NoNAIS.org

23 Comments »

1. Here is the slide presentation of plant tagging already being done in Washington.

   link

   Comment Breederville — August 29, 2006 @ 6:11 am

2. i came across this yesterday:

   link

   This is a service to help hay growers track their hay in transportation.

   It was on the Rural Heritage Front porch forum. Rural Heritage is very much anti nais and has some excellent articles in their magazine. In fact much of their last issue covered NAIS issues with editorials and feature articles.
   I had heard that hay was going to be tracked from the grower to the farm but haven’t found too much information on it.
   I do buy my hay from others and they are local friends, I see their fields and have absolutely no fear of the safety of the product. I see no benefit in this but what a pain it would be. With the small profit hay growers get after the cost of fertilizer and cost of diesel to cut and bale I would not be surprised if many just turn cattle out on their hay fields - OH WAIT, the cattle would have to be tracked to!

   Comment Mary Beth — August 29, 2006 @ 7:41 am

3. Well, the bright side is that people raising tomatos won’t have to spend a lot of time filling out reports every time they take a walk with a tomato. I wonder if they will have to report eating the tomato on the way?

   Remember radio and television? The government could actually put warning and emergency messages on the air at no cost to anyone. I wonder what happened to that?

   Comment Patricia Hampton — August 29, 2006 @ 7:48 am

4. There you have it folks! I read the site at Penn States web site. All you folks out there all over the states, I suggest you print some pages off that site and use the info to scare the heck out of the “unbelievers” in your area this is proof of how far they’ll go show this to your reps! If we do not stop this we have two choices; live under this or “resist” and who knows where that will lead. Pa. is politically a very powerful state, many policys out of DC originate in PA. This is just the latest example of socialism to come out of this state.
   Maybe if a 100,000 folks from all over America contacted Penn State via their email and such they would get the message? I have been telling people here in Pa since I found out about this last Dec. that this would apply to gardens if they get NAIS and once again the proof is here. I wish I were wrong,
   but I believe if they succede there will be no way to eat except to buy their trash or to be a complete outlaw (I choose the latter) but it is beyond stupid that any of us have to make that choice. Any of you students of history know that this is what the rich and ruthless did to the English peasents during the “enclosures” in the 1600’s onward, they needed to have cheap labor for their estates and a bit later the factorys, those of you who do not know, do a search on that era,almost all farmers EXCEPT the large ones (sound familiar?) and the rich land owners had their land seized and given to the big guys. History is repeating itself folks! The stated purpose at the time was to destoy the basis of the peoples ability to survive independently. They also outlawed hunting and fishing, and then the elites could force them to work for them for a “pittence” This happened wherever the elites went, all over the world. We were blessed in this land, and although it happened here to an extent, we were a very independent breed AND we were armed,it was easier for the elites to bring in slaves, blacks from Africa, American natives, and of course white slavery in the form of indentured servents and convicts (aka. anyone who the magistrate could arrest and sell) , all of it is evil! Go ahead , call me a radical or a alarmist, but I think we had better wake up as a people or we are in for a bad time to say the least , all one has to do is look at what the large international Agribiz/govts and others have done and are doing to countries all over the planet, here and there they are driving farmers off the land and into the labor force. Seperated from the land they must work for what they can find or starve and many do. It has not reached that point here in America, yet, but it is coming our way. We must resist this onslaught of govt and corporate greed. We must educate ourselves and others to what is going on with NAIS. We must be aware of what is behind this and what else is going on, but we must also focus and pick our battles carefully lest we be come like a chicken with its head cut off running all over the place and really having no overall effect. Stopping NAIS is a great place to start,and thanks to all you I believe we can! thanks.

   Comment LEE — August 29, 2006 @ 8:39 am

5. I just sent this message to Rep Hershey:

   Dear Representative Hershey,

   I wrote to you previously about SB 865 that your committee is considering and I would like to give you more reasons why this bill should be killed.

