NPPA wants members to depart from the current Premises Identification (PIN) system to a more modern way.
Pork farmers in one Midwestern state are being urged to start using RFID for a more advanced and traceable approach to tracking pigs.
The Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) is advocating for the widespread adoption of RFID tags for the pork industry’s animal identification methods.
Mark Wright, President of NPPA, recently introduced the initiative during a regional producer meeting, signaling a departure from the current Premises Identification (PIN). NPAA official offered the strategic shift is not just about modernization but a proactive effort to elevate the traceability of the U.S. pork supply chain, addressing the stringent requirements of global markets and trade partners.
Push Back Against RFID
The driving force behind this change lies in the imperative to uphold and expand the international presence of the U.S. pork industry. With 31% of products exported, the industry faces the challenge of adopting measures to ensure competitiveness on the global stage.
The decision has been meant with some resistance, notably about cost—an RFID tag costs $2 more than PIN tag. Additionally, the proposed shift has raised concerns among producers about cybersecurity and financial burdens. Some producers reportedly expressed a preference for in-house data management during non-crisis periods due to potential risks associated with storing sensitive information in a centralized database.
Despite the concerns raised, the NPPA is actively engaged in discussions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explore federal assistance options, aiming to mitigate the financial strain on producers while ensuring the security and reliability of the new system as these features could be pivotal in maintaining open export lines during health crises.
Addressing International Issues
The adoption of RFID tags comes at a crucial time for the U.S. pork industry as it focuses on enhancing disease traceability and meeting the evolving demands of international markets.
NPPA supporters of the initiative believe it will set a precedent for other sectors. Working with the USDA using RFID equipment will provide advanced traceability systems in securing and expanding global trade relationships.
The push by the NPAA comes as a federal budget agreement allocates $15 million to “related infrastructure” needed for electronically tracking livestock. USDA’s APHIS continues to believe that RFID tags will provide the cattle industry with the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases and will therefore continue to encourage the use of RFID tags while rulemaking is pending.
Use with Cattle
The language in the $460 billion spending bill to fund about half the federal government through September 30 “directs the Department to continue to provide the tag and related infrastructure needed to comply with the Federal Animal Disease Traceability rule, including no less than $15,000,000 for electronic identification (EID) tags and related infrastructure needed for stakeholders to comply with the proposed rule, ‘Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison,’ should that rule be finalized.”
Canadian UHF RFID company HerdWhistle is expanding its global distribution partnerships as it grows its presence around the world. Most recently the technology firm signed a distribution partnership with Texas company Block Trust Network to expand the distributor’s livestock monitoring solutions.
Block Trust network distributes HerdWhistle products, including the company’s UHF RFID readers and antennas, and the Big Eye multispectral camera that tracks details related to the animal’s health.
The landscape of RFID rollouts across the global beef industry varies according to countries. In Canada, where HerdWhistle operates, LF RFID has been mandated by law for many years. In the U.S., cattle associations and cooperatives are working together to solve identification traceability challenges, often provided by LF RFID, while a number of groups using UHF tags.
Key Takeways:
- The Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) is advocating for the widespread adoption of RFID tags for the pork industry’s animal identification methods.
- The adoption of RFID tags comes at a crucial time for the U.S. pork industry as it focuses on enhancing disease traceability and meeting the evolving demands of international markets.