BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Three million additional electronic identification (EID) tags will now be provided for U.S. ranchers. Senator John Hoeven, a ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced this as part of his goal to ensure that North Dakota ranchers have the resources necessary to comply with the new EID mandate. The mandate requires “official identification” on certain cattle and bison moved across state lines for the purpose of animal disease traceability. For animals tagged after the rule’s effective date, the ear tags “must be readable both visually and electronically.” BLM dismisses concerns about RMP, Burgum files appeal The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will provide three million tags. “We pressed APHIS to ensure that our ranchers have the resources necessary to comply with their new EID mandate,” said Hoeven. “Our ranchers are already facing challenges from weather and high input costs. The last thing they need are additional costs from USDA mandates.” As the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven included $10 million in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Bill to fund the APHIS tag requirement.  That legislation has been approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW