The following is one of the basic letters I sent to Washington.

Without question, it is critical that our nation assure a safe food supply.  However, I do not believe creating and funding a USDA program to collect data and enforce the program is the correct approach.  I am a producer and I have many friends and neighbors who are in the farming and ranching business.  Their concerns along with my own prompted me to write this letter.  

Specifically, here are my concerns:

This program, if funded, will do nothing more than create another government bureaucracy that can be better handled by the private sector.

The program appears to be aimed at identifying every domestic animal resulting in an intrusion of fundamental private property rights.

The added expense of the program will have devastating consequences to small producers in Oklahoma and across the nation.  (As you well know, the margin on cattle is slim under the best of circumstances, and this identification program will cause an even further hardship).

This USDA program cannot work on the "honor system." The result will likely be that only licensed veterinarians or a licensed agent will have to physically "tag" every animal.  (Farm calls to such individuals are expensive!)  

Requirements of transporting animals from one location to another are unworkable--especially when considering how many producers breed or show their stock-not to mention the penalty fee structure for non-compliance.

I have no question that this identification program will allow faster computerized sorting of animals, such as cattle at a sales barn. However, an unintended consequence of faster sorting is a larger number of animals in a more concentrated area and will not solve the problem of disease outbreak once larger numbers of animals are crowded into the processing system. At best, this identification system will only allow an animal to be tracked back-at best, and at worst could very well result in future administrations controlling landowners.

I trust that you agree with me that the private sector and market forces can and do a much better job than any new bureaucracy as evidenced by many bureaucratic track records.  

Please hold firm in denying a federal appropriation to fund this electronic identification system.

 

Protect Traditional Rights to Farm

Just say No to NAIS!

http://www.nonais.org/ 

What is NAIS? NAIS is the USDA's National Animal Identification System Draft Strategic Plan to let the government track the births, deaths, co-mingling and all movements of all livestock in the United States.

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/about/

pdf/NAIS_Draft_Strategic_Plan_42505.pdf

Which animals are covered? Currently horses, cattle, goats, poultry (chickens, ducks, etc), sheep, swine, alpacas, llamas, bison, deer and elk. NAIS is not limited to these animals and may also be extended to include dogs, rabbits & other animals. See: http://nonais.org/index.php/2006/02/18/

Who must participate? Anyone with any animal from the above current list, or future amendments to that list, will be required to obtain the 7-digit Premise ID Number (PIN). NAIS is being applied down to the backyard level. The owner of a pet Potbelly pig will be subject to the same regulations as the factory farm with 20,000 hens on the premises. There will be no exceptions, and the anticipated fine is $1,000 per incident per day for non-compliance.

How will the beasts be numbered? Each animal will be assigned a unique 15-digit Animal Identification Number. Different species will be tagged in different ways. For example: injected Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) micro-chips, RFID button tags, RFID SwifTacs tags and RFID ear tags at a cost of about $3 to $20 per animal. Large producers will be able to use one ID number for tens of thousands of animals while most small farmers, homesteaders & pet owners must tag each individual animal and report individual events.

What 'events' must we report? Any change of ownership; co- mingling of animals owned by different entities; movement of animals off of a premise; movement of animals onto a premise are some of the events. This includes buying, selling, trips to the vet, going to breed or bringing in a stud, trail rides, 4-H meetings, road trips, shows & travel on a public road.

How must we report? Events must be reported within 24 hours by telephone or by computer via the Internet. There is no mail or paper option.

Why are they doing this? NAIS began as way to open up foreign meat markets, like Japan, for the large beef exporters. Later the USDA changed the stated justification for NAIS to be one of preventing disease. BSE (Mad Cow Disease) is the primary excuse given by the USDA for NAIS. Other excuses are Avian Bird Flu (H5N1), Exotic New Castles Disease and Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD). Recently they have given the justification of tracing food back to the farm in case of potential liability issues for food born illness.

Will NAIS prevent disease? No. In fact the government states quite

clearly in this document http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/bsefaq.html that

no additional programs are needed. Bird flu is primarily a problem of the mono-genetic factory farms - NAIS will have no effect. Biodiversity and natural pasture raised birds who have better immunity are the solution. Exotic New Castles was caused by illegally imported illegal fighting cocks NAIS will not stop it - better import controls are the solution. Foot & Mouth is not an issue in this country, there is already a program to handle it and FMD is transmitted by dust in the air, so NAIS will not help because NAIS tracks animal co-mingling. The reality is that virtually all food contamination happens after the farm, when the animals are slaughtered at the processing plant or later. NAIS does nothing for that. The best protections would be for the USDA to do its job of properly inspecting processing plants rather than making up complex and costly new regulations that will be impossible to enforce. The USDA should enforce its ban on feeding cows to cows which is the cause of Mad Cow Disease and enforce a strict

quarantine of imported animals - all under existing laws and regulations.

What is the cost of NAIS? The federal government is already spending $50 million per year on NAIS, prior to implementation. States and animal owners are expected to foot the bill for the vast majority of the cost. These costs will be passed on to consumers. Studies show the real cost at over $15 billion per year - a new tax on food. http://nonais.org/index.php/2006/02/19/

Amendments 1, 4, 5 and 14 of the United States Constitution. In 2001, after 9/11, Congress gave the government enormous new powers in the form of the Patriot Act which is up for renewal in 2006. Supporters of NAIS used this to draft a plan for invasive micro-management of all animals in the United States. The Patriot Act, PAWS, REAL ID and NAIS strip Americans of fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It gives the government the power to invade our homes and take our property without warrants or any legal appeal.

