Rob Usakowski(277) Three Little Ladies Rabbitry Log in to become a member of Rob Usakowski's Fan Club!
I am resolved to the fact that government legislation will continue to erode away at our freedoms. Government likes to paint itself as the lamb, but usually is the wolf. It’s the rules of necessity to protect us from certain harm. Take for instance the latest hot topic in farming, NAIS, National Animal Identification System.
The NAIS is a government created animal identification and tracking system created under the auspices of protecting the food chain from such things as mad cow disease. Their plan is to require every horse, cow, pig, goat, sheep, llama, chicken, and pigeon to be micro chipped, every owner to be registered, and track every movement of these animals. It is already being implemented, and will be mandatory by 2008. The claim is that they will be able to trace back the location of any contaminated animal within 48 hours to stop the outbreaks of potential diseases.
Look again at the list of animals currently listed as part of this legislation remember this is designed to protect the “food chain." Did you notice anything odd as I did? When was the last time you had one of those horse burgers? Horses are not raised for human consumption in the United States in fact, it is actually against the law in many states. How about those llama steaks? Llamas and alpacas are raised for their wool, not for meat. Seems odd to me that legislation designed to protect the food chain, would require participation from non food animals.
I prefer not to have my personal information available for others to misuse. I am often asked for my social security number and will not place it on many documents, and refuse to give it in many situations. As an animal raiser you will be required to register your premises, including much of your personal information. The USDA website states that because of the Freedom of Information Act this information will not be kept private. Any extremist animal rights group will have access to your personal information, as will many others with a potential to misuse your information, so much for privacy.
In considering the food chain, the easiest way to achieve 48 hour trace ability, is to have local farmers sell directly to consumers. Any one that purchases from me, can tell authorities within 30 seconds where they purchased their animal. In fact if there are any issues with my animals it will affect my small herd and no one else’s. The necessity to include the local farmer or homesteader in this legislation is ridiculous. There is even some debate about how this applies to those that raise food for their own consumption. Many experts believe that they too will be required to register.
The costs associated with this program will have a huge impact on everyone. You may not be a farmer, you may not raise cattle, but you will be affected by this legislation. Again in reviewing the USDA website, they make it clear that the cost of this program will be passed on to the animal owner. The farmer will have to pay for their own compliance. They will have to pay for the microchips they will have to pay for meeting all the paperwork requirements. More than likely this will force local farmers and small homesteaders out of the production of their animals. As it is they make little or no money. Don’t expect large scale producers to absorb that cost out of the goodness of their heart. They will pass that expense on to every consumer. The price of meats, eggs and milk will certainly see large increases to meet the costs associated with this program.
Under the regulations of the NAIS, every animal movement must be reported to the US Government. Every time an animal is born, every time an animal dies, every time you take an animal to a show, every time you decide to eat one of your own cattle, etc. must be reported. Since horses are included in this legislation, every time you take your horse out for a ride, you must let Uncle Sam know. In fact those running animal shows such as horse shows will also be required to report the animals shown to the USDA.
Cattle farmers already have in place a way of identifying their animals. Many other animal raisers have their form of identification already in place. The USDA will tell you that on their website. So why is it necessary for them to create a government managed system? It must be because the government feels and can do a much better job than those actually in the industry. Of course we’ve seen how great the government is at managing our resources like social security.
So will the ability of the USDA to track these animals really reduce the risks of food illness and contamination? Historically most meat recalls happen not because some local farmer had issues at his farm, but because a large scale meat packing facility contaminated the meat. Often contamination occurs because of improper handling of fecal matter. However, those meat packing facilities are unlikely to assume responsibility. Only one cow has entered the United States with mad cow disease. That animal was quickly destroyed. However panic was set off about the disease by reports like this UPI report declaring that hundreds of cases probably existed in the US http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=20040630-042354-9787r of which many would go undetected. In fact only one US resident has contracted mad cow, and she was in England when she contracted the human form of the disease. I don’t know how much better the US government thinks it can do than what our cattle raisers have already done. This legislation does nothing but increase costs, and centralize and increase the size of our already over inflated government. It removes more of our freedoms, and brings us closer to complete government control of our food supply.
Many rabbit owners, buffalo breeders and elk herders will rejoice that their animals are not on the list. Don’t sit still for too long. The NAIS is looking to expand its authority and certainly some of these animals will be included in future legislation.
Most of all, take some course of action and then stay informed. Don’t be complacent about these types of matters. Your own apathy will result in lost freedoms for yourself, your family, and our country. Join the Yahoo Group Americans Against Animal ID, and watch the web site http://www.stopanimalid.org for the latest information.
