Dear Friend,
I'm writing to bring to your attention to two additional, AND time-sensitive ways to assist the effort to stop the new FSIS rule requiring mandatory Electronic ID of cattle and bison (RFID).
ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN-ON LETTER
An organizational sign on letter is being circulated to Congress to stop the new FSIS rule. If you are part of an organization that has not yet signed onto the letter, please circulate among your organization's leadership and members.
You can find the letter, and those who have signed on already, HERE,
If your organization wants to sign on, please fill out the form HERE.
REQUEST AN IN-DISTRICT MEETING WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Your voice is crucial in protecting small farms and local food systems from burdensome federal regulations! We're asking you to please take immediate action against the USDA's Animal ID mandate that will go into effect in only twelve weeks if we don’t act, which threatens to impose costly and unnecessary requirements on small-scale farmers and ranchers.
TAKE ACTION
1. Request an In-District Meeting
Contact your Congressmember's office and ask for an in-district meeting to discuss your concern and opposition to the USDA Animal ID mandate. Meeting with your representative or their staff face-to-face makes the greatest impact, ensuring that they understand the negative impacts this policy would have on your farm, your community, and our local food systems. The legislators are all back in their home districts for the summer recess, until September 9. If you simply cannot do an in-person meeting, then ask for a phone call with their staff.
2. Locate Your Representative and Their District Office
Find Your U.S. Representative
In order to set up a meeting with your Representative in-district, it’s preferable you call their District office closest to where you live, and not their DC office. Any number with a (202) area code will direct you to their DC office. When you look up your Representative, you will see a list of office locations and phone numbers.
3. Discuss the Key Points
Impact on Small Farmers: Explain how the USDA's Animal ID mandate would impose heavy financial burdens on small farmers, requiring costly electronic tracking systems that could put many out of business.
Threat to Local Food Systems: Emphasize that this mandate disproportionately affects small-scale operations, which are vital to maintaining local food systems, food security, and biodiversity.
Call for Exemptions: Urge your Congressmember to support H.J. Res. 167 that eliminates this mandate.
Your action can make a difference! Meeting with your Representative in person is one of the most effective ways to influence their stance on this issue. We encourage you to take a few moments to set up your meeting today!
