From Mary Z:
You will recall that in summer 2006 the Massachusetts Dept of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) started uploading animal owner info from the state’s annual ag survey to the USDA premises database, all without any prior notification to the animal owners. Due to public outcry, MDAR stopped doing these uploads by late Aug. 2006.
Now MDAR has resumed essentially the same program, with a minor modification — MDAR sends the attached letter to the animal owners and gives them 45 or perhaps 30 days (note that the last few sentences of the letter give those 2 conflicting time periods) to “opt out,” otherwise MDAR sends their info in to the USDA database & the animal owners are assigned premises IDs. Also, note that the letter is dated Oct 30, 2007, but some MA animal owners report that by the time they receive the letter, they have only a few days to “opt out.”
Ben Grosscup & Jack Kittredge at NOFA Mass apparently just learned of this a day or so ago. I learned of it today when a NY resident forwarded the MDAR letter to me. Ben reports that MDAR has apparently sent this letter to all Mass residents who are identified as animal owners by the Mass annual animal census.
I received my letter from the Mass.Department of Agricultural Resources about a week ago - dated October 30,2007. At first I pondered whether to shred it or use it to start the woodstove. I was glad I read through it. If you DON’T reply, they will send your “data” on to the USDA.(Not sure why they needed me to fill out a form for Massachusetts if they already have my information…) I had to send an e-mail to request that this not happen. Every penny they waste on this baloney just irritates the heck out of me.
Comment Renee Windward Traina — November 21, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Page 2 of MDAR’s letter did not show up…
[Fixed, I hope, try it now. -WJ]
Comment Valerie — November 21, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Renee - Mary Zanoni indicated at a talk she gave in Vermont recently something similar had been happening in New York state. Pay attention it seems like “they” are really stretching “volunteer participation” again.
Comment Bob Constantine — November 21, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
I happen to go to the MDAR website and found the following link to a “Nais Advisory” letter that came out on the 20th
link
MDAR NAIS Advisory letter
The must have gotten a lot of negative responses regarding the timeliness of the delivery and the 30 vs 45 days (not to mention the bit about selling Mass farmers’ information to the USDA in exchange for Cooperation grants). They in light of the typo and the delayed delivery they promise to honor the 45 days and allow opt outs until December 14th.
Afella in VT
Comment Afella in VT — November 21, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
“As a dog returneth to its vomit;so a bureauacrat to his deceitfulness”….my version:)
We of course know and expect this tactic from the elite govt types,…if at first you don’t succede,lie,lie again!
Lets all take a day to reflect,to be thankful,and to embrace an “attitude of gratitude” for all we do have,all the blessings and friends,family ect,all the liberties that we have,and then lets remember that certain folks out there want to destroy all we hold dear,then lets all give thanks to God and to each other for all of it and resolve to fight back twice as hard to ensure we pass along our heritage of liberty to our kids and grandkids forever.
Walter,to you and yours a very special Thanksgiving,and to all of you everywhere out there,thank you for all you are doing to preserve liberty,have a great holiday!
“Live free or die tryin”
Comment LEE — November 21, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
We confirmed with Joao Tavares at MDAR this week that the Department says it will honor the later deadline of December 15 for Massachusetts animal owners to opt out. NOFA/Mass will be posting our response shortly at: link
Comment Ben Grosscup — November 21, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
Dear Walter: If nothing else, I am learning to read between the lines where legal matters are concerned. The sentence where the letter states: “AT PRESENT, DAR is only asking for your participation in the premise ID component of NAIS.” What else in the future?
Also, the comment Renee made about already being in the system,… how can you opt out? It’s only a matter of time, with the next outbreak of avian, swine or otherwise flu before NAIS will return to mandatory. We have GOT to educate ourselves and inform everyone about the consequences of this and write to our politicians. If we do not, then we are guilty of doing nothing. Out of the many people that I have tried to explain this situation to, only a small handful have actually listened. Most apparently consider it too bizarre or not their problem to want to become involved.
On a personal note: I have run a home based business for more than 14 years. I have had a 3 X 4 foot sign hanging by the highway to advertise my business for those 14 years. Recently, the town that I live in wanted me to apply for a sign permit. I would not, because once you apply for a permit, the town/state has the right to reject your request. Nothing more has been said about it, but I suppose if push came to shove they could MAKE me apply or make me remove my sign.
Land of the FREE….
A site worth mentioning which concerns us ALOT is: www.spychips.com. WE’RE NEXT.
Comment Jo Smith — November 23, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Animal ID system opponents to meet.
Opponents of the USDA’s National Animal Identification System will be hosting a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in Diamond.
The meeting will focus on potential local effects of the program and past attempts to block the program’s implementation in Missouri
Members of the Property Rights Group will speak at the event, to be held at White’s Equine Sale Barn on Missouri 59 in Diamond.
Officials from the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and area state legislators also have been invited to speak, the group said in a press release.
For more information, call Bob Estep at 417-844-8406.
Comment famerscotty — November 24, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
FYI The Country Today newspaper had an article the Wis DATCP applied for hearings on the 14th to begin registering premise without the owners knowing about it. Mostly geared towards Amish and Mennonites according to the article. My premise renewal form had altered info on it claiming I have a game farm, this requires a liscence from the DNR. I have never registered my premise they did it for me. When I contacted the number on the form the person told me it was my fault the info was incorrect and that I would have to correct it. I have asked my state rep. who to file a legal complaint with as ACT 17 requires the contracted agent WLIC to maintain the necessary security as per state statute. To date no one has responded. They can break the laws but we can’t.
Comment Paul-Martin:Griepentrog — November 24, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
The connection and rationalization the the part of NAzIS leaders is easy to see — the states get paid for each premise they volunteer whether the person wanted to be signed up or not and once the premises is inside the system you can’t get out or not without a LOT of work so most people wont. Since the USDA henchmen are paying off the states based on enrollment numbers the states are given incentive to falsify their data and hand over people who don’t want to sign up. When corps do this sort of thing — opt in — it can get them in trouble. But our government gets to play dirty.
Comment Eric — November 27, 2007 @ 4:37 pm