Federal court denies USDA motion to dismiss lawsuit over cattle ID mandate
A legal challenge to a USDA mandate requiring electronic identification tags for certain beef cattle, bison and dairy cows moving across state lines will continue after a federal judge on Tuesday denied a USDA motion to dismiss the case brought on behalf of cattle producers.
The rule that took effect on Nov. 5, 2024, requires visibly readable EID tags for sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months or older, dairy cattle of any age and for cattle and bison of any age used for rodeos, shows or exhibitions.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, on behalf of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), the South Dakota Stockgrowers Alliance, and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, as well as individual producers…
October 2, 2025
Originally Published in Progressive Farmer