National Animal Identification System
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Congressional Response Phone Numbers
Direct your responses to your Congress. Do it Now.
866-340-9281
800-417-7666
877-851-6437
866-220-0044
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Animal Owners and Freedom Lovers: Pay Attention. NAIS will radically change the way you live, and not in a good way.
Why the government wants NAIS:
"I believe a fully functional animal tracking system will keep us competitive in international markets, helping us retain and expand our market share. This Department is wholly committed to making NAIS a reality. "
Mike Johanns
Secretary of Agriculture
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January, 2007
12 Questions To Ask Public Officials and yourself about NAIS if by chance you get answers please post them to Nais Question Response Link.
No. 1 What is the legal nature of the contract that I enter into when I sign up for
a U.S. Premises Identification Number?
No. 2 If I want to, can I rescind that contract at any time?
No. 3 Does the U.S. Premises Identification Number “cloud” the title to my
property?
No. 4 When I get a U.S. Premises Identification Number, does my farm become
subject to the regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
No. 5 What is the legal nature of the contract that I enter into when I buy a tag
or RFID-chip with the U.S. Animal Identification Number on it?
No. 6 Does the U.S. Animal Identification Number attached to my animal
restrict my ownership of that animal?
No. 7 When I attach a tag or RFID-chip with the U.S. Animal Identification
Number to my animal, does my animal become subject to the regulations
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
No. 8 Do U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations preempt all State and
local laws and regulations that are in conflict with the USDA’s
regulation?
No. 9 Who owns the information that I am being asked to give to the National
Animal Identification System about my farm and animals?
No. 10 Is the Department of Homeland Security in charge of enforcing the
Animal Health Protection Act of 2002?
No. 11 Is the National Animal Identification System authorized for general,
public use by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB)?
No. 12 What gives the U.S. Department of Agriculture enforcement authority in
this State?
SAY NO NAIS
INFORMATION HERE
ALASKA DISCUSSION
AlaskaNONAIS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Americans_Against_NAIS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
TAKE ACTION HERE
Liberty Ark
Farm and Ranch Freedom
June, 2006
Hello,
This article just came in the June issue of Alaska Farm Bureau publication. Read it and weep.
Written by: Dr. Bob Gerlatch
The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is designed to provide the capacity to rapidly identify all animals
and premises (sites) that have had direct contact with a disease in the case of an outbreak. NAIS consists of 3 components:
- Premisis idetification
- Animal identification
- Animal tracking.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation started premises identification on a voluntary basis last year.
We have a computer program to register premises but have not had the personnel to fully implement the program
until now. This summer we will have a registration form and system set up, as well as provide training on how
producers can use the system.
Identifying premises involves obtaining a seven-character alpha-numeric "identifier" for the farm, ranch, veterinary
clinic, or other site where livestock or fowl are handled, housed, managed or processed. Information
requested includes the contact person's name, phone number, the premises' physical address and a list of species
raised on the site. Acerage or herd or flock size is not requested. Premises identification is voluntary now.
The Animal Identification component of the NAIS will "come online" gradually, and will involve identifying livestock
and fowl that are moved from their premises of origin (place of birth). Depending on the species of animal, the
identification may be accomplished with a tag, band, microchip, radio frequency identification device or other
form if identification. ##
The full version will be published in the July issue of Alaska Farm Bureau newsletter.--
No NAIS.org Website
Description of the issues:
Subject: NAIS
This is a proposal from the USDA it affects all horse owners even
though horses are not raised for meat... Under this plan your horse
will need a radio tracking chip and 15 digit ID number. Your premise
will have to be registered with the government. You will be
responsible for filing paperwork within 48 hours every time your
horses leaves or returns to your premise or any other horses visits
your premise.
For several years, the USDA has been working with the largest-scale
animal industry organizations (for example, the National Pork
Producers, Monsanto Company, and Cargill Meat) to develop a mandatory
"National Animal Identification System" ("NAIS").
However, most small scale livestock producers, people who raise
animals for their own food, and people who keep horses or livestock
as companion animals do not know about the USDA's plans. The NAIS
will drive small producers out of the market, will make
people abandon raising animals for their own food, will invade
Americans' personal privacy to a degree never before tolerated, will
violate the religious freedom of Americans whose beliefs make it
impossible for them to comply, and will erase the last vestiges of
animal welfare from the production of animal foods.
