From Lawyer Zanoni:
The following document is the Report of the Committee on Livestock Identification of the U.S. Animal Health Association, from a meeting on October 17, 2006. Present at the meeting were USDA Undersecretary Bruce Knight, Dr. John Clifford, Dr. John Wiemers, and Neil Hammerschmidt.
On p. 14 of this document we have a hint about a very dangerous game that the USDA may be intending to play with our way of life and our ability to keep livestock. The last paragraph on page 14 describes a recommendation that this Committee of the USAHA has made to the USDA:
Two recommendations were considered by the Committee. The following recommendation was approved by the Committee.
That USDA-APHIS-VS with input from the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO), promulgate an interim rule that establishes a list of Consistent States for Cattle Identification. The rule would provide for restriction of interstate movements other than direct to slaughter from non-consistent states. The rule would specify that consistent states have established by law, rule, order, or other means requirements that all breeding age cattle be officially identified by means of official tag or registration brand or tattoo at each change of ownership, other than movements direct to slaughter, or movements through one approved market and then direct to slaughter. Further, that consistent states have import requirements that all such cattle be officially identified prior to import or at first point of concentration. Consistent states may grant waivers for such requirements for interstate movements which are part of normal operating business with no change of ownership and for seasonal grazing/feeding as agreed to by the state and federal animal health officials of the states involved. Further, that this interim rule be promulgated prior to July 1, 2007. In addition, the Committee recommends that a follow-up rule be promulgated prior to July 1, 2008, that establishes consistent states as those that have in place similar requirements for breeding aged cattle upon change of ownership for feeding or grazing.
-Report Of The Committee On Livestock Identification
The Committee has recommended that, prior to July 1, 2007, the USDA should promulgate an “interim rule” that would prohibit interstate movement of cattle from any state that fails to REQUIRE THAT ALL BREEDING AGE CATTLE BE OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED at each change of ownership. Such an “interim rule” would make it impossible for any state to resist, because it would become economically isolated. Also note that an “interim rule” can be promulgated WITH NO PRIOR OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
Is the USDA planning to follow this Committee recommendation and force NAIS upon the entire nation by means of a dictatorial “interim rule”? It is bad enough that the USDA has been killing off American agriculture for decades; don’t let them kill off democracy.
Please send a copy of this message to your U.S. Congressman and your two U.S. Senators. This scheme must be stopped in its tracks.
Mary Zanoni
[I have not finished reading this document myself… -WJ]
Hat tips to Mary & Gisela
Who is the USAHA?…Another small farmer nightmare agency?
Who are they… that they can try and impose any laws on the American farmer and rancher?
Comment Jan Lytle — January 22, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Mary, I’m not suprised,but thanks for the info,just goes to show how they lie about everything all the time.Someone tell me again why we need the USDA? I have seen things in the last 10 years from Waco and Ruby Ridge to the socalled Patriot Act that I hoped I would never see on these shores.It is quite apparent that our govt is selling us out to corporate and international interests,that DC is a pit of snakes that represents more Terrorism” to the American way of life than any third world rabble rouser could ever hope to impose on a free people,the enemies of this country must be laughing their rearends off at how this country has reacted to the threat of terrorism,kinda like a person confronted by a killer in an alley who plunges a blade into his own heart and says to the killer,I’ll show you , I won’t stand for your threats” If we discovered a man, who because he feared a local bully would hurt his child,kept that child locked in a cage with no outside contact,and no toys or anything,for his/her own good of course,we would lock him up,may I suggest you do not stop terror,by resorting to lawlessness ,by locking your people in a cage and not allowing them to enjoy their libertys,by working to circumvent their rights,this is insane!I no longer believe that this fed/gov wants to protect the people anyhow,it wants to rule them,you fight lawlessness with law,and the lack of liberty with MORE liberty,not less,it is supposed to be illegal in America for the gov to decree anything,but I seem to be seeing that as the matter of course these days and it seems they are getting away with it.Where will it stop?,I dont know,but for sure we must keep trying to cut the legs out from under them,I still believe we can,as I have said before we are “early” in this fight,and I have no intention of backing down from people who presume to rule us rather than serve us,lets beat them in the legislatures and in the courts and in any other way nessesary,but lets beat them.Take a look at the date this paper/meeting has on it,and they tell us its all voluntary? as Walter says “MAFIA STYLE” I think it might be a good idea to make note of this folks and show it to your reps and other folks,how they are doubledealing up at the kremlin,er,I mean USDA.thanks.