   Apparently, not only all livestock owners in PA are to be registered, but also anyone growing fruits or vegetables. According to the PA farms.org,

   Is PAFarms Just For Animals?
   No, PAFarms is not just for animal farms. Similar to PDA’s need to notify animal producers in the event of a disease outbreak in their area, PDA also needs the capability to notify non-animal farm owners of plant pathogens that may impact their area. Whether it is plum pox or some other emerging disease of commercial plants or crops, knowing what to look for, and who to notify becomes critical information. Additionally, in the event of a chemical spill or wind-borne pollutant event that can impact the safety of crops grown within an impacted area, identifying and notifying farm owners becomes a critical activity for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. From time to time waterways may experience a chemical spill incident that can impact farms many miles downstream. If PDA has the capability to rapidly identify and notify these landowners of the event, then the damage can be minimized and the agent can be contained before it enters the human or animal food supply via crops.
   -PAFarms.org

   Where will this stop?? This is a huge, complex plan that is unnecessary and will fail because people will resist the intrusion to their privacy. I say it is unnecessary, because the public media has traditionally provided notices of important information. We have all heard about the prevalence of West Nile virus in a region via the media. I do not need a separate, taxpayer funded mailing to tell me the same thing. I recently received a postcard from the USDA telling me to keep an eye out for bird flu in my birds. I DON’T HAVE ANY BIRDS, but even if I did, that postcard was unnecessary. I was deeply offended that my taxes are going to pay for useless insults to my intelligence.

   Please do not allow SB 865 to pass. It will only be the beginning of a disaster for small farms. It will add unnecessary costs that cannot be recouped, and is based on lies about the reliability of the system. Australia is frequently held up as a model the US should copy. I have seen information from Australian cattle owners that it is a nightmare to deal with. The RFID technology that is proposed for cattle and horses is unreliable and can be “hacked” to change the data encoded.

   If Pennsylvania approves this bill, then we will no longer be the “cradle of liberty” or the “state of independence”. We will be a pawn in a game of international trade agreements.

   Sincerely,

   Barbara Steever
   Barto, PA

   Comment Barbara — August 29, 2006 @ 10:20 am

6. So if my tomatoes are ID’d and chipped can I claim bioterrorism when they blight?

   This is all a game, and one side isn’t playing fair. The worst thing is the American people are just willing to sit back and watch. The people I talk to either think it would be a good thing–”oh, safer food–it’s what we need. . .”–or they act alarmed, but then don’t do anything. When I mention it a second or third time I’m a looney. “It couldn’t happen here. . .” We need less of this and more–”Not in my back yard!”

   Hasn’t any one thought, “what happens when all the farmers are gone”? No wonder they’re trying to grow our meat on countertops. No wonder I can’t find farm-land I can afford. Our great nation is being sold out and once the sale price is claimed it will be held ransom. We are no longer citizens. We are in the process of becoming slaves.

   We, each one of us, must make an effort to really impact at least 10 people per day on this. Within a week that could be millions. Like a swarm of bees we must rise across this country and make our sting felt. We also need to send the message with out money–no more factory farmed goods. No more virus sprayed coldcuts. 1 person won’t make a difference, except in karma. 100 People might cause a local stir. 1000 people might make a dent. 10,000 and a close-margin business like Walmart might see a blip. 100,000 people spending a majority of their food budget locally in pockets all across the country would be a tremendous difference. They can try to take away our small farms. But we have the power to fight this.

   Once more into the breach!

   Comment Podchef — August 29, 2006 @ 10:53 am

7. I only recently became aware of this latest attack on our freedoms. I still have not learned all the consequences it would have if passed. Even if I did, I doubt that I could write them in a clear way. I realize everyone here is busy but would it be possible for those of you who are more knowledgable on the subject to write a summery of the issue that people like myself could print and post in feed and garden stores to educate and warn the population? Maybe you could include a list of websites such as this one so they could research it themselves.

   [Maggie, see the NoNAIS Handout in the Sample Flyers section of the right sidebar. There are several versions (Large Print, etc). -WJ]

   Comment maggie — August 29, 2006 @ 11:47 am

8. Chips in your livestock , I.D’s for your vegs and wheat, next it will be your children!
   Our freedons are being devoured by the goverment!!!!

