USDA’s Proposed Rule for Animal Traceability Overreach, politics, big business, forward thinking, or best management practice are all terms used by the various beef, dairy, and livestock groups when the idea of electronic identification is discussed. In the beef and dairy industries, the recent release of the USDA’s proposed rules has promoted a very diverse and divided response[1]. However, there is one factor that can be universally agreed upon regardless of viewpoint; the

Waters of the United States - 2023 What changed? The new rulemaking changes from the Trump era navigable waters (NWPR) basis to a standard that includes both the “significant nexus” and relatively permanent” standards. These standards come from the two Supreme Court opinions from the 2006 Rapanos vs United States case. Kennedy’s opinion contained the nexus standard and Scalia’s the relatively permanent standard. The "significant nexus” standard refers to the test to identi

The USDA APHIS announce a proposed rule regarding animal disease traceability and the requirement to use electronic ear tags (EID's). The agency is soliciting public comments until March 23, 2023. The below link is a copy of proposed rule and information provided with the rule by USDA APHIS.