Comment LEE — January 22, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
There is an article at www.brownfieldnetwork.com about a fella who bought cows at a sale and they turned out to be Canadian when he tried to sell them,and so he couldn’t.In the 06 committee report that Mary sent in it speaks in glowing terms of Canadas animal id program and how they can track animals really well. My question is simply this, if Canada has such a great system,and selling Canadian beef in the US was not legal at the time this happened, then how in the heck did they NOT know that their cattle crossed and international border??Hmmmmm? Oh boy,USDA,can we be just like Canada when you grow up?
Comment LEE — January 22, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
I wonder if the USAHA would be willing to ask USDA and FAS to place the same restrictions on cattle imported into the USA from Mexico every year. I was over at the USDA import/export stats engine the other day looking at just that - live cattle imported into the USA from Mexico last year. I believe the figure was over $400,000,000 in value.
The sole reason, and I mean the ONLY reason that USAHA and USDA wants the NAIS is because we’re bringing into the USA so much in fresh/frozen and live livestock that when they say a FAD of significant concern is immenent, I believe them. What we need to do is bird dog the imports a lot more closely than we do now, not track every hobby farmer or ‘make a living at it’ farmer selling direct to the public in the USA. We’re not the problem, not are we a threat to national security.
Joanne Rigutto
Oregon Small Holders Alliance
Comment Joanne Rigutto — January 22, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Is it time to start practicing saying “Zeig Heil” and get real compliant when they demand, “Show us your paper comrade!” Or are we going to fight these lying jerks?
Comment Rich Amber — January 23, 2007 @ 12:01 am
Another Bad Premonition:
A Department of Agriculture (USDA) NAIS Premise I.D. Inspector (Alias: NAIS Storm Trooper, also known as a “COW-COP”) stopped at a NAIS “VOLUNTARY” Premise I.D. registered farm and said to the old farmer, in an alleged blunt and rude manner:
NAIS Inspector said: “I’m here to inspect your NAIS Premise I.D. registered farm.”
The old farmer, who never talked much, just said, “You’d better not go out in that field.”
The USDA - NAIS representative (COW-COP), then got on his high horse, and said in a demanding tone,
COW-COP SAID: “I have the authority of the U. S. Government behind me! See this card, I am allowed to go wherever I
wish on agricultural land, regarding any NAIS issue or inspection without a warrant or so much as a reason.”
So the old farmer went about his chores, without even a reply to the NAIS Storm Trooper, also called a COW-COP.
In a few minutes, the ole farmer heard “loud” screams and saw the Department of Agriculture COW-COP, running for his life,
headed for the fence. Close behind, and gaining with every step, was the farmer’s prize bull, nostrils flaring, madder than a
nest full of hornets.
The old farmer cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled out, “Show Him Your Card! Show Him Your Card!”
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
DeanAyers@NationalPetPress.com
I Say: “Be there. For every animal owner.”
http://animalsclubfreedom.org/
“Protecting Your Rights of Free Speech!”
—-
http://animalsclubfreedom.com/
“Protecting Your Rights to Freely Own Pets!”
—-
http://animalsclubfreedom.net/
“Protecting Pet Owner Rights!”
Comment Dean A. Ayers (IOWA) — January 23, 2007 @ 3:16 am
Track Back
Comment Breederville — January 23, 2007 @ 6:35 am
Reference to Lee, post 2.
Take a moment to see the 11 posts on this thread: USDA’s Snooping Machine
Especially post 6.
Comment Breederville — January 23, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Lee (#3) & Joanne (#4) Great comments.
It is pretty clear that one reason the USDA wants Animal ID is to make their own job of tracking imported cattle easier. And there is going to be more and more imported cattle as our own farms are regulated out of existence.
The twisted truth is that currently the USDA can’t even track the shipments coming in now, using their proto-NAIS system. Missing records, falsified tags, unchecked trucking seal records, lost paperwork and employee incompetance are all regular events leading to cattle of unknown age and origin entering the US and going to slaughter.
In a single month an Average of 26,920 cattle cross the border from Canada into Washington State headed for slaughter. An additional 3000-5000 head to feedlots. Each Month. Add the figures from Mexico and you have to ask Where’s the Beef? Seemingly we should be blocked in by mountains of the stuff. These cattle make up the 40% of imported beef Americans consume everyday.
Meanwhile US raised beef is shipped off only to be rejected by foreign buyers because the USDA is too stupid to allow regular BSE testing, demand more from processors and inspect shipments for quality. How much is this costing the American Image and the farmers struggling to make a living raising animals for meat?
Our borders need to be heavily fortified and sealed off from this most insidious kind of immigration–sanctioned cargoes for profiteering by Robber Barons at the expense of Good Citizens Rights. No wonder our country is headed down the bowl.
