Local government is getting into the act to protect themselves, their citizens and small farmers from the burdens of the USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS). In Texas’s Harrison County wants nothing to do with NAIS in any form, mandatory or voluntary:
Harrison County commissioners on Monday joined the city in opposing state implementation of the National Animal Identification System.
After hearing a proposal from Marshall Mayor Ed Smith, the court passed a resolution objecting to either mandatory or voluntary identification and tracking of animals.
Noting the city unanimously approved a resolution against the plan at a recent meeting, Smith told the county legislation set forth in House Bill 1361 will turn Texas Animal Health Commission into “one of the largest bureaucracies” in the state.
“These facilities are already under stress” financially. “You can be sure there will be significant fees for TAHC’s involvement. We have very few discretionary dollars” in the city budget “and we can’t ask the county to increase their participation either.”
Smith said the animal tracking plan will do little to accomplish the objective for which it was proposed. “The state auditor has already said the (TAHC) agency has in place systems to monitor and track disease and they are working.
District 5 State Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) has introduced another bill, HB 47, that will make participation voluntary, but county commissioners said they were opposed to the system in all forms.
Proposed by some of the large animal production organizations, the purpose of NAIS was to track diseases such as Mad Cow and bird flu, with an eye to improving export markets.
The impact of such a program would certainly favor large producers, said County Judge Wayne McWhorter, because it could force “gentlemen farmers” out of business, thus eliminating the competition.
“Those gentlemen farmers produce a real big percentage of our food supply,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner James Greer.
-Marshall News Messenger
This is the strongest statement I have seen from a local government, defying both the state and federal authorities and coming to the aid of their local citizenry. Bravo to these brave white knights!
One interesting thing to note is there were concerns about the costs of NAIS to the city and county because of the city owned properties like their arena. NAIS would force them to obtain Premises IDs, track the movements of all animals onto and off of public property as well as filing reports of animal movements and co-mingling within 24 hours. When you think about a county fair, rodeo or other show this could quickly add up to a lot of reporting costs for the municipality and perhaps force them to hire another full-time position just to handle all the paper work. NAIS represents an economic liability and burden not just for small farmers and homesteaders but also for our nations towns, cities and counties. There is a lesson here for all local governments.
Hat tip to Mike at TAHCWatch
More good news! They are feeling the heat, let’s keep turning it up where needed and don’t let em forget we are here and we won’t go away.
Comment Goatster — May 10, 2006 @ 6:21 am
RED NECKS RULE
SARGENT FOR STATE REP
DISTRICT 87, ARKANSAS
RUN
DON’T WRITE
Comment sid sargent — May 10, 2006 @ 7:25 am
Way to go there Texas. I know that the energy will spread when we see someone take the stand. This will allow others to also take a stand as groups.
Comment Edward Geiger — May 10, 2006 @ 7:25 am
We all need to jump on every county commissioner in the countys we live in along notes to are local news papers… Everything possible must be done to stop this unconstitutional infringment!
Betty Rodgers Colorado
Comment Betty Rodgers — May 10, 2006 @ 8:24 am
I also applaud the decision and the action taken from Harrison County (TX).
I will forward this to my PA reps and senators.
It has just come to my attention that the well known organization Farm Aid has finally written something about NAIS and has finally addressed the topic.
I will attempt to send the link for the Farm Aid article, but I’m not sure if this will work. Try link
We have been working hard to convince Farm Aid.org that they need to have something about NAIS on their web site. Believe it or not, they did not have anything like this until recently. I guess they are waking up at Farm Aid.
see link
Comment Neil W. — May 10, 2006 @ 9:32 am
Living in Jefferson, TX, 20 mi North of Marshall, I was very pleased to hear this news. Here is a copy of my LTE printed in the May 8 ‘Marshall News Messenger’
The $1000 Chicken
Harold Crumbie, Jefferson TX.
Yes, a $1,000.00 chicken. Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, White Leghorn….you pick it. If it, and your ‘farm’ (read home) are not registered with NAIS (National Animal Identification System) by 2009 (current projection) you could become a criminal and be faced with a fine for crossing the street with that chicken. Right now the penalties are not set, so $1000.00 is only my guess. Failing to report that you took that chicken across the street, or to the Fair, or 4H, or any movement off premises to a place where animals commingle is likely to be a violation as well. NAIS is a program of the USDA, with 3 phases of implementation. Phase 1 - issuance of a premises ID number. Phase 2 - electronically identify all livestock. Phase 3 - tracking of all animal movement, birth to death. You say you only have a few chickens, or maybe a single horse or cow? It doesn’t matter, all must register or face penalties. Once registered your private data will be available in yet another expensive bureaucratic database. This will require a massive amount of overhead to administer, and someone (read you) will have to pay, one way or another. It will also have a very, very significant impact on the rural way of life, private property and your rights. It is, at this time, a voluntary program, and I sincerely believe should remain so. But the USDA expects to make it mandatory. It is their stated goal. Go make an effort to learn more about NAIS, and Texas HB 1361 and HB 47 which address this issue too. Become informed, then get active. It’s our freedom, let’s fight for it.
I’ve also received a response from Gov. Rick Perry’s office declining adding HB47 to the Texas special session, and an encouraging letter of thanks after I sent ‘kudos’ to the author of ‘47.
Comment Harold Crumbie — May 14, 2006 @ 1:27 am
Yeah!!!! About time the government stood up for its own rights to not be impose apon by the feds!!!!
Comment PV — May 17, 2006 @ 6:43 pm
Y’ALL NEED TO GO TO THIS “REPUBLIC” OF CHINA WEB SITE (It’s in English from Taiwan.) regarding their COMMUNIST NATION’s farm registration rules!!!!!!! Sounds AWFULLY FAMILIAR.
Comment Gloria — June 6, 2006 @ 9:40 pm