The USDA has decided not to release final proposed rules establishing requirements for premises registration and animal identification that follow the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) as promised on page 10 of the April 25th, 2005 NAIS Draft Strategic Plan. Along with that they have also cancelled the July 2006 public comment period.
I just found this out when I spoke Friday with Dore Mobley (301 734-7255), Public Affairs Specialist for the USDA. When I asked why the final rule publication and July 2006 comment period had been cancelled Ms. Mobley said that since they were not making the program mandatory at this time there was no requirement for them to publish final rules or hold a public comment period. She said that the original April 2005 NAIS document was a draft intended as a discussion starter to collect stakeholder input. Unfortunately, they did not collect input from small livestock owners, the micro-farmers and homesteaders like you and I.
I then asked if the April 2006 document was the updated document and timeline. She said it was not final. I asked when final rules would be released and she said that they were working on the documents now but there was no release date that she could give me.
I asked and Ms. Mobley did say that we can continue to send comments to them at:
animalidcomments@aphis.usda.gov
and she specifically said the comments will be considered as NAIS is revised. There is also the USDA’s online web feedback form.
Whether you believe they are listening or not it is very important that you do send feedback. Read the original documents - See the Technical Documents section of the right sidebar and look for USDA. Think about how your life will be affected by NAIS. How about your children? Your community? Our country? Some of the documents are dense reading. Pace yourself. Read my analysis and other people’s comments - See the Most Commented articles in the left sidebar as well as sections of the right sidebar.
Lastly, copy all comments to your Senators and Representatives at state and federal levels - See the Contact section in the right sidebar. This is very important. Your representatives need to know about this program. They need to learn more than just the glossy press releases put out by the USDA. It is imperative that they learn how NAIS will affect you and what are your objections to the program. If they do not hear from you then they will believe the USDA and implement the program as is - After all, the “experts” have told them “it’s good for you…”
Do not meekly let your freedoms and privacy, our traditions and ways of life, slip from your grasp…
This is what I sent yesterday to the USDA. I will also send it to my federal and state representatives.
Dear Sir or Madam: as an owner of a five-acre farm, I am responding to The National Animal Identification System: A Guide for Small-Scale or Non-Commercial Producers.
“Will NAIS put many small scale producers out of business? No….USDA fully recognizes that NAIS must be practical and affordable for all sectors of agriculture.”
Many people who live on homesteads choose to live simply on a limited income. What may be practical and affordable for you may be impractical and unaffordable for me. NAIS may not cause me to foreclose on my mortgage. But it may make it impractical and unaffordable to raise my own livestock for my own table. George Bush promotes the “ownership society,” and I derive pleasure in owning my own livestock.
For people whose farms will face foreclosure because of NAIS expenses: will NAIS subsidize them so they remain in business?
“Animal tracking databases will be privately held; competition between databases will help keep costs down.”
How will these private corporations be chosen?
Will the contracts be no-bid as with Halliburton?
Will information on their contributions to George Bush be made available?
Will security be any better than at the VA? According to page 15 of the NAIS Strategic Plan Draft, “…the USDA cannot assure the confidentiality of all the information at the present time.”
“Scenarios that would not call for animals to be identified and/or movements reported: animals that never leave the farm/location of birth.”
I have animals that will never leave the farm or location of birth. But chances are that animal’s parent came to my farm from another farm—a farm that I know. Introducing new animals results in livestock that incorporate the strongest traits of two or more bloodlines, which is what protects animals from disease. Livestock owners will build the cost of NAIS into the livestock they sell. Thus, I will be paying for it, even if my livestock travel no further than my own table.
“Swift moving, highly contagious disease such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and exotic Newcastle disease can harm small-scale producers as much as large-scale producers.”
You are saying that the government knows more than I do about how to take care of my livestock. We have already learned to not rely on the government for retirement security or for emergency response as in hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There are many other things that funds could be used for instead of NAIS. In this case I agree with Ronald Reagan: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help” are frightening words.
