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AG GROUPS The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P12
continued from page 3 USDA
Ag Policy Whiplash later this year. continued from page 3
In a press release on the So, why did EPA move for- potential for future technol- tion's biggest concerns.
lawsuit, Farm Bureau Pres- ward with the rule change ogies other than RFID rela- "We haven't had a case of
ident Zippy Duvall says now? Ted McKinney, Nation- tive to the tags. FMD in the U.S. since the
the rule is “vague” and puts al Association of State De- Industry Responds 1920s, and there hasn't been
farmers and ranchers in a partments of Ag (NASDA) Ethan Lane, vice presi- FMD in North America since
position where they will have CEO, says his team has their dent of government affairs at the 1950s," he says. "We
to hire lawyers and consults own theory. NCBA, broke down the time- have a very naive herd
to establish the boundaries “It’s rare for an organi- line for the transition to EID that would be devastated by
of farming, which “isn’t what zation to be that direct in tags. FMD, as would other hoofed
clean water regulations were state-mandated oversight "We currently have the livestock."
intended to do.” in streams. Because of that RFID tag rule that we saw at Disease management tac-
Ethan Lane, NCBA’s vice rarity, we, at NASDA, believe the end of the Trump admin- tics aside, Bacus says the
president of government af- it’s an overreach that’s polit- istration that took a three or domino affect FMD would
fairs, echoed Farm Bureau, ical in nature—it isn’t right,” four year period to ramp up have on the supply chain
saying the “unjust” ruling McKinney says. and transition to," Lane says. that is continuously being
hits too close to home. According to a federal reg- "This EID tag will go live as soddered and broken would
“I’m from the state of Ar- ulatory agenda posted on Jan be "catastrophic." He points
izona. The ‘significant nexus’ 4., the Biden administration soon as it is finalized, which to highly-pathogenic avian
is likely to be a year to 18
test that determines a dry will revise and refine a sec- months." influenza (HPAI) and Afri-
stream bed from some kind of ond new WOTUS definition According to Lane, the can swine fever (ASF) as ex-
runoff area is describing my that EPA will propose in Fall proposed system is a nod to amples.
entire home state, depending 2023, following the Supreme ever-evolving technology and "There's no cure for any
on the definition you use,” he Court’s decision. Only then will be a "better" tool than of it [HPAI, FMD and ASF],"
says. “We need clarity.” will the WOTUS definition RFIDs. Bacus says. "The best thing
Why Rule on WOTUS Now? be officially finalized. So, why is another being we could hope to do is track
The new definition and In keeping the second pushed so hard right now? and vaccinate our way out of
lawsuit come as the Supreme definition on the regulatory What's at Stake it."
Court is evaluating a de- agenda, EPA will be given The EID system is aimed Thanks to APHIS's EID
cision on another WOTUS time to adjust to the Supreme at helping the U.S. cattle in- plan, those tracking efforts
case that could significantly Court’s ruling. dustry deal with the emer- are being put in motion.
impact WOTUS rulemaking, gency response to animal The Gameplan
which is set to be ruled on disease events, with APHIS Under the proposed rule,
concluding that while foot APHIS would require tags
and mouth disease (FMD) to be used that are both
SHIP IT and other diseases have visually and electronical-
continued from page 3 been largely excluded from ly readable for interstate
ers to keep our supply chain saying the SHIP IT Act is a the U.S., “exclusion of every movement of cattle and
bison six months after a
moving.” “commonsense” solution to high impact disease through final rule is published in the
What's in it for Ag? ongoing burdens. every pathway of introduc- Federal Register.
tion is likely an unachiev-
According to the Shippers “The legislation would able task.” Comments on the APHIS
Coalition press release, pas- bring the U.S. supply chain Kent Bacus, NCBA's exec- proposed rule are due Mar.
sage of the SHIP IT Act will into the 21st century to meet utive director of government 20. There is not yet a defin-
the needs of shippers, reduce
“improve the supply chain affairs, echoes APHIS, saying itive date when the plan will
and keep costs down for con- regulatory burdens that cost FMD is one of his associa- finally be in place.
shippers millions of dollars a
sumers” by:
1.Offering authority for year, create good paying jobs,
certain vehicle waivers and support the ambitious LIFE
during emergencies sustainability goals of dairy continued from page 5
businesses,” says Dykes.
2.Allowing truck drivers to According to the bill, el- and cottonseed meal were the need to take typing if you’re
apply for workforce grants igible truck drivers would two main ones. planning on going to college.”
3.Streamlining the CDL be granted funds to cover “You know,” he began, “you I jokingly replied that only
process CDL cost, including course could let X equal the protein prospective secretaries needed
4.Assisting with truck materials, supplies, fees for content of corn, and Y be the to take typing (this was about
parking difficulties graduation, licenses and cer- same for the cottonseed meal, 30 years before computers)
“The OSRA was needed to tification. Established driv- and solve for Z as the percent and I was going to study agri-
ease the backlog at ports and ers would also be granted a protein of the total ration; that culture.
the SHIP IT Act is the natu- $7,500 tax credit, while new way, you could play around “Enroll in the typing course.”
ral next step to continue the truck drivers would be of- with it, and find out which I did. It turned out to be one
important work of bolstering fered a $10,000 credit. ratio works best, and at the of the most valuable courses I
the nation’s supply chain,” cheapest price.” have ever taken. I don’t like to
says Sean Joyce, Shippers Son-of-a-gun! brag, but at 65 words per min-
Coalition executive director. A couple of years later, my ute, with no mistakes, I would
Michael Dykes, DVM, agriculture teacher was look- have been an exceptional sec-
president and CEO of Inter- ing over my shoulder, as I retary.
national Dairy Foods Associ- made out my schedule for the
ation (IDFA), echoed Joyce, following year. “You’re going to