The Problem
On April 25, 2005, the USDA released "Draft Program
Standards" ("St.") and a "Draft Strategic Plan" ("Plan") concerning
the NAIS.
If you think the description below sounds too bizarre to be true,
please go to usda.gov/nais, read the Standards and Plan, and check
the citations.By January 1, 2008, the NAIS will be mandatory. (Plan,
pp. 2, 10, 17.)
Every person who owns even one horse, cow, pig, chicken, sheep,
pigeon, or virtually any livestock animal, will be forced to register
their home, including owner's name, address, and telephone number,
and keyed to Global Positioning System coordinates for satellite
monitoring, in a giant federal database under a 7-digit "premises ID
number." (St., pp. 3-4, 10-12; Plan, p. 5.)
Every animal will have to be assigned a 15-digit ID number, also to
be kept in a giant federal database. The form of ID will most likely
be a tag or microchip containing a Radio Frequency Identification
Device, designed to be read from a distance. (Plan, p. 10; St., pp.
6, 12, 20, 27-28.)
The plan may also include collecting the DNA of
every animal and/or a retinal scan of every animal. (Plan, p.13.)
The owner will be required to report: the birthdate of an animal,
the application of every animal's ID tag, every time an animal leaves
or enters the property, every time an animal loses a tag, every time
a tag is replaced, the slaughter or death of an animal, or if any
animal is missing. Such events must be reported within 24 hours.
(St., pp. 12-13, 17-21.)
Third parties, such as veterinarians, will be required to report
"sightings" of animals. (St., p. 25.) In other words, if you
call a vet to your property to treat your horse, cow, or any other
animal, and the vet finds any animal without the mandatory 15-digit
computer-readable ID, the vet may be required to report you.If you do
not comply, the USDA will exercise "enforcement" against
you. (St., p. 7; Plan, p. 17.) The USDA has not yet specified the
nature of "enforcement," but presumably it will include imposing
fines and/or seizing your animals.There are no exceptions -- under
the USDA plan, you will be forced to
register and report even if you raise animals only for your own food
or keep horses for draft or for transportation.
The Negative Effects
Eradication of Small Farms People with just a few meat animals or
40-cow dairies are already living on the edge financially. The USDA
plan will force many of them to give up farming.Loss of the True
Security of Organic and Local Foods The NAIS is
touted by the USDA and agricorporations as a way to make our food
supply "secure" against diseases or terrorism. However, most people
instinctively understand that real food security comes from raising
food yourself or buying from a local farmer you actually know. The
USDA plan will only kill off more local sources of production and
further promote the giant industrial methods which cause many food
safety and disease problems.
Commentary
Date: Fri, 5 May 2006 10:46:31 -0400
From: J&D
Subject: Re: horses and the NAIS
This impacts every horse owner.
The group consists of the AHC (which is a lobbying group, not a
horseman's group) and organizations representing the racing
industry, with minimal representation by the pleasure horse population.
The AHC's justification (on their web site) was written by a UKy vet,
another player in the racing industry. If you have a breed other than
TB, QH, Paint, Ap and STB, you may want to check with your own breed
organization regarding their views on whether or not this is looking out
in anyone's best interests. The Arab folks race but are keeping open,
many minor breeds (horse and other) oppose it.
The workgroup did not form as a service to breeders and owners. The
USDA collaborates with an "animal industry" lobby group that includes
McDonald's, Cargill, WalMart, and major marketing lobbies like the Pork
Council and National Cattlemen's. The minimum fee for an individual
voting membership is $250, so not too many "little guys" have joined.
AHC is a member because they paid dues.
