The US cattle industry is the largest and most sustainable globally. The Georgia Farm Monitor reports that the USDA has been working on traceability for the industry since 2003, following a disease outbreak. Currently, cattle are tracked using metal ear tags. Traceability is crucial to quickly respond to disease outbreaks. The recently implemented USDA traceability rule mandates the use of electronic ID tags for cattle. Producers only need to use these tags if shipping cattle 18 months or older out of state. The goal is to prevent disease outbreaks in the industry. Data collected through the program includes premise I. D. numbers, tag numbers, location, and date – ensuring producers’ sensitive information is secure. Producers can contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture for assistance with implementing electronic ID tags on their operations. The focus is on protecting the industry while maintaining producers’ information security.  To read the full article from the Georgia Farm Monitor, click HERE