USDA calls off plan to track farm animals

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it has abandoned a program that was intended to trace the movement of farm animals around the country but garnered little support from farmers.

Instead, the department announced plans for a new, more flexible program to be administered by states and tribes to strengthen disease prevention and response. The program will only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce and will encourage the use of low-cost technology.

The decision came after Agriculture Department officials heard widespread opposition to the national animal identification system at 15 meetings around the country last year.

Implemented in 2004, the voluntary program was intended to pinpoint an animal’s location within 48 hours after a disease is discovered, to better prevent and respond to outbreaks.

Last year, just 36 percent of farmers and ranchers were participating.

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