I called my state's official in charge of animal ID and spoke with him
for nearly two hours to get clarification on the disease/trail
horse/tracking information. He stated that the goal is to get all
premises registered, even iwth one horse. He could not explain why you
need this number when you already have an address and zip code, and he
shared my concern that the program (state and national) has not resolved
the issue of exactly who will control the database. He said the
producers don't want federal management because they're "afraid the IRS
will look at it." He also shares my concern that private management
would likely lead to offshoring, and that is a very large risk. He
stated that horse owners would only have to report movement when it is
to an event that requires a health certificate, and that it would be the
event management that would be responsible for reporting. I remarked
that I had read one horse publication editor's note that this would only
involve crossing state lines, and the state rep said that was not
correct, but any organized gathering, local included. He didn't think
local trail riding would be included. Within two days of that
conversation, I read the AHC's workgroup notes considering that all
trail rides should require a health cert. Can you start to get an idea
of how disorganized, inconsiderate, and intrusive this mess has become?
And all for marketing exported meat. The head of USDA himself has said
our food supply is the safest in the world, and that we already have
adequate tracking. He cannot explain why, then, NAIS is needed beyond
meeting treaty agreements that have nothing to do with you participating
in a CDE or picnic drive. My state guy said it would be used to notify
owners of disease in the area; has this really been a problem recently?
Between your own vet, radio, newspaper, television, and the 'net? He
also told me the 48 hour tracking is based on FMD, of which there has
not been a case in the USA in 75 years. Other officials say BSE, of
which there have been three cases in the US, ever, and zero US humans
have contracted anything from BSE cattle.
If any list members are aware of a horse-to-human pandemic raging
through the US, or an epidemic among horses (we're not talking about
tainted caterpillers and leaves) that was tracked and stopped in a way
that would have been improved with NAIS, please tell us about it. It
would be very useful in the decision process.
Janis
Date: Fri, 5 May 2006 11:18:32 -0700
From: Diana
Subject: NAIS comments
Hello list I'm usually a lurker, but would like to comment on the Animal
ID/Tracking/Health Certificate issue.
As a 'new' sheep breeder, I am having to register my farm with USDA and
identify/track each animal that is born here; they want to be able to track
every animal back to its origin if it were ever to show signs of scrapie
(BSE in sheep). There is a 'mandatory' program and a 'voluntary'
program. The mandatory program involves providing USDA with your address
and flock numbers, they provide ear tags that must be installed in the
sheep before they leave the premises. The voluntary program involves
allowing the state vet onto your property for inspections and involves more
paperwork and record keeping. This is all very confusing and potentially
intrusive. The USDA did find scrapie in a friends' herd and killed every
animal on the property that was not genetically unsusceptible to scrapie
(there is a test and a genetic resistance factor in sheep; there is no
resistance factor in goats, and some breeds of sheep do not seem to have
the genetic resistance).
So, you can imagine, if you register your horse(s) with the USDA, they may
eventually require a Coggins test on every horse in the US, and then
immediately destroy all positives. Some of you may think that is a good
idea and some may not, my problem with it is the Government telling me that
I must destroy my horse(s) or other animals. A more likely scenario is
WNV. Maybe once they know where all the horses are, they will test for WNV
antibodies and want all horses with WNV exposure destroyed, thinking this
will reduce the virus load in the field.
On a more practical note, if you will eventually need a health certificate
to show at local shows or ride with a group on the trail (what about a
health certificate to ride by yourself on government lands, I see that
coming), you will be having the vet out at least once a month to provide a
new health certificate (if you are active with local events/rides/drives),
as these are only good for 30 days.
Maybe I'm just paranoid. But I would like to know where to protest this.
1. horses and the NAIS (4)
2. [Hackneys] Letter From USDA (re: NAIS) (2)
5. NAIS/anti-horse slaughter bill
6. NAIS is here now
Need help? See http://www.carriagedriving.net/CD-LHelp.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 03:06:26 EDT
From: Karen
Subject: Re: horses and the NAIS
In a message dated 5/5/2006 11:20:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
epona1004@COMCAST.NET writes:
> OK, so where do we, as individual, private pleasure horse owners go from
> here?
As Jeff said, this is a very involved subject but is one that each individual
horse owner should research. Some very useful links have been provided by
Diana. It is also useful to read the many, and often changing, comments by Mike
Johanns on the USDA website.
