The state and county fair identification requirements have been updated for 2019. This year all cattle and swine must be identified by an official USDA radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tag, commonly referred to as an “840 RFID tag,” or an equivalent official RFID tag if the animal was tagged in another country.
Cattle and swine which are already identified by the 840 visual ear tag will be exempt from the 840 RFID tag requirement.
The Department will supply a limited number of 840 RFID tags to producers for cattle and swine going to fairs. It will possibly take two weeks for your order to process. Please plan accordingly, and do not wait until fair to order them. To order 840 RFID tags, please fill out the 2019 Order Form for Free Producer Ear Tags in the following link and send to the address at the bottom of the form: https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/AI-489_OrderForm_Producer_Ear_Tags.pdf
If you would like to see the complete documents on Fair Animal Health Requirements, Fair Interstate Health Requirements, and Exhibitor Pre-fair Guidelines, follow the corresponding link on the Division of Animal Industry page of the Agriculture and Markets website: https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/AIHome.html
If you have any questions, please contact your local extension office or myself at 518-272-4210 or kls342@cornell.edu
