Saw an article today that adds a sixth vendor to the list approved by the USDA. ALL of the AIN tags have a ISO-compliant RFID transponder (Transponder: a radio, radar, or sonar transceiver that automatically transmits a signal upon reception of a designated incoming signal. )

Y-Tex Corporation is the fourth manufacturer that provides NAIS-compliant identification devices.   Other approved manufacturers include Allflex USA, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, Digital Angel Corporation of South St. Paul, Minn., and Global Animal Management/Gissler Technologies of Plymouth, Minn.  There are now a total of six approved AIN tags.
 
AIN tags are designed for one-time use, and each tag is imprinted with an AIN, which is a 15-digit, nationally unique number for animals covered by NAIS.  Other distinguishing features include the U.S. shield and the term “Unlawful to Remove.”  

So, even though the program is *voluntary*, it's UNLAWFUL ONCE YOU SIGN UP TO REMOVE THE TAG???????????? Um, how does THAT work?

AIN tags may incorporate other supplemental identification technology, such as radio frequency identification (RFID).  All six of the APHIS-approved AIN tags contain an ISO-compliant RFID transponder.

Hello! It ain't supplemental if it CONTAINS a transponder!

One more thing about the *voluntary* program. In this article about the field trials, which including Johnson County, Texas Cattle Auction in Cleburne, Decatur's Livestock Market, and Producer's Livestock Auction in San Angelo, it is part of the trial for the operators of the markets to chip the cattle coming in. Doesn't say, but is that voluntary? Can producers participate in the cattle auction if their cattle isn't chipped? If not, doesn't that FORCE chips on producers? And some more vendors of RFID chips mentioned.

Anyway, I want to know something about all six of these vendors. I've seen the name Digital Angel before-that's a company that wanted to chip humans!

Y-Tex of Cody, Wyoming. Pretty difficult to find out from their website who they even ARE, but this inventor link says that Jackson T Schwindt, William B Sheets, and Maurice Aaron Whitney are inventors.

AllFlex-Here's their panel reader instructions-bet that's pricy.

Digital Angel (I've written about them before here)

Digital Angel Corporation develops and deploys sensor and communications technologies that enable rapid and accurate identification, location tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value assets. Applications for the Company's products include identification and monitoring of humans, pets, fish, poultry and livestock through its patented implantable microchips; location tracking and message monitoring of vehicles and aircraft in remote locations through systems that integrate GPS and geosynchronous satellite communications; and monitoring of asset conditions such as temperature and movement, through advanced miniature sensors.

Great! Doesn't it make you feel good to know this company tracks EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY, including human beings. Notice that it also does LOCATION tracking, monitoring of vehicles and aircraft, etc.

Farnam industries