As horse owners, we MUST have fair and equal representation on the ESWG and
that we do NOT have. The statistics of the membership and a petition may be
found here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/424168054
In addition, when I researched those statistics, I listed the representative
of the Back Country Horsemen of America as the only person on the ESWG who
actually represents recreational owners. (These are the folks who really fought
for the Right to Ride legislation) I have been informed this evening that the
BCHA take NO position on NAIS as it does not "fit" with their mission
statement. So basically, they are just "occupying a seat" on this committee EXCEPT
that their designated rep is also an AHC lobbyist. That leaves us with only
ONE *possible* representative on the ESWG - the USEF rep. The USEF up to this
point, has taken no action whatsoever to inform horse owners about NAIS.
Remember that it is the ESWG who make the actual recommendations to the USDA
about horses and NAIS. Yes, it is important that we all write letters to our
legislators but we must also make sure that the members of the ESWG actual
represent us for it is they who have been charged with speaking for us.
Karen
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 03:54:44 EDT
From: Karen
Subject: Re: [Hackneys] Letter From USDA (re: NAIS)
In a message dated 5/5/2006 11:08:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,=20
panachehh@centurytel.net writes:
> Who/What/How will ANYONE actually make me obey such arbitrary and
> ill-conceived requirements?
Who knows Sandra?! That is one very huge unanswered question. It appears at
this point (subject to change at the whim of Mike Johanns) that enforcement,
fines, etc will be left up to the individual states.
<< I will not "obey" laws that legitimize the ridiculous, that will guarantee that we all will be law-breakers.
>>
Yes, but that should be an option of last resort. Why sit back and allow
this to get to the point where we have no choice but to break the law?
Why not be pro-active and work to PREVENT such a situation from occurring?
<< For the large majority of horsemen the mish-mash of laws simply don't
have rationality, practicality nor enforceability.
>>
I agree so why not support efforts to prevent this?
<< So, they can fine me?
WHO is THEY?
>>
They, at this point in time, is your state dept of Ag. and yes, they can fin=
e
you if they pass legislation such as Texas did - and which is now temporarily
on hold. If you read their legislation, the fines could be staggering - as
they should be IF this system were really necessary.
<< WHO will report me for moving my horse?
WHO will write me up?
WHO will send me a ticket?
WHO will come to my house and MAKE me pay the fine?
WHO will drag me off to jail if I don't pay the fine because I won't report
the moving of my horses?
>>
There are no official answers to those questions that I have found. It will
all depend on how each state writes their regulations/legislation.
But again, why sit back and allow this to happen in the first place? We
still have time to ACT to PREVENT this!!!
Karen
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 04:09:30 EDT
From: Karen
Subject: Re: [Hackneys] Letter From USDA (re: NAIS)
In a message dated 5/5/2006 11:08:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,=20
panachehh@centurytel.net writes:
> If all citizens who may be affected actually ask such questions to their=20
> elected representatives, as well as informing them that the NAIS is completely
> inappropriate as it stands, we will THEN be effective.
Ohferchrissakes I hit send too soon. I apologize for that!!
Yes, the above is absolutely necessary but please remember that the USDA is
using the Dept of Homeland Security legislation to skirt around Congress. If
you research NAIS, you will find letters from elected officials demanding that
the USDA and a few individual state depts of Ag "cease and desist" until this
program is studied further. In each case, Mike Johanns flaunts the DHS
legislation in their faces.
So, in addition to writing to your elected officials, we must, must, MUST do
something about the membership of the ESWG for it is they that the USDA looks
to and listens to in regards to horses. And it is they that the USDA use as an "excuse" when confronted by our elected officials.
Again, I have read more documents on NAIS than I can keep track of in the
past 3 months. Each time the USDA claims "broad based support" from NAIS. Cut them off at the knees by proving it ain't so - those members of the ESWG do NOT
represent the average horse owner. Instead, just as with beef, poultry and swine, they represent corporate giants. In our case the multi-million dollar
racing industry.
<< This issue is huge, real, rescindable, changeable if we present questions
as well as demands to those who can stop the program as it is currently being
pushed.
>>
Absolutely and IMHO that starts with the ESWG. That is why the petition was
created in the first place. If enough people sign that petition, it can and=
will have real clout.
Here is one more tidbit of info on the ESWG. When I researched those=20
statistics, I listed the representative of the Back Country Horsemen of Amer
ica as
the only person on the ESWG who actually represents recreational owners.