In general:
A Guide for Small-Scale or Non-Commercial Producers talks more about what NAIS isn’t than what it is. The words in the document leave plenty of doors open: currently, encourages, somewhat, at this time, minimal expenses. “Encourages” at this time means “mandates” at a later time. According to page 2 of the Strategic Plan Draft, the entire program will be mandatory as of January 2009.
There’s a lot of backpedaling occurring in this document, with language like “USDA realizes that tagging each and every animal individually would be unrealistic and impractical.” It should have been realized at the outset. Having to clarify your positions so frequently is hurting your credibility.
Livestock industry professionals have had input to NAIS since 2002. Small-scale farmers are just hearing about it now, and have two months to respond—the two months happening during our busiest time of the year.
George Bush frequently says “Let the market decide.” If agribusinesses want NAIS so they can enter overseas markets, let them decide. If smaller livestock owners have no need for it, let them decide.
The NAIS Strategic Plan Draft says that animal tracking isn’t a new concept. Neither is disease. Despite our best efforts, disease will come and go. Individual birds or animals who are strong enough to survive an outbreak are the ones who you want to perpetuate, not destroy. Frankly, I am more afraid of developing disease from an FDA-approved pharmaceutical than I am of contracting disease from an animal, whether wild or my own. When God decides it is time to go, there’s nothing that I or the government can do about it.
I think you are underestimating the independent, entrepreneurial spirit of small farmers and homesteaders. This nation was founded by people like us. And while a disturbing number of people today seem content to give up their liberties, we are not among them.
Comment Susan Maricle — July 9, 2006 @ 7:18 pm
Does anyone have a less wordy handout? We have the County Fairs going on now and it would be helpful if we had something that people could glance at for a minute or two that would still get the point across without requiring them to pull out the reading glasses (LOL!).
[Lois, try this large print version of the handout Cheers, -WJ]
Comment Lois Jordan — July 9, 2006 @ 9:08 pm
In response to my urging our House Representative Earl Pomeroy to vote for the Ron Paul Amendment to block funding for NAIS in the 2007 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, I received this email yesterday:
Dear Donna:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). I appreciate hearing from you.
I understand your concern that a nationwide animal identification program would be an invasion of privacy for ranchers and could be costly for small farmers and ranchers to implement. As you know, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been working towards development of an animal identification system so that officials may respond to animal disease outbreaks more quickly and effectively. On August 30, 2005, the USDA announced its decision to pursue a voluntary NAIS based on a public/private partnership.
During debate on the 2007 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) offered an amendment which sought to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to implement or administer the National Animal Identification System. I voted against this amendment, which ultimately failed by a vote of 34-389 because the bill as considered by the House required that USDA provide a “complete and detailed plan” for the program, including proposed legislative changes, cost estimates, and means of program evaluation, and that the plan be published for comment by interested parties. Additionally, the bill includes Congressional concerns about the ID program’s progress and transparency. I support these efforts for better oversight of this program, and I assure you that I will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the NAIS and will keep your concerns in mind as legislation on NAIS is considered in the House in the future.
Again, thank you for contacting me. To receive updates on this and other issues, visit my website at www.house.gov/pomeroy. Should you have any additional questions or concerns in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
EARL POMEROY
Member of Congress
“Oversight” by Congress on any issue or event seems all too lacking from my point-of-view.
Think we can trust them to “keep our concerns in mind as legislation on NAIS is considered”?
Comment Donna — July 9, 2006 @ 9:42 pm
Susan,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a great letter!; and thank you for sharing it…
Valerie
Comment Valerie Tinney — July 9, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
I bet we crack the magic 100,000 tomorrow! 7/10/2006… HAPPY HUNDRED GRAND WALTER! Everybody should blow you a kiss. You are the exalted warrior. Look at what you have accomplished in 6 short months. I truly think the firestorm is just warming up. Thanks to everybody. Keep getting the word out, especially now with fair season upon us.
Comment Valerie Tinney — July 9, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
Walter; your article contains excellent advice for all of us; not just the newcomers!
