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NDHIA appointed an ID Task Force in 2003. Through this Task Force, NDHIA has been a significant player in the animal ID effort. Greg Marrs, Colorado, chairs the Task Force that also includes Dan Sheldon, New York, Bruce Dokkebakken, Minnesota, and NDHIA CEO Jay Mattison. In addition, Ken Olson is working as a consultant in this area. He recently completed a two-year term as chairman of the Board of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, the group that provided the primary leadership for development of the US Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) that USDA is now moving forward as the NAIS. Olson previously served as the national dairy policy specialist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. What is NDHIA doing relative to NAIS? NDHIA took a leadership role representing dairy producers during the development of the US Animal Identification Plan by actively participating in various working groups. Since then, NDHIA has provided testimony at various hearings on the topic of Premise and Animal Identification, provided comments to the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, and made visits to Capital Hill. In addition, NDHIA worked closely in development of one major proposal and have been included in plans for several others that were presented to USDA for funding consideration. The goal is to validate the DHI system as a valuable partner in the ID effort, demonstrating that the DHIA data collection system will be able to provide the information needed to meet the 48-hour traceback expectation of NAIS. NDHIA personnel are also attending the regional USDA Listening Sessions, providing the dairy perspective on program direction as well as emphasizing the valuable role DHIA can play in this effort. Through it we hope to assure that producers will be able to use a system that they trust and are familiar with to provide information needed by the NAIS. NDHIA Position Statement Supporting National Premises and Animal Identification System (January 2004) NDHIA Delegates Approve Premises and Animal ID Resolution (March 2004) NDHIA and Holstein USA Announce Agreement (May 2004) NDHIA Comments to House Ag Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture (date) Testimony presented at the USDA Listening Session on the NAIS USDA Listening Session Written Testimony on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Greg Marr’s testimony from the Colorado USDA Listening Session (August 2004) |