IDairy is pleased to announce that 70% of the United States’ 59,000 commercial dairy producers are estimated to have registered their premises as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Today more than 42,000 dairy producers are estimated to have registered their premises under NAIS.
“IDairy worked closely with USDA and state officials over the past year on the common goal of promoting premises registration as part of NAIS,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “When we began our effort last year assisting USDA and individual state agencies, we estimated that 35,000 commercial dairy producers and heifer growers had registered their premises. Today, state government estimates indicate that over 42,000 commercial dairy producers and heifer growers now participate in NAIS. NAIS is an important part of our dairy industry’s national insurance policy against animal disease outbreaks.”
The next step for IDairy will involve encouraging producers to use radio frequency based Animal Identification Number (AIN) eartags, referred to as “840” AIN RF eartags, which are available now. IDairy has developed standards for RFID tags to be used in the dairy industry, including assuring that such tags are NAIS-compliant. Dairy producers have already begun using RFID tags, and they may use the 840 AIN RF tags as proof of U.S. origin when the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law goes into effect this fall.
Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:57 pm
By Laura McNamara
The idea of gaining two extra hours in dairy farm management each day without working extra hours seems like a dream, right? What about cutting the time employees spend searching for animals… in half? Well, Scott Haag at Box Canyon Dairy in Wendell, Idaho says a set of MobileDemand rugged tablet PC’s makes those dairy farm dreams an everyday reality.
MobileDemand is a rugged tablet PC manufacturer based out of Idaho and they’ve just put the power of the PC in the hands of the field staff at Box Canyon.
MobileDemand says its partnership with ProfitSource enables dairy farms to bring both wireless computing and specialized DairyQuest software into the cattle pens, streamlining operations, saving time, and reducing error.
I spoke with MobileDemand CEO Matt Miller about how he found the agriculture industry to be optimal match for the rugged PC company. You can listen to my interview with Matt here.
MobileDemand also offers a video summary of its case study with Box Canyon Dairy. The video further illustrates how the tablet PC and DairyQuest Software have helped one dairy farm increase efficiency in both the breeding and health monitoring of its 8,000 cows. You can watch the video here:
Posted: February 13, 2008 at 6:54 pm
By News Editor
Attention Registered Jersey breeders! Is one of your herd destined to be the 100,000 Registered Jersey identified with Allflex double-matching approved ear tags during 2008. If so, you will win a year’s supply of Double Matched Pair sets of JerseyTags™ with HDX High Performance EID tags, up to a maximum of 500 sets, plus a stick reader from Allflex USA Inc!
The American Jersey Cattle Association and animal ID leader Allflex, are working together to launch this campaign to record the 100,000th Registered Jersey in recognition of the association’s 140th anniversary.
According to Executive Secretary and CEO Neal Smith, orders for the AJCA’s line of JerseyTags™ manufactured by Allflex have grown at double-digit rates annually, with just under 100,000 sets sold in 2007.
“The primary reason AJCA members have adopted eartag identification,” Smith said, “is that the foundation for maximizing profitability with Jerseys is accurate, verifiable animal identification.”
Not only is positive ID a requirement for day-to-day herd management, the Jersey executive explained, it’s also vital for Jersey breeders who want to increase to their income by marketing Registered Jerseys™.
“High-visibility eartag ID and increasingly electronic ID is a requirement of the people who purchase through our cattle marketing company, Jersey Marketing Service,” said Smith. “Buyers are paying for pedigree and performance information and they expect it to be linked up through the animal’s identification number.
The American Jersey Cattle Association has recorded over 68,000 animals identified by approved eartags since its members overwhelmingly approved new rules for registration five years ago. The Allflex Tamperproof™ tag line is the only product approved by the AJCA for that purpose.
Posted: February 8, 2008 at 2:21 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Our Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, made his first major public policy speech today at the Cattle Industry Convention. Thanks to Andy Vance, Buckeye Ag Network, for snapping a picture for me. It was a pleasure for the ag media to get to meet Schafer. For many of us, it’s our first opportunity and I’m sure not our last.
I don’t think he made any major announcements. He made it very clear that he’s a “free trade guy” and fully supports the President on the farm bill that’s in conference. I was happy to hear him address renewable fuels and the RFS head on with this group. Basically, he said that with the growth of cellulosic ethanol production there should be an easing of feed price pressure within a short time as the technology and non-food stocks form of ethanol production continues to rapidly develop.