Rob Usakowski is owner of Three Little Ladies Rabbitry which is run by his
» left by DeEtte Fenske from San Jose, CA (2 years 313 days ago.)
They started with IDChips for dogs, cats and vehicles, now food animals. The government also recommends IDchips for children in case they get lost or abducted. I firmly believe this is all a precursor to a world whip, mandatory chip for lhumans. 666? Respond to this comment
» left by Em from Canada (2 years 253 days ago.)
Good job, well written and researched, with lots of contacts and links. EM Respond to this comment
» left by Sue Diederich from IL (174 days 16 hours ago.)
Unfortunately, since this article was written, the list has grown to 29 species, and includes elk, deer, buffalo and rabbits.
Originally the program was to become mandatory at the 30% compliance rate. Today that rate reached 32.4. In fact, some states have better than 100% compliance according to the USDA website.
Then, it was to be voluntary at the federal level. Today Secy Schafer from the USDA stated basically that if they don't get voluntary 100% compliance, the Congress is ready to make the program law and make 100% compliance mandatory (Meating Place).
This is NOT a voluntary program. First, 4 states (WI, IN, MI, TX) have made it mandatory already at the state level.
In states such as IL where our legislation (HB5776) is stalled at least until the fall veto session, it is pseudo-voluntary. You cannot get a CVI or testing without a premise ID, no processor that handles pork will process your animal of any species without a premise ID. IDOA made a ruling making premise ID mandatory to show in our fairs, but we managed to force them into rescinding that. The same thing is happening in CO and several other states.
Only 4 states that I know of currently have laws on their books to keep NAIS voluntary in their states (MO, KY, AZ and NE).
Originally the program was supposed to become mandatory at the 30% compliance rate, then it was January 2009, now (today) according to Secy Schafer, Congress wants to make it mandatory ASAP. Also today, the official stats at the USDA claim a 32.4% compliance across the nation.
This is NOT a free program, though registering your premise is, at this point, free. Free To Farm has a cost sheet that I would encourage everyone to use. If you are not farming on the industrial model, your costs - just for implementing the program - are going to more than double.
After that, you will face fees for every update to the system. Further, there is some rumor about maintenance fees as well. Private databases may charge as they wish. The USDA has set no amounts. (They have not even done a cost analysis.)
There are currently two lawsuits in preparation against this program. The USDA and Michigan DOA have been issued a formal Notice to Sue by the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. (Link below) 25 exhaustive pages covering everything except the issue of defining terms. The other suit was filed by Mary Zanoni.
Remember, as the cost to the farmer goes up, the cost to the consumer rises at least as much. That coupled with current fuel prices (which have already raised the cost of food by over 40% since this January), and we are talking from 6 to 10 times more than we currently spend if this program goes through.
If you value your ability to choose the food you put on your table, the ability to pay for it, your choice of livelihood and the United States Constitution: Please educate yourself on this program, and then become active in whatever way you choose.
Please check out the following: The Meating Place, Free to Farm, NAIS Sucks, NAIS Info Central, No NAIS (dot org), Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (or your state's version thereof) and the USDA, FDA and NIAA. Respond to this comment
Here’s a good analogy to explain NAIS to those who do not own animals. … Suppose I had a monster corporation, selling cars all over the world, and I wanted to show the world my clunkers have no mechanical problems, but I know they do. Gotta hide those lemons, blame them on someone else. So I write a business plan on how to show these cars are the best and run great, and arrange to have my plan made a law. As camouflage I add YOU to my plan, because you own a vehicle. No, it’s not one I made, but it IS a vehicle.
According to the new law (did I remember to tell you it’s MY law?), I get to build my cars, buy them, sell them and take them anywhere I want with very few restrictions. YOU, on the other hand, are loaded down with requirements. You must report to the government every place you go, and to microchip your car. I can make money off the microchip, too. (Check out who makes money from microchips that NAIS will be requiring.) Of course, my plan will have regulations that my corporation has to follow, too, but since I have so many cars, I get to make the rules and get special considerations so that I don’t have to spend a lot of money and effort reporting to the government. I even get to own the data base that tracks your car and you have to pay me money to track it! To make everything sound green and helpful, I’ll add to my plan a sweet cover story that forcing YOU to follow all the rules in MY plan will somehow help save the environment. Get it now?
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Thursday, January 12, 2006 View other articles written by Rob Usakowski(277)
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