We do in fact need to recruit more people to contact their federal representatives! I was told by Congressman Tim Holden of PA (House Ag Committee member) that neither he nor other members of the House Ag committee were receiving many complaints about the NAIS.
This needs to change! Especially from readers who are constituents of either House or Senate Ag committee members! We need to mount a more aggressive campaign to contact our federal reps!
Comment Neil W. — July 10, 2006 @ 7:04 am
What a wonderful group of people! They will continue to attempt to railroad this thing through! They had no idea how many of us ‘out here in the trenches’ were going to fight like he__ to stop it! The USDA is working both sides of the slaughter industry too. Taking money from foreign nations on a fee for service at the slaughter houses. What has happened to our country? Why are we so greedy? It is appalling!
Comment arlene — July 10, 2006 @ 8:06 am
Walter…urgent request from the Berks Equine Council…figured this was the fastest way to reach you…
Would you be willing to send us the list of questions that you submitted to Hammerschmidt? I have learned that Dr. Zanoni is arriving a day early for the Town Meeting. She wants to distribute questions to us that she feels need to be asked during the Q and A portion of the meeting. If we had your list of questions, we might be able to ask Hammerschmidt as questions from the floor. If you would like to try this approach, please let me know. Thanks.
Comment Neil W. — July 10, 2006 @ 9:19 am
Remember the Ron Paul Amendment? The House Appropriations Committee demanded that the USDA not fund any part of NAIS until Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns submits to the Committee a “complete and detailed plan, including but not limited to proposed legislative changes, cost estimates, and means of program evaluations.” It also requires this plan be published in the Federal Register…so we need to keep our eyes wide open and keep checking it.
Comment Celeste — July 10, 2006 @ 12:14 pm
so what is the usda trying to pull on us walter? are they back to their screcy?
by the way i really love your logos. the piggy is cute. it is one of my favorites. sometime you should do an article showing all of yoru logos and maybe have people vote whhat one they like best. that wood be fun.
keep an eye on the goverment for us!
jazzi
Comment jasmine — July 10, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
Susan Nicely said. May I use some it for a local letter to the editor?
Comment george — July 11, 2006 @ 10:45 am
George: please do, that’s what it’s there for. Thanks for your encouragement.
Comment Susan Maricle — July 11, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
Comment No. 5. Your rep must not be getting the messages then because the ag committee is being contacted by us fighting NAIS. The Ag committee members also get the most “donations” as well as appropriation committee from lobbyist and ag industry. The farm bill is being done two years early and this is probably to swing more campaign money during a critical election for both parties. One of the biggest corporations is USDA itself under the cover of http://www.biordc.com This is the commercial site for the USDA
and it’s partners. It is answerable and under the control of the USDA.
Really is interesting when investigated for all
it’s implications profits, power and control and then regulates to their
favor…. Notice Monsanto is on the board twice since they bought out Simmins Seeds. They also have 88% of all World wide GM seed sales thanks to USDA partnership which made them what they are today.
The other Corporation is Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation (AARCC) — Originally established by the FACT Act 1990 as the Applied Agricultural Research Commercialization Center, the purpose of the AARCC is to assist in the research, development, and commercialization of new nonfood products from agricultural and forestry commodities. AARC makes repayable equity investments, such as buying stock or taking a percentage of future sales (royalties), or both. The FAIR Act of 1996 changed the Center from a government agency to a wholly-owned venture capital corporation of USDA.
H.R.3603:
The USDA has major influence from within and from corporate partnerships to influence the Ag and Appropriation committee members.
Take everything with a grain of salt that politicians tell you. I know the ag committee has had plenty of complaints.
Why else would comment periods be switched around and cancelled so much?
Comment Sue Karber — July 14, 2006 @ 4:33 am
I find it very strange that they cancelled the comment period without saying anything. I only found out about it because I called about something else and then off handedly asked. I suspect they are hoping the controversy will die down and that we’ll get bored and go away.
Comment walterj — July 14, 2006 @ 4:50 am
Here in Germany they have done far worst than this but what you have happening now is the first step over the cliff. Fight back now!
Comment Anders — July 31, 2006 @ 10:45 am