**News Flash: USDA Approves First Blockchain-Based Cattle Verification Program**

CattleProof, a Wyoming-based company, has made history by becoming the first to receive USDA approval for a blockchain-based Process Verified Program (PVP). This innovative service uses a decentralized digital ledger to track individual cows, integrating data from electronic ID tags with updates on their condition and location.

- **First of Its Kind**: CattleProof is the only USDA-approved PVP utilizing blockchain technology.

- **"Born in the USA" Certification**: Offers digital certificates with hyperlinks to individual animal data.

- **Payment Integration**: Integrated with Heartland Payments for buying and selling USDA-verified cattle.

This milestone shows the USDA's growing acceptance of blockchain in agriculture, aligning with recent proposals to use blockchain for tracing organic product supply chains.