Horse owners? Must report all movement of horses including trail rides, parades shows, equiestrian events, riding on public roads and every entry and exit from a property, within 24 hours. Reports include the 15 digit animal ID of each horse plus the 7 digit premise ID of each property crossed on the ride.

4-H, FFA & pet owners? Parents of children in 4-H, FFA and owners of pet livestock will be treated as farmers, required to register their home for a Premise ID with the associated annual fees, tag costs, filing fees, tracking of all animal events and fines. Failure by a child to comply will result in fines.

Consumers? Consumers will see a loss of choice, smaller selection and higher prices as farmers pass on the costs of NAIS and many farms go out of business. They already operate on thin margins and can not handle the added costs. This will concentrate control of our food supply into the hands of fewer and fewer larger corporations who'll raise prices as they gain monopoly power.

Vegetarians & Gardeners? Virtually all of the animal manures used to grow quality vegetables, especially organic ones, come from small farms. Suitable manure is already in short supply. You do not want to grow organic or healthy vegetables in the contaminated septic output from factory farms with their antibiotic, chemical wormers and arsenic laced feeds. As small farms are lost, the price of manure will increase raising vegetable prices for everyone.

Big Agri-businesses? The big meat producers are the big winners. They expect a surge in profits from meat exports to foreign markets. Maybe they'll get it. Maybe not. Recently Japan reopened their market to American beef, after two years of banning it, only to quickly reclose it after spinal tissue was discovered in meat due to faulty processing at a slaughter house in the USA. This is not an issue with farms, it is a processor error and NAIS will not help with that at all.

Terrorists? Terrorists will be delighted to have larger targets. They want a high body count for their efforts. Hitting a small farm is not impressive and does not affect very many people. A factory farm with 100,000 animals is a hot target!

What can I do to help? Write your state and federal legislators about

NAIS. Write letters your local newspapers, talk to your friends and neighbors.  http://nonais.org/index.php/what-can-i-do-to-help/

Help spread the word about NAIS. Download this handout and pass it around: http://nonais.org/handout  Download this NoNAIS Poster and put it up on bulletin boards: http://nonais.org/poster

NoNAIS.org / Sugar Mountain Farm

West Topsham, Vermont 05086

WHY: To establish the animal information system we need to support our animal disease control, eradication, monitoring and surveillance programs.

GOAL: The goal of the National Animal Identification System is to have the capability to identify all animals and premises that had direct contact with a foreign animal disease (FAD) within 48 hours after discovery.

FOUR KEY DATA ELEMENTS:
1. A uniform premises identification system;
2. A uniform and nationally recognized individual animal numbering system;
3. A uniform and nationally recognized numbering system for groups or lots of animals;
4. A uniform numbering system for non-producer participants (such as tag distributors, animal health officials, labs, etc)

WHAT IS FIRST? The first priority is to establish the national premises system in 2004. The premises identification is a “must have” to track livestock movements. The format will be a unique 7-character number where the right most character will be a check digit.

WHAT IS NEXT? Individual animal identification is the next step; the country code will be a 3 digit numeric code, which will be followed by a 12 digit animal number. When applicable a Group/Lot of Animals will be identified when the entire group moves through the production chain as one unit. This number will be the premise ID number followed by the date the group was created.

CURRENT STATUS AND INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION STEPS: The system is an enormous undertaking. Steps are being taken to ensure it is functional, practical and reliable. Initially, it will be voluntary. Cattle are the first priority, but the system will eventually focus on all livestock.

CURRENT STATUS AND INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION STEPS: $18.8 million will fund the development and implementation of an animal ID system in selected areas of the United States.

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE RECEIVING A GRANT TO BEGIN A PILOT PROJECT TO IMPLIMENT PREMISES AND ANIMAL ID PROGRAMS.

PRIORITIES FOR 2004-2005:

1. Inform producers, marketers and processors on premises and livestock number systems, technologies needed, and other aspects of the program.

2. Design solutions for premises ID number allocator, state premises ID system and national premises repository.

3. Integrate third party private industry and trade associations into the national system.

4. Through National Species Working Groups, identify production practice obstacles and issues that may impact animal ID for individual species.

5. Provide appropriate solutions, which support and direct the implementation of animal ID.

6. Plan to continue cooperative agreements so as to expand initial implementation and facilitate tracking of animal movements.

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY, ANIMAL INDUSTRY SERVICES is currently implementing our pilot program for the National Premise Identification System. Watch this web site further official Oklahoma Premise and Animal ID information.

WHY PREMISES REGISTRATION?

Premises Registration is the first step…
Premises registration is the first step you can take to protect your investment in Oklahoma’s livestock industry. A database of locations where livestock are produced, raised and kept, will aid animal health officials. A system with proper trace back and trace forward capabilities provides timely response to minimize the economic impact in the event of an animal disease outbreak. The discovery of BSE in the U.S. has emphasized the need for a 48-hour trace back system.

Provides basis for the National Animal Identification System…
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is implementing the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in Oklahoma. The NAIS is comprised of three major steps: premises registration, animal identification and animal tracking. Premises Registration is the foundation for a national animal ID trace back system. Registering your premises or location does not obligate you to participate in the animal ID phase of the plan, however you must register your premises in order to participate in animal ID phase.

Protects your industry…
There is no better time to register your livestock premises, whether it is a farm, a production site, a feed yard, or a livestock market. Registering your premises does not increase your liability; instead it actually provides you with a level of protection for your investments. Also, your information will be kept private in a secure database. You hold control of your personal information by establishing your own user name and password.

Each premises registration brings us closer…
Each premises registration brings us closer to the day when Oklahoma’s livestock industry will be prepared to respond within 48 hours in the event of an animal disease outbreak.