NoNAIS.org

Jolly over on the CattleNetwork has a post about the recent NIAA conference. In it he says:

With government reps and software/hardware companies patrolling the hallways of the Westin Crown Center, the most important player in this saga was Rob Cannell, director of McDonald’s beef and pork supply chain. As possibly the biggest buyer of red meat in North America, Cannell probably wields a heftier stick that even Tom Vilsack.

“We devote considerable resources to identifying and responding to what consumers want, and what they want is influenced by what they hear and read, and they are “bombarded with information” from radio, television and social media,” he said.
:
Cannell said that capability is important because “consumers want a lot — value, variety, healthful food, good-tasting food, animal welfare, environmental sustainability. They ask a lot of questions about local, natural, organic, hormones, herbicides, pesticides, etc.”
:
Bottom line: If the government demands something of the food supply chain, heels will be dragged and moaning and groaning will be heard throughout the land. If McDonald’s asks, it will be done.
-CattleNetwork

McDonalds demonstrates exactly why NAIS is unnecessary. The vast majority, virtually all, small farmers do NOT sell to McDonalds, international or to any other large reseller. We sell directly to consumers or through local stores and restaurants.

We don’t need NAIS for trace back - we already have it since we like most small farmers breed, raise and directly sell our livestock. The USDA itself has said that NAIS is not about food safety.

If McDonalds wants it so badly, let them pay for it. If they start offering a premium to their suppliers then they would get trace-back for their meat. On the other hand if everybody is forced into mandatory NAIS then there will be no premiums, no benefits to farmers.

NAIS is just another subsidy for Big Ag and Big Corp. If they want “Locate in 48″, trace-back and all that let them create their own voluntary, private industrial program which they pay for out of their pockets. NAIS should not be government run or funded nor should it be mandatory.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is at it again, defending the interests of Big Ag and trampling over our constitutional rights while making a concerted effort to ignore the vast majority of farmers, over 92% of whom oppose the USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Is it any wonder that the letters of their name can be rearranged to spell “Agent of Evil”? Just kidding there… But sometimes you have to wonder when they say things like this:

With the air thick with myths, speculations and facts regarding a U.S. national animal identification program, the ID INFO EXPO 2009, Aug. 25-27, Kansas City, Mo., provides the ideal platform to have an in depth discussion. Sponsored by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, the ID INFO EXPO’s opening general session will feature candid speakers from federal and state governments, agriculture and the food industry. Following that will be three sessions devoted to obstacles, opportunities and next steps.
:
The eight speakers confirmed for the opening session include John Clifford, chief veterinary medical officer, USDA; Douglas Meckes and Tom McGinn, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Gene Hugoson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture; William Hartmann, Minnesota Board of Animal Health; David Acheson, Leavitt Partners; Paul Clayton, U.S. Meat Export Federation; and Rob Cannell, McDonald’s Corporation. “We’re getting some very high-profile individuals in one room at the same time, and it will be interesting to hear their points of view about a topic that is astir in animal agriculture,” Fischer adds.

[High profile people… so this makes them feel justified with violating our Constitution and Bill of Rights, with ignoring the opposition from almost all farmers as well as homesteaders and other small livestock owners? -WJ]

:
Wednesday’s speakers will look at cost to producers, technology challenges and producer concerns with confidentiality of information, as well as the economics and market access opportunities associated with ID. Additional Wednesday topics include how incentives can be a part of participation in animal ID programs, using premises ID in animal-health management and producer challenges and opportunities.

[Translation: how to coherce and trick small farmers into a program the have spent years telling the government they virtually universally oppose, a program that is only for the benefit of big producers, especially those who export. -WJ]

Thursday will focus on producer and consumer benefits related to a functional identification system. Five speakers will address producer and consumer benefits from a functional identification system that will meet the needs of animal-health officials and traceability requirements of management and marketing systems. Speakers include Guy Blissett with IBM Corporation; Ryan Meyer, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef; and Kevin Bost, Procurement Strategies.

[IBM… didn’t they help Hitler… I guess the NIAA knows where to turn when they need help implementing fascism. Use the services of experienced pros. -WJ]

“At the conclusion of the conference, our goal is to have listened and learned so we in animal agriculture can identify solutions that will help advance a system that is animal health driven, moves toward 48-hour traceability and helps preserve the profitability of our animal agriculture industry,” Fischer states.

[Note how they want to move us forward to preserve their profitability. That is what this is all about folks. Note also that they do not consider the issues of Constitutionality or freedoms to be worthy of mentioning or addressing. -WJ]

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Complete conference information and online registration is available at animalagriculture.org or individuals can call NIAA at (719) 538-8843.
-NIAA - the folks that brought you NAIS

Flies on the wall. Well, we know what those hallowed halls are splattered with.

Doreen Hannes has a very important new article on NewsWithViews. It’s long but take the time to read it. One important excerpt:

In the OIE’s “Guide to Good Farming Practices” the management of a livestock facility are clearly spelled out. Some of these recommendations that would become defacto law in the US under agency rule-making on passage of HR2749 (GGFP delineates international guidelines for food safety at the farm level) are:

- For each animal…Require and keep all commercial and health documents enabling their exact itinerary to be traced from their farm or establishment to their final destination…
[NAIS in a nutshell. -WJ]

- Keep a record of all persons entering the farm…..
[Impossible. We are already unable to deal with all the tresspassers on foot, ATVs, snowmobiles, trucks and dirt bikes. It is impossible to stop them (and I do try) never mind track the trespassers. Those who I have caught are often insolent and refuse to give me their names. Cameras do work. What does the government expect us to do? Hire armed guards and put up razor wire? -WJ]

- Keep medical certificates of persons working with the animals……
[Huh?!? That’s confidential information that nobody should be able to demand of said persons. Other laws prevent employers from access to this information. Conflicting laws just to make sure we can’t meet the requirements? -WJ]

- Keep documents proving the water you give to the animals meets specific criteria
[Many farms use natural springs, wells and rain water. This would mean constant sampling and testing. Impossible to achieve and economical ruin for small farms. -WJ]

- Keep samples of all feed given to the animals
[Impossible to accomplish. Samples of all pastures each season? Every batch of whey we get? Every batch of any feed? How many samples do they want of the insects eaten by free ranging pastured chickens? How much storage space and time is this absurdity going to take? -WJ]

- Keep all documents from official inspections

- Keep records of treatment and procedures on all animals (castration, disbudding, calving, medications, etc.)
[More paperwork and wasted file cabinet space. -WJ]

- Prevent domestic animals (cats and dogs) from roaming in and around livestock buildings
[So no more livestock guardian dogs. This will make small scale farming impossible due to the predators killing off our livestock. Perhaps this is the government’s intention. -WJ]

- Place all these documents at the disposal of the competent authority (Veterinary Services) when it conducts farm visits.
[Warrant-less searches. One of the prime problems with NAIS rears its ugly head again. -WJ]
-Doreen Hannes NewsWithViews.com

There is a lot more that is bad about HR 2749. It is disgusting that our political leaders used trickery to pass this on a second cheating vote.

Contact your Senators to fight the next step of passage of HR 2749.