Workshop Series to Answer Producer Questions About Mandatory Cattle I.D.

6/22/06

Contact:  Laura Probyn

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A workshop to be held across the state will help dairy and beef producers learn what it will take to meet the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA’s) March 1, 2007, deadline for the mandatory use of radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags in all cattle.

The workshop will be offered throughout Michigan in August, and anyone who owns or works with cattle is invited to attend. Kevin Kirk, special assistant to the MDA’s Animal Industry Division director, will provide a comprehensive overview of the program, which will be followed by questions and answers. He’ll outline the program, which will apply to all cattle that are transported from one premises to another in the state.

Workshops are scheduled for:

• Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Jackson County MSU Extension office, Jackson.
• Aug. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds, Hillsdale (barbecue to follow).
• Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at Brown Dairy Equipment, McBain (lunch to follow).
• Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ogemaw County MSU Extension office, West Branch.
• Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at Moo-ville Creamery, Nashville.
• Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Clinton County Regional Education Service Agency (RESA), in St. Johns.
• Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin Inn, Bad Axe.
• Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Coopersville Farm Museum, Coopersville.
• Aug. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hood Farms, Paw Paw.
• Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center, Frankenmuth.
• Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Newaygo County MSU Extension office, Fremont.

The workshops are free and preregistration is not required. For more information on the sessions, call Kathy Lee, Missaukee County MSU Extension educator, at 231-839-4667, or Sara Long, Michigan Holstein Association membership committee chairperson, at 989-834-9656.

The workshops are being organized by the Michigan Holstein Association in cooperation with MSU Extension.                                    
#lp#

return to news | back to top