As a whole Not Dabbling In Normal tries to stay away from all political and religious topics. However, there is one controversial topic we all decided we could break the “no writing about rules” for and that is NAIS. The National Animal Identification System. Below is a message that has come into my email from Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. Many of you probably know of NAIS and some of you, like me, will be immediately affected by it in the unfortunate event that NAIS becomes a reality. But even if you don’t own (and maybe never will own) livestock everyone will be affected by NAIS. Whether through bad policy, tax money or the opening the “door” of government monitoring of what we own (very communistic isn’t it??) we all stand to lose. This is in, its most insidious form, just government intrusion. In more optimistic terms it is nothing more than taxpayer welfare for corporations that don’t need it AND a worthless “device” to try and improve and protect our food supply—which unfortunately doesn’t look to me and many others as if it will work. Only those who will gain financially seem to think it will work and they some how have convinced our government officials of it (wonder how don’t you?!)
Hopefully all of you have contacted your representatives to tell them you disagree with NAIS and are against this government flim flam. Whether you did it by email (good), handwritten letter (better) or phone call (best) —we need to speak out and stop this travesty. And we need to do it more than once. Obviously we may need to do it 10 or 20 or even 30 or more times!
I will admit there are times I get tired of expressing my opinion to my representatives about this. Especially since mine seem to be very …ummmm…..unaware? Maybe gaining money from those who will benefit most so there for ignoring their voters who understand this topic (very few unfortunately)?? Whatever the reason there are times when the thought of typing, writing or calling one more time just makes me want to ….well…quit. But I don’t. And I never have believed in giving up— though sometimes I may falter. Hopefully you all will decide that you can give just a bit more time to try and defeat….once and for all…this stupid stupid plan.
If you have never contacted your representative before or written someone like Mr. Vilsack (see below) it is very easy. Just be polite (Dear Agricultural Secretary Vilsack)….to the point ( I completely disagree with NAIS with maybe a reason or two or three why) and sign with your name. If you like you can add your contact information (just your mailing info. only will do). The addition of a polite little sincerely down there works nicely too…and Voila! you are done.
If you want to call it doesn’t have to be an intensive interface unless you specifically ask for the assistant handling a particularly issue. You can just tell the person that answers “Please tell (fill in the name) that I disagree with NAIS and do not want the government to enact it in any way”. If you are more comfortable with the topic you can ask for the assistant who is handling it and discuss it with them. Hopefully you may even teach them a thing or two 🙂 However we contact them it is imperative to do so. And so as a small livestock owner I say in advance “Super Duper THANKS for your help!!”
Have a great week all and don’t forget to send your emails! (more information about Nais and its impact on individual producers is available at the
organic consumers web site)
Forward from Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance:
Last week, Secretary Vilsack held a round table in DC, inviting 29 organizations to present their views on the NAIS. More than a third of the organizations at the meeting opposed a mandatory program, showing a growing trend among a wide range of organizations to question NAIS. But some of those who claim to support a “voluntary” program agree with the use of coercive tactics, which we have already seen happen under the current so-called voluntary program. And multiple Big AG organizations, who have a lot of influence with USDA and Congress, still openly support a mandatory NAIS. So we have a tough fight in front of us.
At the round table, I opened FARFA’s comments by placing the issues in context: “Traceability is not a goal in and of itself. Animal health, food security, and food safety are the goals, and traceability is just one tool. NAIS will not get us to these goals.” My statement on behalf of FARFA focused on key points, such as:
- The lack of scientific support for the design of NAIS, from the 48-hour “goal” to the supposed need to trace every movement of every animal
- The critical differences between factory farms and small farms in animal management and, as a result, animal health and susceptibility to disease
- Food safety calls for “factory to fork” traceability, NOT “farm to fork”
- The importance of decentralizing our food supply. NAIS tries to substitute high tech solutions for the inherent safety that comes from diversity
- The real push behind NAIS – profits. For example, IBM recently took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to promote RFID tagging of food, and noted that one analyst predicts that 900 BILLION food items will be RFID tagged by 2015. Imagine the profits!
- The many other things, such as inspecting imports and testing for Mad Cow, that USDA should be doing to help reach the goals of animal health and food safety, instead of NAIS.
Secretary Vilsack took a lot of notes and briefly commented on the need to take some sort of action. He announced that there will be a series of regional listening sessions in the coming months, and that the USDA will be taking written comments as well. There is a lot of pressure in Congress for USDA to mandate NAIS, and the next few months will be a critical time in this fight. We will send out alerts as soon as we have more information.