(These
are the folks who really fought for the Right to Ride legislation) I have been informed this evening that the BCHA takes NO position on NAIS as it does not "fit" with their mission statement. So basically, they are ju=
st
"occupying a seat" on this committee EXCEPT that their designated rep is also
an AHC lobbyist. That leaves us with only ONE *possible* representative on the
ESWG - the USEF rep. The USEF up to this point, has taken no action
whatsoever to inform horse owners about NAIS. And remember - the USEF has
had a
representative on the ESWG since it's inception. We can hope that the new rep will
actually represent us but again, they only represent people who actually show
in divisions they govern. That leaves out breeders who do not show as well
as the multitude of people who own horses for their own pleasure.
To repeat again, it is the ESWG who make the actual recommendations to the
USDA about horses and NAIS. Yes, it is important that we all write letters to
our legislators but we must also make sure that the members of the ESWG
actually represent us for it is they who have been charged with speaking for
us.
Karen
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 06:01:54 EDT
From: Timfantim@AOL.COM
Subject: horses and the NAIS
As a card carrying member, and since this is being projected in part as a
way to save us mortals from Mad Cow, Avian Flu and other highly overrated
"plagues" through meat consumption, I'd like to know where we are on on the
anti-slaughter bill re: horses. If the bill has passed or will pass, this -- NAIS
-- thus becomes an easily dead issue as it would be irrelevant re: horses and
would make about as much sense as microchipping and nationally registering
trees.
The shame of all this is the big guys get away with just registering
premises while the small farmers have to ID every single animal at some considerable
expense. Guess where most of our consumed burgers come from? Surely not from
Farmer Brown with his herd of milking Hostein-Friesians down the road.
Timmi in MD
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 06:46:08 EDT
From: Timfantim@AOL.COM
Subject: NAIS/anti-horse slaughter bill
Here's a site with info on the anti-horse slaughter bill. If this passes I
would think NAIS for horses would be dead in the water since public consumption
of horse meat would be illegal
and virtually impossible. Most of the meat goes to France and other European
countries anyway.
_http://www.ac4h.com/slaughter.htm_ (http://www.ac4h.com/slaughter.htm)
Always a downside to everything, however. This could lead to even more
abusive situations for ill, ailing and unwanted equines than being sent to
slaughter.
Know we're getting OT here but it effects driving horses as well as other
use horses.
Timmi in MD
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 07:29:05 -0500
From: James Dingman
Subject: NAIS is here now
Hi All
I have been following the NAIS thread for some time now and just have to
add some comments from a down home on the farm perspective. NAIS is real
and it is here NOW! In Wisconsin we are required, no MANDATED, to
register our farm because we have horses, chickens, turkeys etc. This
mandate came down with veiled threats of costs to be incurred and fines
to be levied if "voluntary registration?" is not complied with. This is
the first step of a really scary, very real Orwellian Big Brother attack
on our liberty to enjoy our animals. You think this is blown out of
proportion? Well let me tell you a little "real life story".
My daughter has for the last several years raised chickens and turkeys.
She gathers the eggs, incubates them, and then sells the resulting
chicks at the local poultry shows and local farmers markets. in the
course of a summer she makes about $100 after expenses. Not a bad little
hobby for a 13 year old and it has taught her a lot about money
management, sales, bargaining, and helped to develop a strong work
ethic. She has developed a technique that nets her well over a 90%
hatch rate, which in a still air incubator is pretty phenomenal. This
year in order to participate in the local sales we have to have a health
certificate for each and every bird and for each and every event that we
participate in. This health certificate must be issued by a licensed
veterinarian. Our local vets charge from 35 to 45 dollars for a house
call, and an additional 10 to 20 for health certificates. All this for a
bird worth $1.50 to $5.00! Needless to say this just put my daughter
right out of business! Her final lesson is in government interference
with small business, not a lesson I was prepared to explain to a 13 year
old!
This does not just affect the small producer like my daughter. It will
also effectively put an end to 4H small animal exhibits! County Fairs,
etc. All this in the name of protecting us from ourselves. It is
interesting to note that the large scale producers, chicken farms, are
not required to adhere to the same rules. When was the last time you
heard of a back yard egg or meat producer with a lawsuit for tainted
meat or eggs?