He did talk about the Humane Society mess over their video of animal handling atrocities at the Hallmark Meat Packing Co. I think USDA has handled this quite well and the plant was shut down. What I thought was interesting was the Secretary in the press conference making a very good point about how this whacko (my word) organization withheld the video for months so they could release it to the media in a sensational way instead of bringing it immediately to the proper legal authorities so that the situation could have been halted immediately. In effect, the Humane Society prolonged animal suffering and I think the people who support them ought to know that they really don’t care about animals, only their political agenda and raising money.
He also talked about animal id which I know is a touchy subject with a lot of you. He did say though that it’s voluntary and he does not support making it mandatory.
You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s speech here:
Posted: October 23, 2007 at 5:34 pm
By News Editor
And the news from the Holstein Association USA is also outstanding - the Association is one of the first to be recognized by USDA as an official Animal Tracking Database.
A cooperative agreement has been signed between USDA and Holstein Association USA giving National FAIR (Farm Animal Identification and Records) official approval as a compliant Animal Tracking Database under the USDA Animal Trace Processing System (ATPS). The Association is among the first in the U.S. to be recognized by USDA/APHIS as an official Animal Tracking Database.
Through National FAIR, Holstein Association USA has one of the largest animal databases in the world, totaling over five million animals. If an animal health emergency were to occur in the U.S., the USDA would post a request for pertinent animal tracking information. Holstein would query the National FAIR database to determine where the animals in question have been. Information that would be provided to USDA would be the animal identification number, the premises ID and the event type and date. This system will help ensure data is shared quickly and confidentially with USDA only in the time of need.
Posted: September 8, 2007 at 8:13 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
There was a great demonstration on how RFID can help reduce labor costs and make record-keeping easier at the recent ID/INFO Expo in Kansas City.
Steven Smith with DHI-Provo demonstrated how the Pocket DHI-Plus works with RFID through a video that showed a dairy producer walking alongside his animals and scanning them. As he did that, you could hear what he was hearing in his ear piece, whether to skip the animal, whether it needed to be preg-checked, or was due for injections, or whatever - depending on the program. It was a great demo - they should post it on You Tube!
The Holstein Association USA wants to remind the dairy industry that a mandatory national animal identification system is still needed in this country.
With the recent reoccurrence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Great Britain, Holstein Association USA CEO John Meyer says it’s another reminder of the need for a mandatory national animal identification system in the United States.
“Without a national identification system, a similar outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the U.S. could be catastrophic to our nation’s livestock industry,” Meyer said.
Two years ago, Holstein Association USA joined with five other organizations to form the IDairy coalition, the purpose of which is to promote the need for dairy producers to register their premises with state agencies.
“Without premises registration and animal identification, the U.S. dairy industry will continue to be vulnerable should a disease break out in our country,” Meyer added. “On behalf of Holstein Association USA, I urge all dairy producers to register their premises if they have not already done so as well as to properly identify all animals in their herds.”
“This agreement is another important step forward as we advance the National Animal Identification System,” said Bruce Knight, under secretary for USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs. “It builds on agreements previously announced with the National Pork Board, the National FFA Organization and the U.S. Animal Identification Organization to promote animal health by providing producers with the information they need to take the important step of registering their premises and protecting their animals.”
Since IDairy was established, more than 30,000 dairy producers have registered their premises under the NAIS, but as many as 35,000 commercial dairy farms and dairy calf and heifer grower operations are yet to be registered. IDairy’s goal is to have 100 percent of the operations registered in order to enable animal health officials to quickly respond to an animal health emergency.
Under the agreement announced today, NMPF, with the cooperation of the rest of the IDairy consortium, will conduct an outreach campaign including direct mail, advertising, Internet activities, dairy and trade show presentations and individual contacts with producers including on-site visits.
On Tuesday, March 20th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited the offices of Vance Publishing in Lenexa, Kan. and conducted a news conference with Food360 editors. Johanns addressed several topics, including animal identification, the 2007 Farm Bill and immigration. To read all of Secretary Johanns comments, click here.
The Secretary told Food360 editors he favors a market-driven, voluntary animal-identification system, describing mandatory animal identification as “Washington’s way or the highway.” A federal mandate would require additional programs for enforcement and oversight and could become unmanageably large and expensive, he said, and has little support in Congress or the livestock industry.
