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[Just Us N Texas]

-----Original Message-----

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Sent: Thu, Jun 18, 2009 11:31 pm

Subject: [naisfromtheshorsesmouth] Animal ID Recommendations to Wait for Listening Sessions

OK folks - read it and TAKE ACTION! Attend a listening session if at all

humanly possible but even more important, PLEASE COMMENT on the Federal

Register if you have not done so already. Here is the link again for the

Federal Register:

_http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0027_

(http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0027) We have a truly pathetic 308

comments on there when we had over 9000 for the last NAIS document. I hate

to sound like a broken record but if people don't wake up and voice their

opinion, we are going to end up with a MANDATORY NAIS for sure!

Complaining on the various lists is fine but that does NOT get the message to the

USDA!

If you need help navigating the Federal Register system, e-mail me off list

and I will be more than glad to walk you through the process.

Karen

_http://tinyurl.com/ngwtdp_ (http://tinyurl.com/ngwtdp)

Animal ID Recommendations to Wait for Listening Sessions

(http://www.farmfutures.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=CD26BEDECA4A4946A1283CC7786AEB5A&nm=News&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&id=92

7D233D21124DD291147B321A000C01&Title=Animal+ID+Recommendations+to+Wait+for+L

istening+Sessions&tier=4) Ag secretary says concerns on Capitol Hill to

be answered with specific recommendations. (6/18/2009) Willie Vogt

The National Animal Identification System is under fire with a recent U.S.

House Appropriations committee recommending the end to funding the

program. Is the program on the road to an end? Hard to say, but during a

conference call on Wednesday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, notes there's more work

ahead.

Vilsack notes that NAIS is "work in progress and a work in process." He

adds that he has indicated to farmers during listening sessions around the

country that there are concerns on Capitol Hill about the effectiveness of

the system. With less than 35% of premises identified, the issue is getting

added attention.

"The action [on funding] by the committee shows that the concern is true,"

Vilsack notes. "We just extended the number of listening sessions because

states requested that we hear their suggestions for improvements to the

system."

USDA wants to make recommendations to improve the system, but Vilsack says

there's more work to be done. "We want to give the listening sessions

process its full measure of consideration," he says. "Then we will come up with

a set of suggestions that would improve participations, but I can't tell

you what those recommendations would be."

If a listening session is headed your way, plan on attending.

*************

 

[LAZY J MINIS]

PLEASE UPDATE ME AS TO WHAT NAIS IS. I KNOW IM GETTING SLOW,BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE MISSED ANY OF THIS.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

NAIS is the national animal identification system, a means to track locations of every animal or group of animals (livestock, mostly) in the country. The idea behind it is to match other country's beef production requirements, which requires trackable information regarding animal's path through the meat process, so if disease is found contaminated meat products and farms can be identified and removed from the food chain immediately. The concept is sound and quite important.

Where people get upset is the government including horses and pleasure animals in the system as well, and making it nation-wide mandatory. The goal is to identify and track ALL horse movement in the country, from trail rides to shows to vet visits and everywhere inbetween. Think of the paperwork, intrusion of government officials, etc. There are ways to check health which I'd support, and identification means I'd support, but NAIS as currently described is not at all what I'd support.

 

[LAZY J MINIS]

THANKS, THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS,BUT WASN'T SURE/

 

[Just Us N Texas]

It will not only track your horses, but you will have to have permission to move them from one farm to another, trail rides, shows, etc. Think of all the added costs. It will also track your chickens, even if they are just yard pets, your donkeys, anything that is an animal will have to be identified, tagged, etc., etc., and if a problem breaks, they can destroy your animals, or anyone's animals within a certain radius. Scary as hello to me!

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

I've read the whole proposal and I've never seen anything about permission? Just tracking...

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Maybe permission was a little strong. You must report any movement of your animal within 24 hours. You must contact officials whether you take your horse on a trail ride off your property or to the vet, or a show or whatever. However it is phrased, it means you no longer have the freedom you now have.