Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. Is registering my premises mandatory?
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Answer
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A. No, the NCFarmID is a voluntary program.
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Q. Does obtaining a premises identification number (PIN) obligate me to identify my animals?
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Answer
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A. No, a producer may register his or her premises only. Obtaining a PIN does not obligate you in any way. However, in order to purchase official "840" identification devices a producer must first register his or her premises. Identification via "840" devices is not mandatory.
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Q. Is there a fee for registering my premises?
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Answer
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A. No, premises registration is free. To register your premises, submit a completed and signed NCFarmID premises registration form to the NCFarmID office. Click on "Download Registration Form" below, to obtain the form. The second page of the form lists the mailing address, fax number and email address, all of which are acceptable means of sending the form to our office.
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Q. Why am I unable to submit my premises registration form online?
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A. We require that the form be signed, thus we currently do not accept online registrations nor do we have an online registration form. If a form is submitted without a signature it will be returned.
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Q. If I have registered in the Scrapie program am I automatically registered in the NCFarmID program?
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Answer
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A. No, both are two, completely separate programs. The Scrapie Program is a mandatory, disease specific (Scrapie disease) program for sheep and goat producers. When you register in the Scrapie program you are assigned a Flock Identification Number. The NCFarmID program is a voluntary program for all livestock and poultry disease traceability and assigns a Premises Identification Number (PIN) to parcel of land. More information on the Scrapie program can be found under the "Related Links" button of this site, or by calling the NCDA&CS, Veterinary Division office at 919-733-7601.
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Q. I lost my PIN, how do I find out what it is?
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Answer
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A. Call (919-715-2951) or email (NCFarmID@ncagr.gov) the NCFarmID office and we will be happy to look it up for you and supply you with another PIN notification letter or NCFarmID card.
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Q. Where can I find more information on animal traceability?
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Answer
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A. Additional information can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal Disease Traceability website. The link is available under the "Related Links" tab on this site.
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Q. What Forms of Identification Will be Used?
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A. USDA understands that there is no “one–size–fits–all” identification technology. Many methods are currently on the market: radio frequency identification devices, retinal scans, DNA, etc. It is likely that some technologies will work better for some species than for others. Rather than focus on a specific technology, USDA will focus on the design of the identification data system—what information should be collected and when it should be collected and reported. Once the identification system is designed, the market will determine which technologies will be the most appropriate to meet the needs of the system.
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Q. Who Will Pay for the Identification System?
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Answer
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A. The size and scope of this undertaking
demand that it be a cooperative effort. Because it is being
developed as an industry–government partnership, it
is expected that industry and the government will share the
cost of the necessary elements.
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Q. Where Do Producers Get Premises Identification Numbers?
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Answer
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A. Each State’s and Tribe’s
animal health authority (e.g., State veterinarian) is responsible
for administering and maintaining a premises registration
system for the region under its purview. Once a system is
operational in each area, the State or Tribal animal health
official will obtain unique national premises identification
numbers through USDA’s premises number allocator. The
premises registration system will record information such
as address, contact name, type of premises, and phone number
to contact the person in charge of the premises. Key pieces
of information will be sent to the national premises information
repository so that it will be available in the case of a disease
traceback.
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Q. Do Horse Owners Have to Eartag Their Horses?
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Answer
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A. No. Species–specific working groups,
which are providing input to USDA, are aware of traditional
methods of identifying animals and will not recommend methods
that are contrary to current practices. The goal is to provide
valid identification without compromising other needs of a
given species.
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Q. Where Do Producers Get Official Animal Identification Numbers?
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Answer
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A. Following premises registration, producers
may contact an animal identification number manager in their
area to obtain official animal identification numbers (AIN).
AINs will be issued to the premises and linked to the animals
in a way that is appropriate for the species. For example,
cattle producers may use ear tags on their animals, while
LaMancha goat producers may require a different type of identification
method, since their animals have very small ears. Producers
should check with their State or Tribal animal health authority
to determine who they should contact about AINs.
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Q. What is "Commingling"?
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Answer
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A. Commingling may be defined as an animal
having contact with, or being inter–mixed with, animals
other than herdmates from that animal’s premises of
origin.
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Q. What are You Doing to Ensure the Privacy of Ranchers' and Farmers' Records? Will Information Collected for the advancing of animal disease traceability be Exempted from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?
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Answer
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A. USDA recognizes the concerns about the
confidentiality of this information and is working on options
to allay these concerns. At the same time, it is important
to keep in mind that the national information repositories
will only include information for animal and disease tracking
purposes. Proprietary production data will remain in private
databases. FOIA can be used to obtain information from a Federal
agency when that agency has custody and control of a record.
USDA is very much aware of producers’ concerns about
the confidentiality of information collected as part of the
advancing animal disease traceability and is taking them very seriously as officials explore
the most effective means for collecting animal identification
information. Accordingly, USDA is pursuing various options
for appropriately protecting the information from
public disclosure.
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Source: Factsheet Veterinary Services September 2004 APHIS
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Download Registration Form
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