National Animal Identification System

[Horse Feathers]

USDA is scrapping the National Animal Identification System and instead will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability.

http: //www.agweb.com/get_article.aspx?src=gennews&pageid=155857

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Yay!

 

[ruffian]

About time they smartened up!

 

[HGFarm]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[muffntuf]

Don't celebrate too much guys - they are redesigning the program and they have pumped umteen millions into each state and are leaning on the states to stay with the program! The new estimated cost is over $5500 for a farm with 10 or more animals for a start up cost.

Don't let rose colored glasses become fixture.

BUT - if we keep up the fight, they will give in eventually!

Attached is the USDA's fact sheet that I copied so I could highlight key points and make comments. A whole lot of double talk and note they will STILL be able to fund the states. I know for a fact they have money left over from previous years but am not sure exactly how much but it is somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 billion.

We will have to watch our state Ag Depts and the Federal Register closely for months, if not the entire year.

This might actually be OK if Vilsack could terminate Hammerschmidt, Weimers, et al. I have learned via the school of hard knocks that these men are not to be trusted AT ALL. If they are given any leeway to run this program again we will be right back where we started. Hopefully Vilsack realizes they have been the biggest problem and will put the fear of God into them.

This is also rather interesting about the USDA's 2011 budget: USDA's 2011 Budget

In a nutshell, any of us who shows, ships or sells across state lines will have to participate in this program, whatever it ends up to be.

 

[muffntuf]

Here is some more fuel for this - I figured they would now get the AVMA to endorse traceability.

AVMA Calls For Stronger Animal Illness Traceability

Cattle Network

 

[Aristocratic Minis]

NO! It is not over at all. What is different is the name and how it will be administered.

The new name of the program is "Animal Disease Traceability." The old NAIS website has been changed to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/

From the website above, the new explanation of the program is:

"The framework will provide the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States. USDA’s efforts will:

• Only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce;
• Be administered by the States and Tribal Nations to provide more flexibility;
• Encourage the use of lower-cost technology; and
• Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process. "

Now, that "transparently" bit gives me pause because of other recent issues - Ahem...
Coggins testing will likely become a national form of recording rather than by states.

This is NOT going to go away. States will want the federal dollars to enforce it. Plus, the microchip companies and software companies to manage all the recording of chips have reportably given huge amounts of money to the campaign accounts of the House and Senate Ag Committee members for re-election - especially to those members who support the program.

So, don't let your guard down for a minute. Watch what is going on in Washington.

 

[JWC sr.]

It is a classic case of bigger and more government intervention into our lives every day.

It seems these folks in the different administrations - local, state and federal have ceased to understand that their need to justify the existence of their individual jobs, does not constitute the need for more and more laws/regulations for the general horse community.

Vigilance and dogged determination not to allow them to control anymore of our ability to keep and enjoy our horses is paramount. Most of the time, you can follow the money trail and find out what these type regulations are really about, like making more money for the vets in this case.

 

[Miniv]

This is why when one doesn't return the annual AG survey you get threatoning letters AND pushy phone calls. It is BIG BROTHER knocking.....

And if the vets think this is going to bring in more money, they are in for a rude awakening as this all will probably force more and more people to get rid of their animals!

 

[Shari]

Like others have said, its not going away. They are just changing the name and going more underground, that way people don't know who they have to fight.

We are slowly slipping into becoming a communist country and the way things are going with all these un-voted on, New laws... Big business and Gov are coming in from every angle to take our rights away. The Constitution doesn't mean much any more.

 

[muffntuf]

Thanks for posting that APHIS, I was just going to post it too.

FOLKS - THIS IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS under so many amendments, its not funny. PLEASE, PLEASE contact your federal and state (since they are trying to shift much of the responsibility onto the states now) senators and represenatatives and TELL them the NEW NAME, so they too will know it is being painted over with a new name and to still vote against this!!!!!

Google your senator's and representatives and then contact them.

 

[muffntuf]

Here is an update shared with me:

From Darol Dickinson. Well worth watching. If the video does not come through, it may be found here: Senator Mike Johanns speaks of his past

Editor's Note: Past Sec. of Agriculture, now Senator Mike Johanns was the chief NAIS enforcer fighting for a mandatory NAIS just a couple years ago. He was charged with cutting the first deals with Farm Bureau, the Holstein Assn USA Inc, National Pork Producers Council, Indian tribes, the American Angus Assn and every state department of agriculture, providing "grants" to enroll their producer's premises in NAIS -- over one hundred million dollars.

His repentant pleadings and demands for the complete death of NAIS is clear. Seldom does a Senator define their views with this detail and clarity.

Now, for the first time, his presentation is the exact position of the US livestock producer. Finally, a clear defined true picture is offered by a USDA insider who promoted NAIS with his whole heart, then with no notice, resigned, realizing NAIS was devastating to USDA and the producer. This is the voice of experience.

We compliment Senator Johanns for his honesty, at this time.