The list of organizations that were at the meeting is as follows:
AGENDA
National Animal Identification System Roundtable Discussion
April 15, 2009, 9:00-11:30 am
• Moderator Welcome
• Secretary Vilsack’s Opening Remarks
• Participant Statements
Order of Speakers
1. Holstein Association USA: Adam Griffin, Manager of Dairy and ID Programs
2. National Turkey Federation: Michael Rybot, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
3. Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance: Judith McGeary, Executive Director
4. U.S. Animal Health Association: Don Hoenig, President
5. U.S. Cattlemen’s Association: Chuck Kiker, Region V Director
6. National Pork Producer’s Council: Neil Dierks, CEO (by phone)
7. American Sheep Industry: Glen Fisher, President (by phone)
8. National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association, Liz Reitzig, Secretary
9. American Meat Institute: Patrick Boyle, President and CEO
10. North American Elk Breeders Association: Joel Espe, President
11. United Egg Producers: Howard Magwire, VP of Government Relations
12. R-CALF: Bill Bullard, CEO
13. American Horse Council: Jay Hickey, President
14. Livestock Marketing Association: Nancy Robinson, VP Government and Industry Affairs
15. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture: Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of
Agriculture
BREAK
16. National Chicken Council: George Watts, President
17. American Farm Bureau Federation: Mary Kay Thatcher, Public Policy Director for
Commodities and Livestock
18. NoNAIS: Walter Jeffries, Founder (by phone)
19. National Bison Association: Lance Cook (by phone)
20. Western Organization of Resource Councils: Gilles Stockton, Representative of Northern
Plans Resource Council and Chair of WORC Trade Team
21. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: Collin Woodall, Executive Director of Legislative
Affairs
22. American Quarter Horse Association: Billy Smith Executive Director of Information
Technology, co-chair of the Equine Species Working Group
23. National Livestock Producer’s Association: James Cook, President
24. National Farmer’s Union: Roger Johnson, President
25. American Veterinary Medical Association: James Cook, President
26. Public Lands Council: Jeff Eisenberg, Executive Director
27. National Renderer’s Association: Tom Cook, President
28. National Meat Association: Barry Carpenter, CEO and Executive Director
29. National Milk Producers’ Federation: Jerry Kozack, CEO and President
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Not Dabbling In Normal 
I’m pretty mixed on my feelings about NAIS. Some of the supporters are people who think that this is going to be the saving grace of Puppy Mills, rather than the doom of a small holder who has a few meat animals. In some ways, I think that misunderstanding is perpetuated in order to gain any support at all.
While the concept of holding those who factory farm accountable for the negative that happens to animals on their way to becoming food is nice and it is even nicer to think bad or tainted food can be more quickly traced, the burden on anyone who owns an animal that can be used as a source of food is onerous.
I just emailed the ag secretary (for the first time) and my congressman (again.) It really is discouraging when no one is listening. But giving up certainly isn’t going to help.
What is that quote about people who give up freedom for safety deserve neither?
ChristyACB…I think you misunderstand NAIS. It is in no way meant to hold anyone accountable for the treatment (good or bad) of any animal. This is exclusively to monitor disease such as Foot and Mouth (all livestock), Scrapies (sheep and goats), Mad Cow disease etc etc. This is ONLY to protect the export market…nothing more. Any area that is found with any of these diseases (plus some others I did not list) will immediately have ALL animals killed within a 10 mile radius (approximately) from the initial animal that is found. –whether or not those animals are sick or have even been exposed is not considered relevant.
Beyond that…government tracking of food exposes us in the long run to corrupt government officials and control of the people. No food—no freedom. People that are hungry are much much easier to control and get to do what someone in control wants them too. Just promise them food for their families and you have them. What will your neighbor do to feed his/her starving children??
Cassandra….That quote? I absolutely agree with you and it. I tell my mother that all the time to her annoyance. She is one of the people willing to give up freedoms to keep her loved ones “safe”. Something we argue about quite vehemently at times. Oh yes…thanks for emailing because it IS so discouraging at times. Makes me want to bang my head on the wall some days 😀
What a good reminder! Jack was sitting here with me as we read this article and he has very strong convictions about the manipulation of the food supply by any government, since he personally experienced this firsthand when Castro came to power in Cuba in Jack’s childhood. One of the first things Castro did, under whatever propaganda guise, was to take control away from the small farmers and small landowners, not just the rich people, and seize or destroy their animals and produce because historically the citizens who are somewhat independent in providing for themselves, to whatever degree, are the very people most reluctant to hand over their freedoms to do so easily. Totalitarian regimes consider people who want to maintain freedom of their own personal choices, ESPECIALLY self-sufficiency in any shape or form, a threat…because these are the “unpredictable” people who are used to providing for themselves and thinking for themselves rather than opting for a “Nanny State” or “Big Brother” to take care of them. When Castro came to power, he promised safety and plenty, but registered ALL farms, businesses, houses, and animal or agricultural crops/products. Registering this data was a tool of control. It was not long before Castro took away the animals of small farmers or families, “for the common good,” as well as their property (even folks with just a chicken or two). He also used a rationing system and the deprivation of food to punish groups of people considered a “threat” to “national security” in order to ostracize them and manipulate them via their entire family or social network in what amounted to forced starvation. And of course this was for “safety” and “the good of the whole” and for anyone to suggest otherwise or protest meant you were plotting rebellion against the “peace & common good” he promoted. The propaganda operated on fear…fear of castigation, lack of food, lack of safety, being a rebel. The WORDS were sanitized, but they manipulated FACTS in order to call into question anyone with a dissenting opinion/conviction to be considered a threat. Fear, and relinquishing individual responsibility in order to opt for the “protection of the government,” is THE predominant tool behind all those controls…and selling that fear is how governments become no longer OF and BY the people/citizens.
If this sounds far-fetched, or not like something that could happen in this country, keep in mind this is not ancient history, (it’s happening now in many places worldwide, and has happened in my husband’s lifetime) and it’s also something our forbears came to our country to escape. Not just to escape, but to have the power of their own decision-making restored to them, and their own responsibility for their decisions and survival. Jack and I are very worried about the wholesale dilution of our fundamental freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution, and the seeming indifference so many Americans seem to have as these foundation stones are more and more conveniently bypassed in the name of many things, which below the surface, prove to be just so much more modern propaganda…and are sold to the public using FEAR as the method. There is some risk in our being responsible for our own decisions. But that is characteristic of freedom. The alternative is the APPEARANCE of no risk, and handing all control to someone else.
Sorry to run long 🙂
Robbyn and Jack 🙂
Excellent comment Robbyn! Thank you for sharing your husbands memories and I am glad you decided to “run long” 😀 Everyone needs to understand that food IS security and it is the main main main way to control people. Kill it, burn it, tear it up and tromp it down—then what will the people do? Possibly whatever the government wants so their loved ones don’t starve to death or get killed.