The market, he believes, will move producers toward ID and traceability. USDA’s focus, he says, is to build premises registration and establish technology to allow an effective response in an animal-health emergency.
The Secretary said trade issues and market access will a prominent role in the 2007 Farm Bill, adding that although farmers might need to give up some subsidies, they will benefit from better access to export markets.
Addressing the issue of immigration, Johanns says the American people are demanding action on the problem of illegal immigrants, who number around 12 million to 15 million. The Bush administration, he says, recognizes the need to enforce the law, but also understands that agriculture faces a labor crisis.
Posted: February 8, 2007 at 7:11 pm
By News Editor
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of three National Animal Identification System documents for review and public comment.
“NAIS is a true partnership among states, industry, and USDA, and by working together, we have met our goal of having twenty-five percent of the Nation’s premises registered by the end of January. However, we continue to seek our partners’ input on the design and implementation of NAIS,” said Bruce Knight, undersecretary of USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area. “The documents we are releasing today will further advance the dialogue on NAIS and guide our collaborative efforts as the program moves forward. We are committed to working together to build a system that works for everyone.”
The Draft User Guide includes the most up-to-date NAIS information. It provides details on participating in the program and discusses NAIS’ three components, premises registration, animal identification, and animal tracing. USDA initially posted the document in November 2006 with a request for comments and to date, has received valuable feedback. Publishing the Draft User Guide in the Federal Register expands the opportunities for interested parties to comment on the document.
USDA encourages all interested parties to submit comments on any of the three documents or other aspects of NAIS. Comments are now being accepted through the NAIS Web site email address animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov, or by mail to NAIS Program Staff, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737.
This is exciting news in the identification realm. Somark Innovations has announced an ID system based on a biocompatible ink with chipless RFID functionality.
Somark is proud to announce the successful testing of Biocompatible Chipless RFID1 Ink in cattle and laboratory rats. The test proved the efficacy of injecting and reading a Biocompatible Chipless RFID Ink “tattoo” within the skin of animals. The technology will be initially leveraged to the livestock industry to help identify/track cattle and thus mitigate export trade loss from BSE2 scares.
Secondary target markets include laboratory animals, dogs & cats, prime cuts of meat, and military personnel. The company, which is currently raising a Series A equity financing, will license the technology to secondary target markets. Additionally, the company is pleased to announce the establishment of its Advisory Board, which includes scientists, engineers, and executives in the agriculture industry.
Posted: December 3, 2006 at 11:03 am
By Chuck Zimmerman
I’ve mentioned Google news alerts before. They’re handy and you get some interesting results. Like this morning when I checked and found a link to a post done by a lady who calls herself the Henwhisperer. She is dedicated to the defeat of the NAIS (National Animal Identification System).
While there I also found a link to another blog dedicated to the same thing called No NAIS.org. The organization was started by Walter Jeffries who owns Sugar Mountain Farm in Vermont. Here’s an excerpt from his description of No NAIS.org: NoNAIS.org is nothing fancy or complex. It is myself, a homesteader, father and small time farmer in Vermont plus a few other volunteers like Celeste who has been compiling alerts about NAIS.
Another interesting link I found while surfing around these sites is one to the RFID Weblog. Their mission statement says, “The award-winning RFID Weblog provides a balanced view of RFID technology with a focus on business uses.”
Posted: September 2, 2006 at 7:56 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
The state of Indiana is mandating premises identification and registration. It started yesterday, September 1st.
Last week, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns assured attendees at the 2006 ID Info Expo that the national animal identification system would remain voluntary for the foreseeable future. Indiana is one of several states taking that has decided to mandate registrations. At that same meeting, Jennifer Greiner with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health spoke to participants about Indiana’s plans and Cindy interviewed her on that topic.
Posted: August 4, 2006 at 6:32 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
The animal ID business is heating up and Schering-Plough’s Global Animal Management division looks like it’s got a lead in the race.
Global Animal Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schering-Plough Animal Health, announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has named the company as an interim animal tracking database participant for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). USDA administered an independent review of Global Animal Management’s Animal Tracker program, and has reported the system meets all requirements for participation in the interim/development phase.(more…)
Amid debate over illegal immigration and spending priorities, Congress has put the brakes on further Animal Identification funding to USDA, at least until they have more information on which to resume funding.