"Oh, but that is just farm animals" you say. Look real close at the NAIS
proposals. This will include you if you own ANY animal the consider a
risk! Horses WILL BE INCLUDED! If you move your animal off your
property, say a pleasure drive down the local road, or legging up your
CDE horse by doing a little road work, you will be required to provide
proof that he is not a health risk to your entire neighborhood. If the
local sheriff catches you without your less than 30 day current health
certificate your horse, carriage, etc could be impounded on the spot and
quarantined for an indefinite period of time, if not destroyed! The
wording is already in place to make Veterinarians the Police for NAIS.
Report offenders or lose your license! Think the vets will not stand
behind it? Think again! This means millions of dollars of easy money for
Veterinarians.
Another Case in point, and a lot closer to home for horse owners. Look
at the Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), swamp fever, Coggins, lunacy! The
rate of EIA in northern states is virtually nill, and has not changed
one percentage point since the inception of the mandated Coggins tests.
It stand at about 1/2 of 1% or less, pretty much the same as it was in
pree Coggins test days. Why was it mandated? Vets and labs make huge
profits from this simple inexpensive test and everyone went along with
it like sheep to slaughter! The test is a joke. It tells you that your
horse is not infected at the time of the test. In our state it is
required once in a calendar year, we pull Coggins in the early spring
before the show season. Quite possible to be "infected" at the very
first show and then spread EIA for the rest of the summer! Every equine
gathering is required to collect and maintain huge files of Coggins
paper in the eventuality that they will be required by the state to
track animals. I have never heard of an organization being requested to
provide these records because there has not in 15 plus years been the
massive outbreak of EIA that was predicted - See say the supporters, the
system is working! Yea, right! There has not been a massive outbreak of
EIA in Wisconsin since the early 1900's! Yet the Vets and the Labs rake
in Millions a year! NAIS in the making! Will it receive the support of
the Veterinary community, You bet! Will you be fined for non compliance,
You bet! Be complacent, and your hobby will cost you much more in years
to come and your freedom will be compromised. It is a very short leap to another scary Orwell scenario, Chip identify babies at birth then you
can track everyone all the time anywhere, for the public good of course!
Think it will never happen? I hope I do not live to see it, but am
scared that my children will, just like sheep, be tagged and monitored,
for their own safety of course.
As always, JMHO.
Jim
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 09:28:57 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Karen?=
Subject: Re: horses and the NAIS
On Sat, 6 May 2006 06:01:54 EDT Timfantim@aol.com wrote:
=20
<< As a card carrying member, and since this is being projected in part as
a way to save us mortals from Mad Cow, Avian Flu and other highly overrated
"plagues" through meat consumption, I'd like to know where we are on on the
anti-slaughter bill re: horses. If the bill has passed or will pass, this
--
NAIS -- thus becomes an easily dead issue as it would be irrelevant re:
horses and would make about as much sense as microchipping and nationally
registering trees.
>>
I wish it were that simple! I, too, am a member of the AHC and I DO
believe them when they say the Horse Industry had to get involved or the
govt would do it for us. What I object to is their slant in the ESWG
membership so far removed from the majority of horse owners in this
country. The racing, endurance and international show people are already
highly regulated so, to them, this is nothing unusual. The racing people
own horses that may be worth hundreds of thousands to over a million
dollars with many international show horses not far behind in value. All
3 groups travel frequently with horses housed next to other horses who travel
extensively so naturally they beleive this is a "good thing". They also
have sponsors/benefactors to cover much of their expenses so how well d
you think these folks can relate to us mere mortals? Yes, we all can list
someone who does not have those resources but are they on the ESWG? The
answer is no!
However, I believe they were duped into believing that this is all about
control of infectious diseases. It is not. Please go to www.usda.gov and
read through the many press releases. Do a search on goggle for news
articles quoting Mike Johanns and you will see the constantly changing
dialog. This whole program has more to do with international trade than
it
does with food safety and/or control of infectious diseases.
<< The shame of all this is the big guys get away with just registering
premises while the small farmers have to ID every single animal at some
considerable expense. Guess where most of our consumed burgers come from?
