NoNAIS.org

Along the Food Chain with Michael Olson…

MARK ON THE BEAST

(Food Chain Radio #573 & #575)

We live in dangerous times. Our dependence on others thousands of miles away to supply our food means that many links in the food chain are vulnerable. One example of this vulnerability is the danger animal diseases, like avian flu, pose to the large animal confinement facilities that now supply the majority of our meats.

To limit this danger, the federal government has established the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This voluntary “at the national level” program encourages everyone who husbands animals, from the largest confinement operations to the smallest hobby farmer, to register their premises with the government and keep track of the movement of each of their animals.

Proponents of NAIS say the system will allow the government to quickly locate disease-carrying animals (”Locate in 48″) and thus limit the danger they pose to our highly centralized food distribution networks.

Opponents of NAIS say the system will drive small producers and their supporting industries out of business; force individuals to stop raising animals for food or fun; violate the right to privacy; deprive individuals of their property rights; and cost more than it delivers.

To hear the small farmer’s perspective on NAIS, tune in Mark on the Beast III, Food Chain show #573. To hear the Federal Government’s perspective on NAIS, tune in Mark on the Beast IV, with USDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight.

What would you ask the Head Fed about NAIS? (Answer in the Forum.)
-MetroFarm.com

From Judith Mcgeary:

Bills to stop or limit NAIS have been filed in Colorado, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia. Below is a very short summary of the situation in each state, followed by a link for more information. If you live in one of these states, please follow the link and take action!

We are working with people in other states to get bills introduced. If you are in a state that does not have a bill to stop or limit NAIS already, call your Representative and Senator, and ask them to sponsor one. We can help with sample bills and supporting materials.

And stay tuned for an action alert about federal developments! The conference committee for the Farm Bill is expected to be named soon.

Note: this information is what we have as of January 29, 2008. Some of these bills are moving fast, while other states are in the very beginning stages.Check the “Latest News” link on our website for updates.

COLORADO: The Colorado State Fair Board is currently requiring children to register in NAIS in order to participate in the state fair. HB 1129 would reverse that and prohibit the State Fair Board from making NAIS a requirement for the fair. HB 1129 just passed the House and is heading to the Senate Agriculture Committee. See this for more information and to take action.

MASSACHUSETTS: Last year’s anti-NAIS bills, HB 757 and SB 475, remain pending before the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and the Environment. HB 757 forbids the MDAR from accepting federal funds for NAIS in 2007, requires MDAR to stop uploading data to the federal database, and seeks removal for people who were involuntarily enrolled. SB 475 includes all of those provisions and also precludes MDAR from using other existing programs as a means to implement NAIS, and prohibits any person, whether private or governmental, from discriminating against people who do not participate in NAIS or programs like it. See thisfor more information and to take action.

MISSOURI: A committee hearing has been held on SB 931, and a committee substitute was offered.We have not seen the text of the substitute, but have been told that it would: (1) prohibit the MDA from mandating or otherwise forcing NAIS premises registration or participation in the NAIS administered by the USDA without authority from the legislature; (2) provide for individual withdrawal from the NAIS if a participant so chooses; (3) prohibits any entity or organization which receives state funds from requiring premise registration for participation. See this for more information and to take action.

NEBRASKA: Nebraska law currently authorizes the Department of Agriculture to implement NAIS, which means it could become mandatory at any time. LB 632 would limit NAIS to a voluntary program only and require the Department of Agriculture to establish a system for removing people from the premises registration database. LB 632 is in the “select file,” which is the second stage in the legislative process. It is expected to be voted on either later this week or next week. See this for more information and to take action.

SOUTH DAKOTA: HB 1305 would prohibit the state of South Dakota from participating in the NAIS. It was introduced last week, and has been referred to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. A hearing is expected to occur as soon as this week. See this for more information and to take action.

TENNESSEE: In addition to the carryover bills from last session, two new bills have been filed to limit NAIS and support small farmers.HB 3668/ SB 3903 and HB 3660/SB3438 would block the state from requiring a farmer who receives state or federal farm subsidies or funds to enroll inNAIS and other related regulations. Another bill, HB 3662/SB 3437, would expand the exemption from the sales tax to farmers who produce $50 or more of agricultural products per year (instead of $1,000). See this for more information and to take action.

VIRGINIA: A bill to prohibit NAIS was filed (HB 1473), but we have been told that it has been withdrawn rather than accept amendments that would have weakened it. But another important bill remains. HB 1525, while not strictly a NAIS bill, is closely related to the NAIS issue. In response to proposed regulations to require premises registration and tagging under the scrapie program (which could then be rolled into NAIS in the future), HB 1525 limits the agency’s authority to “infected and source flocks and high-risk animals.” See this for more information and to take action.

Contact Information

Liberty Ark Supporters: The Liberty Ark servers have gone down completely. New servers have arrived, but we are having technical difficulties getting the site back up. We hope to have that solved very soon! For now, you can contact the Coalition by emailing one of the Steering Committee members, Karin Bergener, at bergener@config.com or calling her at 330-298-0065.

FARFA List: As always, you can reach us at info@farmandranchfreedom.org or 866-687-6452 with any questions.

The movement to protect our rights and our food supply by stopping NAIS is a true grassroots movement, which depends on people across the country taking action in their local communities and states.Download the materials on our website and share them with your friends, neighbors, and elected officials.Working together, we can make our voices heard!

Sincerely,

Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance

Go on over to Henwhisperer’s blog and check out the article about what’s happening in the Missouri Farm Bureau with SB 931.

NAIS is currently being rolled into all existing MANDATORY Missouri Dept of AG animal health programs. Just ask Missouri State Vet Taylor Woods. He told me himself that NAIS is being rolled into existing Health programs. The current cooperative agreement between USDA and MO Dept of Ag states on page 26 that premise numbers will be mandatory for import and export of livestock
-Bob Parker

One of the things that I have come to realize is our dearly beloved Farm Bureau is there to represent the interests of the larger farms. In Vermont this means the big dairies. Two years ago I was directly told this by the Vermont Farm Bureau representative. In other states it is confinement pork, battery caged chickens, feedlot beef or the like. It is sad that the Farm Bureau has been so taken over by Big Ag lobbyists.

How do we fight back? I joined the Farm Bureau. This lets me better keep an eye on this influential group and I intend to vote to get them to be more inclusive, looking out for the interests of all farmers including the micro-farms. Heck, they should be concerned even with homesteaders only raising food for their own families because those people are a source of future farmers of America.

Also look for other organizations which are already fighting as a voice for the small farmers, homesteaders and rural folk. In Vermont we have RuralVermont.org. They make a continuous presence in our capital, monitoring the legislation and regulations. They need your help, not just in dollars of support but also as ears and eyes to keep them abreast of issues that pop up like snow fleas on a warm day.