National Animal ID Is Not Dead!

Written By: Jerry Hanson  |  Posted: Friday, June 29th, 2012

            Wisconsin recently passed legislation to help farmers pay for the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) animal identification system. If the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is dead, why did the Wisconsin Legislature draft and pass, and Governor Walker sign a bill that promotes the use of an animal identification system foundational to the NAIS?  Wisconsin Senate Bill 396 creates an income and franchise tax credit for 25 percent of the amount that a taxpayer paid in the taxable year for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for the taxpayer's livestock located in this state, and 25 percent of the amount that a taxpayer paid in the taxable year for equipment used in this state to read radio frequency identification tags on livestock. This tells me that the State of Wisconsin fully expects NAIS to become law. RFID will start as a state by state voluntary program with a small tax credit to encourage farmers to buy the tags and electronic ID reading equipment. Before long it will become mandatory and the federal government will find or fabricate a reason to control and use it in some form of NAIS.

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