The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association along with three other agriculture groups want the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cancel a series of animal identification meetings set for this month and in May. Executive Director Silvia Christen says if USDA denies their request, they at least want a public comment period held.

She says USDA has released very little information on what they are seeking with the ID proposal and the timing of the meetings is also bad.

Christen says the present disease traceability system isn’t broken and doesn’t need fixing.

Joining the Stockgrowers in the letter opposing the meetings are R-CALF, The Western Organization of Resource Councils and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.