   Comment Betty — August 29, 2006 @ 1:14 pm

9. Here is a copy of an email I sent to PAFarms.org…

   “Hello,
   I would like to register an objection to this concept. I live in (State), not Pennsylvania, but I am watching this issue all over the country, and I am VERY concerned with this strange push to register and tag everything that moves, and now even plants. I’m sorry, but not only are these Premise ID regulations of the hugest single breach of freedom I have ever seen in America, but any tiny benefit it might have will be hugely outweighed by the negatives of cost, mega-company monopolies, and difficulty in families growing their own food. All this will do is make our food supply centralized and thus extremely vulnerable to any attack or natural disaster.

   Please do NOT go forward with a compulsory registration program!!!”

   I never thought I’d see the day in America… I’m very glad for this site, though I regret there is a reason for it. I plan to make a bunch of copies soon of the handouts and spread them around my neighborhood and town. We can’t let this stuff sneak through in the dark!

   Comment Lady Copper — August 29, 2006 @ 1:32 pm

10. When I heard about NAIS, I said, what’s next, growing underground tomatoes in the bsmt like pot?? I THOUGHT I was just kidding to make a point. Now it seems I was being a bit prophetic. Geez, Mr. Gov’t Agent, Sir, may I grow a tomato plant on my deck, please, sir? Walter, I have begun the perimeter fencing and gating my property, a few hundred feet at a time. In addition, I’ve planted fast growing evergreens around the edges as well. Sometimes I feel a “Ruby Ridge” coming on. Remember Ruby Ridge? oh, well, my day started out fine….

    [Hopefully it will not go that way. I still believe that peaceful, lawful change is possible in our great nation. Things go in cycles. The pendulum swings back and forth between various powers. Generally the balance of powers setup by our founders corrects the worst swings. Unfortunately it takes time. But time in many ways is our friend - if we can slow down the change and adoption of radical programs like NAIS then with time more people will see just what a bad idea NAIS is and reject it. Already we have made great progress. The USDA has backed down from definite mandatory by 2009 to voluntary (if we comply). In Vermont our Secretary of Agriculture Steve Kerr went from strongly supporting Animal ID and NAIS to just calling for Premises ID to backing off of that this month. There is hope for peaceful resolution and respect for our rights and privacy. -WJ]

    Comment Cynthia B. — August 29, 2006 @ 3:11 pm

11. We were told several years ago that backyard gardens would be attacked through the Noxious Weed Act (an owner of a large nursery told us this). The language in that bill is typically ambiguous and blurry, stating that if a plant isn’t indigenous to that area, then it’s a weed that needs to be eradicated. Well, the okra and green beans in my garden aren’t indiginous to my area so according to that Act, they are weeds that should not be allowed here. Maybe we need to start planting things that *are*!

    Pennsylvania was also the first state that I heard of taking control of all water - even the ground water in wells. That was two or three years ago. As our nation becomes more and more city dwellers and losing touch with our agricultural roots, using fear tactics is easier. Those people KNOW they rely on someone else for their food, and when someone tells them that we *need* certain things in order to “safeguard” their food supply, you be they are all for it. Common sense goes right out the window - no questioning things. For those of us who live *out here* with nature, it’s infuriating to have people just reacting to propaganda instead of thinking for themselves. Especially when it’s affecting US!

    Comment Anita Messenger — August 29, 2006 @ 4:04 pm

12. Tracking Conifer seedlings–there’s a great use of University resources. NOT!

    The hay issue has actually been on the plate for a while. I think I knew about it back in April.
    It’s all part of the “Traceability” plan–track back and trace-forward.

    As part of my inform 10 people about NAIS a day plot, today I was almost decked by the dude helping me load my animal feed. The gals in the office agree that NAIS is redundant, costly and useless. The feed-master follows party lines. He walked away after dumping 100 lbs of feed off his shoulders and let me do the rest.

    I think he thought that because I drive a station wagon and dress nice that I am a “dude” or “Hobby Farmer”. How I hate that term. I go to town once every few weeks, so I dress decent to do business. The feed store is on my list of “business”. Perhaps I need to be a bit more sunburnt, ie redneck, to talk to some people.