This week the $33 million intended to fund the next steps of USDA’s national animal identification program was frozen in negotiations on the Agriculture Appropriations bill. That package of $93.6 billion was debated this week among many contentious agricultural issues. One attempt to scuttle the program entirely was easily defeated, but the House withheld funding for ID until the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service outlines its strategy in a proposed rule that would delineate the program’s parameters. That rulemaking process would include a public comment period, after which Congress will decide how to resume the program monetarily speaking.
It may seem like an unusal statement - until you think about it. Microsoft announced this week that they have partnered with ViaTrace and the US Animal Identifical Organisation to launch an animal tracking database. ViaTrace actually developed the database on Microsoft servers and operating systems for the USAIO. According to this trifecta of organizations, the dateabase does meet all government requirements for a database, while meeting producers concerns about confidentiality.
While the Secretary of agriculture has in the past expressed his support for a private database, there have been legal questions as to whether or not a private company could legally main such a database. Another producer concern has been any additional cost in implementing such a system - This database is reported to cost less than 30 cents per head to enroll.
ViaTrace has already begun accepting data, collecting information from existing state and association databases, along with pilot projects in 17 states. The system is expected to come online later in 2006, sometime during third quarter. Producers will be able to enter data wireless from the field, from their home or office computer, and by phone or US mail. The first step, naturally, is registering for a premise ID, which many have alread done.
There are still plenty of details to work out with this Animal ID situation, but work is being done in almost every sector of livestock production.
Posted: January 16, 2006 at 1:07 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
I’ve been meaning to write about this but had hoped to have more information by now. All I’ve seen is this one release and an endorsement from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. There’s a little more information in this story from the Brownfield Network. So, here’s what I know and now you do too.
Charles Miller, Chairman
United States Animal Identification Organization (USAIO)
January 11, 2006
“I am pleased to announce the formation of the United States Animal Identification Organization (USAIO). The USAIO is a nonprofit, independent organization working with every segment of animal industry and animal health authorities to manage the industry-led animal identification movement database as prescribed by the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) plan.
“The first board meeting was held January 10, 2006, where members of the board were elected. The board of directors will be expanded as various industry groups formally adopt the USAIO as their database repository for animal movement data needed for the NAIS. Initial directors are:
Charles Miller, Nicholasville, Ky., cow-calf producer
Rick Stott, Boise, Idaho, beef producer
Lance Kuck, Bassett, Neb., bison producer
“This organization looks forward to working closely with industry and animal health authorities to move the NAIS forward in a positive, proactive way. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been submitted by the USAIO to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to form a strategic partnership and fulfill Secretary Johanns’ directive for the industry to develop the database repository. USAIO looks forward to engaging all the interested parties to provide an effective, efficient, and inexpensive database for the NAIS.”
Here’s part of the statement from the current NCBA President.
“I am pleased to see oversight of the animal movement database resting in such capable and experienced hands. But I am also proud that NCBA has fulfilled the directive we were issued by our members – to bring this database to fruition, then allow an independent consortium to assume management responsibility for it.
“We’ve overcome a lot of obstacles, not to mention critics. But while others only talk about the issue, NCBA rose to the challenge and provided a solution. Our members can all be proud of that. We understand U.S. cattlemen need an animal ID solution today – not several years down the road..”
Jim McAdams, President
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
IDairy is pleased to announce that 70% of the United States’ 59,000 commercial dairy producers are estimated to have registered their premises as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Today more than 42,000 dairy producers are estimated to have registered their premises under NAIS.
Our Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, made his first major public policy speech today at the Cattle Industry Convention. Thanks to Andy Vance, 
He did talk about the Humane Society mess over their video of animal handling atrocities at the Hallmark Meat Packing Co. I think USDA has handled this quite well and the plant was shut down. What I thought was interesting was the Secretary in the press conference making a very good point about how this whacko (my word) organization withheld the video for months so they could release it to the media in a sensational way instead of bringing it immediately to the proper legal authorities so that the situation could have been halted immediately. In effect, the Humane Society prolonged animal suffering and I think the people who support them ought to know that they really don’t care about animals, only their political agenda and raising money.
This is exciting news in the identification realm. 
I’ve mentioned Google news alerts before. They’re handy and you get some interesting results. Like this morning when I checked and found 
The state of Indiana is mandating premises identification and registration. It started yesterday, September 1st.
The animal ID business is heating up and Schering-Plough’s 
Amid debate over illegal immigration and spending priorities, Congress has put the brakes on further 