Surely not from Farmer Brown with his herd of milking Hostein-Friesians
down the road.
>>
Exactly and those same corporate giants are the ones who not only market
internationally but who also own factory farms and meat processing plants
in other countries.
The current "story" is that they have no plans to include horses at the
present time. Of course not - they're too busy trying to get the
independent cattle producers on board. But that does not mean we should
be
complacent and take a "wait and see" attitude as we risk ending up with a
system that few can comply with.
My interest in NAIS is not just horses. While I have 10 of them here, I
also have a small organic poultry business. Depending on how this system
is implemented for poultry, it may put me out of business.
We have an opportunity to be pro-active. The cattle ranchers do not.
Karen
>
> Who/What/How will ANYONE actually make me obey such arbitrary and
> ill-conceived requirements?
> We can exercise peaceful civil disobedience, which is this case would
> include my not reporting movement of my horses, for any reason.
>
> I will not "obey" laws that legitimize the ridiculous, that will guarantee
> that we all will be law-breakers.
> For the large majority of horsemen the mish-mash of laws simply don't have
> rationality, practicality nor enforceability.
>
> So, they can fine me?
Yes. Many states already have provisions to levy fines of up to $1000 (give
or take) for each infraction
> WHO is THEY?
Your friendly neighborhood State Department of Agriculture
> WHO will report me for moving my horse?
Your neighbor who dosen't like horses, the owner of another property that
you rode across, the goody - 2- shoes who thinks they are doing the world a
favor by saving it from disease ....
> WHO will write me up?
Most likely your local Sheriff's dept.
> WHO will send me a ticket?
Same
> WHO will come to my house and MAKE me pay the fine?
same
> WHO will drag me off to jail if I don't pay the fine because I won't
> report
> the moving of my horses?
Same
I feel the same as you do ... here it is now MANDATORY to register your
premesis to keep poultry.
I refuse to. I just keep them locked up when the vet comes and bring the
horse out to the front lawn for exams.
I think if NOBODY registered the state might have to come up with something
else. Saddly, the people who show 4H are too bent on getting that 50ct
ribbon for their chicken at the fair to not register ( you have to register
to show) so the state thinks that people are just either "on board" with the
plan or too ____ less to do anything about it. Few people around here like
the idea of actually being civilly disobedient, so the state & fed stomp all
over the population.
Nancy W
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 13:38:37 -0400
From: John Murdoch
Subject: Re: horses and the NAIS
Hi!
Diane Swift posted some excellent information about NAIS and its potential
implications. I think many people are upset about how intrusive this kind
of program will be--and many of us feel powerless to do anything about it.
The USDA has a "horse council" that is allegedly speaking for us--but
they're speaking for the racing industry. What do we do?
Several years ago the Bucks County Horse Park faced a crisis: it was
originally organized as a "virtual park" that operated on privately-held
land. When the principal landowner put his property up for sale, the park
stood to lose the core of the facility. A small group of people set about
exploring different options, including approaching either the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or Bucks County to purchase the land. We discovered
something startling:
The politicians have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA of the economic impact of private
horse owners like you and me.
Look at it from the politician's perspective: there's a 99% chance that
he's a lawyer (and a 90% chance that the lawyer is a "he"). Everybody in
the legislature wants to create a program of some kind or other; the
responsible legislators have to think about how to pay for those programs.
When an interest group appears, they can gain influence simply by pointing
to the tax revenue that they generate for the state--and the racing
industry generates an enormous amount of tax revenue.
In fact, the racing industry is sort of the perfect constituency: they
generate a lot of tax revenue, and they don't require a lot of tax money.
Sure--there are various state programs for them, but they are trivial
compared to the revenue stream. And every dime spent on the racing industry
is spent by the Dept. of Agriculture--which scores points with the farm
vote. And--with the singular exception of the song "Trouble in River City"
from "The Music Man"--whoever objects to horse racing, even (horrors!) a
race "where they sit down right on the horse"?
So to a legislator's ears, the horse racing industry sounds like a
perfectly valid representative for horses in general. And hey--it's not
like those people with ponies in their back yard amount to much, right?