    Just because we raise our own food, or homestead, or have a small farm doesn’t mean it’s a hobby. I am sure for most of us, while it may not be a matter of life and death, it certainly feels like that at time, much to our satisfaction when things go right. I certainly don’t feel like its a hobby when I’m bailing hay or chasing mink out of the chickens or watching my sale crop of tomatoes blight.

    This whole thing can go around and round–they want to tag my animals, my home, my tomatoes, my hay, then I want all government vehicles tracked and graphed online in real-time so they are accountable to the public for waste. I want USDA inspectors, State Vets and ag reps tracked as they drive from farm to farm–lies spread faster than foot and mouth on the wind. I want campaign contributions from big ag tracked from field to White House and out the back end. I want tax-rebates payed out of personal pockets from Government employees who get caught wasting, cheating, lying.

    And if that isn’t going to happen, and we know it won’t, then neither should the stupidity which is the NAIS, and RFID madness.

    Comment Podchef — August 29, 2006 @ 4:19 pm

13. Hey, Podchef ~

    Better to be a ‘hobby farm’ than a ‘welfare farm’.

    We get that from the locals here in North Dakota. How’s your ‘hobby farm’?

    I always tell them, “I work too hard for it to be a hobby.”

    But, I’ve been thinking maybe I need to get a little more aggresive in my responses. In this state who gets what and how much from USDA is public information. It’s online.

    We don’t owe the bank for our farm. We aren’t on any USDA programs. We don’t receive a subsidy on any of our output or lack thereof.

    The drought this year has been declared a disaster. All the farmers we know are hoping for disaster relief on top of their crop insurance payments. Our neighbor put in $60,000 worth of seed for grain to feed his dairy cows this winter. It was a total loss in the field. It didn’t grow tall enough to cut for hay. He will get back the $60,000 from his insurance, but he won’t have the grain he would have had. He will need to buy it at a premium price, many times more than his original $60,000.

    The bank tells most of the farmers what to plant, when to plant, what animals to cull, which to sell and when.

    USDA requires sitdown at the Ag Office annual reports featuring a satellite map of your entire farm. You are required to tell USDA what you intend to do with every acre of your land for that year or be fined. We aren’t on any programs, but still get the headsup letter every spring telling us we had better show for our scheduled appointment. We tell them to ‘kiss off’.

    What my husband & I are doing here has no safety net. We are probably living at less than what is considered poverty level. We don’t have medical insurance. We scramble to pay for those things that require US funny money, like taxes. Right now, my husband is working on a custom combine crew out of Canada to make up for the income we lost when our pastures burned up from the drought and the rent money we get each year from pasturing cattle went away with the cows. We don’t take vacations. For that matter we don’t travel farther away than the time it takes to get back for evening chores. Some hobby!

    So, tell ‘em, “Better a ‘hobby farm’ than a ‘wefare farm’.

    Comment donna — August 30, 2006 @ 1:50 pm

14. MOnsanto again. patented seeds withthe protection of if we want to TURN ON a certain GENE in the plant we have to buy thier chemical. The seed savers exchange have been screaming about this for years.

    Comment karen taylor — August 31, 2006 @ 5:56 am

15. #’s 4 &10

    Hi Y’all:/

    We have a bigger problem than NAIS.
    You can read about it a Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America
    Please do so.
    See if you believe the FAQ’s

    If this comes into being in 2010 as planned, NAIS and all the other garbage Americans are being force fed can be put into place at gun point, utilizing Canadian but more likely, Mexican military personel. Possibly even UN Peacekeepers as the Constitution and Bill of Rights -when it suits the powers- will surely be set aside in favor of Int’l Law.

    It not only can happen here, it is. The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, the North American Union, is steaming ahead, without discussion or opposition.

    This is more critical than NAIS, precisely because the paperwork here spells out the end of American sovereignty.

    I cannot stress enough, see for yourself. This goes for Canadians too.

    respects, Wm

    ps I mention this here because this is the only grassroots movement that seems to have any traction nationally. Sorry, but it must be told …

    Comment Mr Dirty Nails — August 31, 2006 @ 11:28 pm

16. In response to Cynthia B.’s comment, fencing and evergreens help from the ground but what about the spy satellites and airplanes? Here in Wisconsin our DNR routinely patrols our rural areas in their spyplanes.Anyone have ideas for camouflaging a farm against the aerial government spies?

