Oklahoma is now mandating Premises ID for anyone wanting participate in the Swine Shows. One more tricky little way that they make “voluntary” into mandatory.
Participants in swine shows and exhibits will be required to have an official premise identification card issued by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry effective August 1. Officials say the rule will protect both economic and social interests.
“This is a very proactive step that lets Oklahomans decide how best to protect the health of our citizens, our livestock industry and our livestock show industry,” said Governor Brad Henry. “Suggestions were made earlier by the Centers for Disease Control and some commercial producers to eliminate swine shows completely, but this is a much better alternative that lets our 4-H and FFA members compete in livestock shows.”
Even though the Novel Influenza A-H1N1 is not known to exist in any U.S. swine herd, it is possible that a person with an influenza virus could transmit the disease to swine. State Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach, said if an influenza outbreak were to occur, rapid tracking of infected animals and animals they could have been in contact with would be critical to containing the disease.
“This is a tool we will need if an outbreak of influenza were to strike our state,” he said. “We are simply preparing ourselves in advance.”
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Premise identification is already required at many swine shows including the Fall Classic held in Duncan annually. Arizona, Colorado and Ohio also require premise identification for participants.
-AgBlog-OK
Note how they are using the recent A-H1N1 flu scare to justify their destruction of the Constitution. FUD.
By the way, you can leave comments at that official OK Blog. Keep it polite.
Here’s my comment on their blog:
Tricky way to make “voluntary” mandatory. NAIS only benefits the exporters, Big Ag, government and tag makers. It should not be mandated on small farmers and homesteaders. Our Constitution continues to erode.
Care to make bets as to whether they dare to post comments that dissent from the official state policy or will they govern like China, by force and censorship?
Your comment is there. I left one too. Here is mine:
Start with cold water, put the frog in. Turn on the heat. As the water gets warmer and warmer, the frog doesn’t notice. By the time it is hot, it is too late. The frog is cooked. Perhaps it is time to rethink livestock shows sponsored by government run programs as the elite in government seem to think that our lives, our farms, our livestock are theirs to regulate out of existence.
Comment Tammy — June 25, 2009 @ 8:31 am
text
here is a place to leave comments for the OK gov.
Comment esbee — June 25, 2009 @ 1:28 pm