Michigan RFID Program

The Amish in Michigan are also facing RFID chipping of their animals. In Michigan, the approach of the government is different than the other states who are implementing a chipping program.

This expensive program is required of all small farmers in the upper peninsula of the state, for the reason that there has been herds of deer afflicted with tuberculosis.

Some Amish in those areas have chosen to give up animal farming rather than participate in this program, and have decided to go into produce farming instead.

In the lower peninsula, the Amish are not required to chip their cattle until it arrives at the market. Once there, and prior to slaughter, the farmer must purchase a radio chip to be attached to the animal's ear. This accomodation is available to any cattle farmer in the lower peninsula, who may have a patriotic or religious objection to the chipping program.

In any event, the markets themselves feel this to be a burden they don't really want to take on. A citizen concern is that it will inadvertently create a new influence center with the power to affect state policies relative to farming operations.

A further concern is that the gracious accomodation of the state for farmers who object to this program will change when current personnel move on or retire.

Legislative guarantees with constitutional standards will be important to avoid going down a slippery slope.