world while contending with unpredictable markets, rising input costs and extreme weather," said Rounds. "It is unreasonable to subject American producers to this unfunded mandate."

In response, Rounds introduced legislation in 2024 aiming to prevent the EID tag mandate's implementation. This bill received support from organizations such as the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, R-CALF USA, and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

Rounds addressed a letter to Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Watson expressing concern over USDA's failure to provide necessary infrastructure for EID tags despite congressional directives allocating funds for this purpose.

The senator highlighted that veterinarians reported an EID tag shortage shortly after the rule's implementation, leaving farmers facing high input costs and a worsening trade deficit alongside this unfunded mandate.

"The federal government has taken steps in the past to avoid unfunded mandates," he noted in his letter. Congress directed USDA in its Fiscal Year 2024 spending measure to allocate at least $15 million for EID tags and related infrastructure. Despite these efforts, officials have not made tags available as promised.

Rounds calls on USDA to suspend enforcement of new requirements under EID rulemaking until compliance with congressional directives is achieved.

"Our American ranchers work hard every day... It is unreasonable to subject American producers to this unfunded mandate," he reiterated.