The American Consumer needs to be educated about where their meats come from, how they are handled and what the alternatives are–hostage to Corporate Madness and Foreign interests and crappy, suspect meats; or Locally raised, minimally processed, fresh, properly aged, American Quality Meats which don’t need tracking or tracing because they come from their own community and the proud farmers who they help support.
Once Concerned Consumers learn of what NAIS is about and how little it will impact the safety of our own, US, food supply while securing only the sale of meat to foreign traders, then perhaps the hue & cry will go up and the Corporate Overlords will get the bitch-slap they so deserve. If not, and American Consumers don’t care–which is what I fear–then we are lost anyway. They will have given in and the true terrorists will have won.
Comment Podchef — January 23, 2007 @ 9:48 am
I believe it is un-constitutional for states to prohibit commerce from other states.Even if the USDA is forcing them to do just that. We had a war over states vs. federal rights back in 1860s.
Comment gordon — January 23, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
Has anyone seen Freedom to Fascism? I am so depressed tonight after having watched it. But don’t let that stop you from seeing it. Once you see it you will realized that NAIS is just a drop in the bucket but it all twines together like the cancer that I saw in one of my ewes.
I declare Freedom to Fascism mandatory (that means you must do it) homework for every activist. I’m going to make copies of it and give it out to as many as I can.
Comment Henwhisperer — January 23, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
“Interim Rule” ?? What a crock of manure…Abuse of power, pure avarice, so if they can’t get us to volunteer they’ll stick it to us another way? Slick, underhanded and totally in keeping with their plan. Gee, thanks for protecting me, how did my grandparents ever manage farms without your progressive ideas ? Must be sh*t luck I’m even here and haven’t died from some disease “they” are working so hard to protect me from.
…I’m surprised Weimers was there though, thought he’d be too busy “checking every back yard for killer chickens”
Comment Bob Constantine — January 23, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
If anyone is interested there is a Farmers Field Guide to NAIS, you can read on the Gaited Horse Magazine website here: www.freetofarm.com/1.html
Farmer’s Field Guide to the NAIS
The ONLY independent and authoritative guide to the NAIS, its history and ultimate purpose: to bring 2.1 million farms and nearly 1 billion acres of land under Federal regulatory control. In step-by-step fashion, the authors separate fact from fiction, governmental propaganda from what the law and the regulations actually say, and explain the every-day consequences attached to the NAIS.
Comment Jan Lytle — January 25, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
IN MAINE, USDA EVEN CONTROLS INTRA-STATE MOVEMENT TO FORCE NAIS REGISTRATION
Dear Mr. Jeffries & Dr. Zanoni:
I am writing about two issues related to Bad Premontion.
1)What is your opinion about the role of state veterinarians regarding “Bad Premonition?” Do you think they will be the ones forcing farmers to register their premises and ID their animals for inter- state and intra-state movement? I ask because we currently have a bill pending (LD 400) to fund four more state vets for the Maine Dept of Ag. (Proposed by someone who is ANTI-NAIS/IDME)
2)In Maine, we have an issue with USDA controlling INTRA-state movement and forcing premises registration for intra-state movement of sheep and goats. Is this even legal?
In a nutshell, USDA is using 9 CFR 79.6 to require that the state of Maine regulate intra-state movement of sheep and goats and require official premises registration and animal ID. It looks like USDA has strong armed Maine into proposing a rule to meet the “Consistent States” requirements. It appears that this is one more way that USDA is compelling states to register animals for NAIS without saying so. (SEE BELOW FOR FULL TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE)
Does USDA really have the authority to regulate animal movements within states?
It is extremely scary to realize that the state will do whatever USDA tells it to, really. And that, just as predicted, they have found ways to force the state to force farmers to register their premises.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated. And keep up the good work.
Ruth Sullivan
Blue Hill, Maine
207-374-5919
ruthsullivan@downeast.net
Here is the text of the ME Dept of Ag proposed Rule:
01-001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES
Chapter XXX: PROPOSED RULES FOR THE INTRASTATE MOVEMENT OF SHEEP AND GOATS
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Rules for the Intrastate Movement of Sheep and Goats is to ensure that Maine sheep and goats remain free of scrapie and to meet United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for Consistent State Status as specified in 9 CFR part 79.6. Consistent States are required to impose intrastate movement regulations requiring identification upon change of ownership for sheep and goats. The Maine Department of Agriculture and the Maine Scrapie Board propose this rule to meet these requirements. Adoption of this rule will also ensure the continued ability for sheep and goat owners to move their animals across state lines for any purpose.
Adoption of this proposed rule requiring identification of sheep and goats on change of ownership for intrastate movement does not in any way obligate Maine or Maine producers to participate in the National Animal Identification System.
