Amish Resist Electronic ID Tags
US - Some Amish farmers say a state requirement that they tag cattle with electronic chips is a violation of their religious beliefs.
20 August 2007
2 minute read
Last year, the state Department of Agriculture announced that Michigan cattle leaving farms must be tagged in the ear with electronic identification as part of an effort to combat bovine tuberculosis.
"I know it's hard sometimes to trust the government, but that's what we're asking is trust us."
Kevin Kirk, coordinates the program for the state agriculture department.
That has drawn some resistance from the Amish, who typically shun technology, The Grand Rapids Press reported Sunday. In April, Glen Mast and other Amish farmers appeared before the state Senate Appropriations Committee, urging it to block the program.
"We're never happier than when we're just left alone," said Mast, whose farm in Isabella County operates without electricity. "That's all we're asking."
State officials say the ability to trace food sources is increasingly important in the global economy. State officials said cattle are to be tagged if they are leaving the farm to be sold or change ownership.
Kevin Kirk, who coordinates the program for the state agriculture department, said Amish farmers produced a "very, very small" percentage of the nearly 397 million pounds of beef sold by Michigan farmers last year.
"Our No. 1 goal is animal health, human health and food safety," Kirk said. "I know it's hard sometimes to trust the government, but that's what we're asking is trust us."
So far, the state has not forced the Amish to use the electronic tags but said they can wait until the animals arrive at an auction before having them applied, the newspaper said.
Source: MLive.com
