Dear Friend,
Pennsylvania residents have the opportunity to assist the effort to stop the new FSIS rule requiring mandatory Electronic ID of cattle and bison, and to preserve on-farm slaughter rules.
FTCLDF, along with our friends at the National Family Farm Coalition, FARFA and Rural VT had a great meeting this week with with Senator John Fetterman’s office about him potentially being a cosponsor of Sen Hageman's Animal eID resolution seeking to block the implementation of the USDA’s rules mandating electronic ID on all cattle and bison moving between state lines CRA (H.J. Res. 167).
(LOCAL) Foods Act
We also asked for Sen. Fetterman’s support of the Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, which would clarify and strengthen the rules that allowing on farm animal processing.
Sen. Fetterman's office wants to hear more from Pennsylvania constituents about how these laws would impact them and asked for FTCLDF's help arranging calls with those willing to share their views. If you have interest in making a call,, please contact christinefarmtoconsumer.org.
Senator Fetterman’s office will be moved to act if they hear from enough people that these efforts are important to them. So, the time is now for you to have a meaningful impact on future policy affecting farmers and producers.
ACTION STEPS REGARDING RFID TAGS Contact christinefarmtoconsumer.org if you wish to be part of a meeting with Sen. Fetterman's office.
Contact Senator Fetterman’s Office
Use this contact form you can complete on Senator Fetterman’s website. Call or write to one of his offices.
Discuss the Key Points - RFID
The cost of RFID tags disproportionately burdens small and medium sized independent farmers and ranchers. The USDA rule allows large, corporate-owned herds to be grouped and tagged as one group, creating a huge loophole that keeps costs low for the companies. Although USDA claims the rule is about animal health, it does nothing to prevent or treat disease. USDA hasn’t provided any data to show how it will significantly increase traceback – the agency simply assumes electronic systems will be faster, even though the experience in other countries, such as Australia, does not support this. USDA’s press release focused on the real driver for electronic ID, namely greasing the wheels of the export market. This benefits the big companies, while putting the cost on the farmers. RFID tags on the live cattle do nothing to increase food safety.
See more details in the organizational sign on letter to Congress attached.
ACTION STEPS REGARDING (LOCAL) Foods Act Currently, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) only allows farmers to raise, slaughter, and butcher their animals without inspection for their personal use, not sold to customers. This Act would clarify that the slaughtering of livestock a person owns, in whole or in part, is legal when it happens on the farm where it was raised. It would allow non-farmer consumers to buy a share of live animals and then hire someone as their agent to complete on-farm slaughter. Increases small livestock farmers’ ability to expand their business. Allows consumers to buy meat from local farms instead of industrial meat providers.
Further details are in the press release issued by the bills’ sponsors, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). | 