    Comment Jane B. — August 31, 2006 @ 11:44 pm

17. Dirty Nails, I am so glad you mention the North American Union again. I have been thinking that if this abomination becomes reality, since Canada already has a NAIS-type system, we would be “harmonized” (I hate that word) into their system by way of our integration through the NAU.

    Because I do not trust ANY politician, I have been cautiously optomistic about Ron Paul and his true intent. I know he has written some dynamite articles alerting Americans to many unconstitutional issues, but I still remain on guard. On 8-2-06, I sent him this e-mail:

    “I have been a fan of Congressman Paul for several years, and tell everyone I speak with to check out this website every week. However, I am amazed/concerned that there has been no mention from Congressman Paul on the CFR’s “Building a North American Community”, the North American Union, or the government’s Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America website. I check this website every week, at least once, and have been looking since last summer, when I first heard about the CFR report, for something on this website. I have searched the archives, also. If I have missed it, I apologize for the scrutiny, but I don’t think I have missed anything on this website. Congressman Tancredo does have a mention of this on his website. I am involved in attempts to stop the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), and I appreciate Congressman Paul’s efforts there. I hope to see something on the North American Union soon. Thank you.”

    Checking his website, Ron Paul now has a Texas Straight Talk article, “A North American United Nations?”, dated 8-28-06. I was not impressed. I think this article falls flat when it comes to sounding an alarm, so I sent him another e-mail on 8-29-06:

    “I must be frank and say that even though your long-awaited column “A North American United Nations?” is welcome, I feel that it did not relay the urgency to stop this abomination, nor the seriousness of the final blow to our Constitutional Republic that this will cause - like a boot stomping on the United States, forever!”

    If he’s for real, than I’m the fool, but I think he could have attacked this issue with more teeth. Dirty Nails, if you read his article, could you tell us what you think. I’m not trying to tear him down, but we need to scrutinize everyone that has the power to affect our destiny.

    Comment Texas Goat Gal — September 1, 2006 @ 8:24 am

18. #16

    Electronic jamming perhaps.

    Underground facilities could probably still be detected thermally.

    Face it, the government has a bigger wallet and better toys.

    respects, Wm
    (:

    Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 1, 2006 @ 12:22 pm

19. #18

    Hello Texas Goat Gal:)

    I honestly believe Rep Paul is one of the good guys and if we had more like him, say 250 more in the house and 60 or so in the Senate, our country would be in a much better way and we wouldn’t be having all of these international entanglement troubles we are facing.

    The article is accurate, if not intentionally alarming. However, if we weren’t such an ill-educated nation about our own rule of law(I am no exception), America would be much more widely alarmed by, “…the SPP is neither a treaty nor a formal agreement.”. In context, “According to the US government website dedicated to the project, the SPP is neither a treaty nor a formal agreement. Rather, it is a “dialogue” launched by the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the United States at a summit in Waco, Texas in March, 2005.

    What is a “dialogue”? We don’t know. What we do know, however, is that Congressional oversight of what might be one of the most significant developments in recent history is non-existent. Congress has had no role at all in a “dialogue” that many see as a plan for a North American union.”

    According to the SPP website, this “dialogue” will create new supra-national organizations to “coordinate” border security*, health policy, economic and trade policy, and energy policy between the governments of Mexico, Canada, and the United States.”.

    * Border Security here refers to the outer borders of the three nations not the traditional borders through which we are now being invaded. Which invasion will be a mute point when the SPP comes to fruition.

    I encourage all to read US Rep Ron Paul’s concise article:

    link

    Do it for your great grand children.

    respects, Wm

    ps let’s see if I learned the link lesson Walter?-)

    Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 1, 2006 @ 12:51 pm

20. #17

    Hello Texas Goat Gal:)

    I too believe Ron Paul is one of the good guys. And if we had another 250 in the House and say 60 or so in the Senate like him, we American’s wouldn’t be having all these troubles we are with the sorts of Int’l entanglements that Washington and Jefferson warned us off of.