2. DEFINITIONS
The following terms have the following meanings:
Animal. A sheep or goat.
Department: The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources.
Direct Movement to Slaughter. Transported to a facility for slaughter, without stops or unloading except for feeding and watering during which the animals are not commingled with any other animals.
Official Identification. Identification mark or device approved by the USDA or Department for use in the Scrapie Eradication Program. An approved identification ear tag must be sufficiently tamper-resistant for the intended use and provide unique identification for each animal. Examples of official identification may include: scrapie identification tags issued by the USDA or by the Department; breed registration tattoos accompanied by breed registration certificates or other tattoos approved by the Department; or USDA-approved electronic identification devices.
Owner. A person, partnership, company, corporation or any other legal entity that has legal or rightful title to animals, whether or not they are subject to a mortgage.
Scrapie. Scrapie is a nonfebrile, transmissible, insidious degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats.
Scrapie Eradication Program. The cooperative State-Federal program administered by the USDA APHIS and Consistent States to control and eradicate Scrapie.
Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP). The cooperative Federal-State-industry voluntary program for the control of Scrapie.
Slaughter Channels. Animals in slaughter channels include any animal that is sold, transferred, or moved either directly to a slaughter facility, to an individual for custom slaughter, or for feeding for the express purpose of improving the animals’ condition for movement to slaughter. Any sexually intact animal that is commingled with breeding animals or that has been bred is not in slaughter channels. When selling animals for slaughter, owners should note on the bill of sale that the animals are sold only for slaughter.
United States Department of Agriculture: The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
3. IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
All sexually intact animals must be officially identified on change of ownership for movement within the State of Maine, except for those animals less than 18 months of age moving direct to slaughter or those animals less than 18 months of age moving in slaughter channels.
4. SLAUGHTER CHANNEL MOVEMENTS
No sheep or goat may be removed from slaughter channels unless it is identified to the flock of birth, and the animal is not exposed to scrapie or from an infected or source flock.
7. RECORDKEEPING
The owner must maintain records for a minimum of five years from the date of application. These records shall be made available upon request during normal business hours to any authorized employee of the USDA or the Department. The records shall include the following:
a. The official identification number applied;
b. The number of animals identified, by species;
c. The type of official identification; and
d. The date on which the official identification was applied.
In addition to maintaining records specified above, each individual who applies official identification shall provide the following, upon request.
a. The name, premises, mailing address, and if available, phone number of the individual for which the official identification was applied;
b. The name and address of the owner of the flock of birth, if the flock of birth is known, and
c. The name, premises, mailing address, and if available phone number of the individual or premises that purchased or otherwise received these animals.
Each individual or entity who receives, purchases, acquires, sells, or
disposes of any sheep or goats shall keep records of each transaction for a minimum of five years from the date of the transaction. Each record shall include the following:
a. The number of animals included in the transaction;
b. The date of the transaction;
c. The name, address, and if available, the phone number of the second party involved in the transaction;
d. The species and breed of the animals involved;
e. A copy of the brand inspection certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection for all animals that have official identification consisting of brands or ear notches; and
f. All business records, including sale tickets or invoices.
8. SCRAPIE FLOCK CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Owners of sheep and goats may enroll in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program. Owners may contact the USDA in Sutton, MA at 508-865-1421.
9. VIOLATIONS
Whoever violates any provisions of this rule, commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $500 per day for each violation may be adjudged, except that the total of the forfeitures may not exceed $50,000.
Comment ruth sullivan — February 25, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Ruth, comment 14 - I read the proposed rule for Maine, in the last paragraph of section 1 It says “adoption of this rule doesn’t obligate participation in National Animal I.D”…. Gee with friends like that who needs enemies!! I’d say Maine is in trouble if this goes through.
Not sure how Maine does public hearings, but “they” are trying to slide one through, I’d sound the alarm and get as many Maine residents as possible to start calling the “deciders” and make plans to attend any legislative hearings before it’s too late. Please post more info. as it developes…Being next door in New Hampshire I’m very concerned about that whole “consistent state” thing, don’t like the sound of that!
Comment Bob Constantine — February 25, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
If the monopolies that rule this nightmarish world of today, bully state governments by mandating that they cannot conduct business with other states in the sale or movement of livestock without their system in place, I say fine!:-)
Local food production spells freedom, it will bring us all closer together in that effort and make us healthier because “WE” will have it fresh (local)and know how it’s been produced and just what’s in it. Gosh we’ll get to know our neighbors again:-)
Another big plus is that it will provide us will “REAL” Homeland Security. Guns for defense are important, but food is equally important. I’ll so miss the grocery store….NOT
Comment cherie — March 31, 2007 @ 1:35 am