That was precisely the perception we confronted. In order to gain support
(in particular, more than a million dollars for a land purchase) we needed
to demonstrate to the Bucks County commissioners that the park wasn't just
a private club for snooty polo players--but was a regional resource that
drew people from all over the eastern U.S., who bought gas, diesel, food,
and hotel rooms. Who pumped an awful lot of money into rural northern end
of Bucks County. We produced a 36" by 48" map showing where competitors had
come from in the first six months of 2003--colored by discipline. The
commissioners were startled to see that we'd drawn competitors from North
Carolina, Virginia, Ontario, Ohio, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
and Maine. And we had solid support from gas station owners, restaurants,
bed & breakfast operators, and barn owners who'd fed, grained, watered, and
turned out (or turned in) all of 'em.
That's what we have to do with our legislators: convince 'em that NAIS will
cause far more harm than good. Convince 'em that NAIS will wipe out a
pretty valuable chunk of economic activity. That NAIS--despite all the good
intentions--will be as disastrous as the infamous "luxury tax" that wiped
out the yacht-building business in Maine back in the 1970s, without ever
collecting a dime. Here's why:
Our 4-H club is putting on a fun show in four weeks. We charge $5 a class,
we get twenty-five or thirty horses, we have some fun, we do musical mount
and egg & spoon, we have a little bit of jumping, everybody goes home
happy. If each family has to notify the federal government 24 hours before
the show, and the show organizers have to double-check that everybody's
told the feds (and don't forget that 4-H is a program of the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture, so the show secretary [that would be me] is essentially placed
in the role of being the police) the show is over. Who wants to do the
paperwork? Who wants to fill out the forms?
Bucks County Horse Park runs a schooling show for hunters and western
riders every Thursday morning through the summer. They run a dressage show
most Tuesday nights through the summer. If every entrant has to notify the
feds 24 hours before going; and the horse park organizers have to
double-check, the program is over.
We have to make legislators see that. There are thousands of local,
no-big-deal unsanctioned horse shows--and hundreds of recognized,
bigger-deal horse shows, all over the country. And collectively they are
responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars (perhaps into the billions)
spent on pickup trucks, SUVs, trailers, hotel rooms, restaurant meals,
saddles & tack, feed, veterinary fees, and much, much more. We have to make
legislators see that--and make them do the math. All of those no-big-deal
shows, all of those informal get-togethers at the state park, all of that
amounts to tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs for American workers.
And perhaps the legislature might want to bear that in mind.
The Dept. of Ag has a good idea--they want to be able to track outbreaks of
disease. There was a rhino outbreak in Maryland that did some real damage.
There was an EIA outbreak in Pennsylvania four or five years ago that
nearly got out of hand. Being able to respond quickly would be a great
idea. But in the EIA case the disease spread because people were sneaking
horses out of quarantined facilities; or trying to avoid quarantined areas.
And--in Pennsylvania at least--no registration system is going to work,
because the Amish aren't going to participate. What good is NAIS to us, if
there are 100,000 horses in Pennsylvania that won't participate (and lots
of people buy Amish horses, so it's not like they're an isolated population)?
So what do you do?
1. Call your local legislator's office.
2. Tell the person you speak to that you are part of [name your community
organization]
3. Explain when you are having your next event--could Rep. So-and-so come
and hand out ribbons?
4. Explain that your participants have some concerns about a Dept. of Ag
program--can he look into it?
5. When he comes (aphorism among state legislators: "accept any invitation
you get from a constituent, so long as it's free") remember your Talking
Points:
Talking Points:
A. Look at all of this economic activity--and think of all of the
manufacturing jobs that these represent.
B. Look at all the out-of-state license plates--and all of the "heads on
beds" worth of local revenue (and tax revenue) that generates.
C. Despite the best of intentions, NAIS is a horrendously burdensome Big
Government program that won't work. But the effect of it will be to wipe
all of this economic activity out.
D. Can we depend upon your support?
This is sometimes called "grass-roots" political organizing. We might make
a wee play on words, and call it "hay roots" organizing. The programs don't
become mandatory for four or five years--which means we have time to start
telling our story, and making our points. We can--but each of us has to
speak up.
John Murdoch
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