    A big part of the problem is SPP is being done on the sly, not unlike NAIS, just more so and better. Frankly I wonder if NAIS and the like ‘we’re gonna hold yer nose til ya swalla’ schemes, are not smoke screens of sorts for streamlining the implementation of SPP.

    Finally, I believe rep Paul’s article would be more alarming if Americans were more familiar with their ‘rules of law’ and too, if this topic was getting even a modicum of the press play in deserves. If those conditions were improved, or as they should be(there is far greater illiteracy/ignorance today -about our ways- than twenty, or more especially 50 years ago); I believe folks would be immediately enraged upon reading, “… the SPP is neither a treaty nor a formal agreement”, or, “… Congressional oversight of what might be one of the most significant developments in recent history is non-existent”.

    In context: “… According to the US government website dedicated to the project, the SPP is neither a treaty nor a formal agreement. Rather, it is a “dialogue” launched by the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the United States at a summit in Waco, Texas in March, 2005.

    What is a “dialogue”? We don’t know. What we do know, however, is that Congressional oversight of what might be one of the most significant developments in recent history is non-existent. Congress has had no role at all in a “dialogue” that many see as a plan for a North American union.

    According to the SPP website, this “dialogue” will create new supra-national organizations to “coordinate” border security, health policy, economic and trade policy, and energy policy between the governments of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. As such, it is but an extension of NAFTA- and CAFTA-like agreements that have far less to do with the free movement of goods and services than they do with government coordination and management of international trade. …”.

    Which in reality is what NAIS is about, though merely a piece in the SPP puzzle.

    I urge you all to read this concise overview of SPP.

    link

    For your great grand children’s benefit! Please take the time.

    respects, Wm

    ps did the link fix work this time?-)

    Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 1, 2006 @ 2:54 pm

21. I’m sorry Walter, my browser expired when I was posting and when I came back there was no evidence of #19 so I rewrote. Please feel free to delete one or the other. And doggone it, I’m on a Mac and the links show as ‘link’. what am I doing wrong?

    respects, Wm

    Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 1, 2006 @ 3:10 pm

22. Folks: We “might” have a breakthrough situation here in PA. Some of us who are subscribers to Pennsylvanians Against Nais (see Walter’s list of List Discussions) have received email from PA State Representative Art Hershey who is chairman of the PA House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. This email is interesting because, possibly for the first time, it indicates that the committee is opposed to mandatory premise id for a reason other than data security. Representative Hershey (or chairman Hershey) says;
    “Please let me clarify that, while Senate Bill 865 is before the House Agriculture Committee for consideration, we have not scheduled it for a vote. However, we do continue our discussions on the issue. These discussions include whether the state should be requiring premise identification prior to being forced to do so by mandate from the federal government”. [end Hershey]

    This could be a breakthrough, because many of us have been concerned that other states (such as Vermont) are opposed to mandatory premise id only because of data security.

    These words by Representative Hershey indicate that the PA House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee have at least one other reason for questioning a mandatory state premise id program BEFORE it is mandated by the USDA.

    The people of Vermont have taken the lead in opposing mandatory premise id in their state. However, their AG Secretary seems to oppose mandatory premise id for only one reason, namely data security. Perhaps someone should make Secretary Kerr aware that “there may be at least one other valid reason for opposing mandatory premise id; namely the USDA timetable of 2009 (earliest)…and why would ANY state want to implement mandatory premise id BEFORE it is required by the feds.

    Comment Neil W. — September 4, 2006 @ 10:13 am

23. Neil W., Lee, and others in PA, while surfing around I found this article, “Politicians Woo Ag Crowd”, in Lancaster Farming. Toward the bottom of the article it says:

    “Knepley said if the national program folds, it will not impact Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has been working with their premise identification program, PA HERDS, a statewide database to consolidate farm identification numbers for all of their animal health programs.”

    Could not find a date anywhere, but the copyright was 2006. I am sure you know all about this, but may not have seen this exact article. I e-mailed Mr. Hershey this weekend (kept it very nice). Sounds like you have a lot of thoughtful and intelligent no-NAISers in PA. Good luck.

    link

    Comment Texas Goat Gal — September 5, 2006 @ 9:35 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment