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  Discussion on NAIS-National Animal Identification System
Author Message
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 12:59 pm:

I've been following many discussions and watching a few grassroots movements on this. I find it all very disturbing to say the least. There are many articles out there that are good, but i felt this one is the most comprehensive and explains what it is, what it will do, and how YOU are affected. And Why its important to know all about it. Nais is going to be another arm of Big brother.

I hope i put this in the right place. Dr. O move it if you think it needs to go somewhere else.



WESTON A. PRICE FOUNDATION
INFORMATION ALERT
March 20, 2006

I am forwarding to you an article I wrote for the upcoming Wise
Traditions Journal (Winter 2005/Spring 2006) on the National Animal
Identication System (NAIS). There has been an extraordinary amount
of interest in this USDA instituted program. So, I thought it
prudent to provide a heads up before the Journal was sent to you
(currently being printed in a new format with a flat binding). The
Foundation is working closely with member Judith McGeary in Texas
and Mary Zanoni (Farm for Life) in New York as well as others on
this very critical issue. At the end of the article is a list of
resources for voicing your opinion on NAIS.


THE NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (NAIS)
by Bill Sanda, Executive Director

The development of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created enormous
controversy across the country over the past year. Some see such a
system as a means to track and identify outbreaks in livestock of
various diseases such as brucellosis, E. coli variants, salmonella
and mad cow disease in a quick and efficient manner, while others
see this as an encroachment on their civil liberties and privacy as
well as an attempt to seal the fate of small- to moderate-sized
farms and ranches.

CORPORATE SUPPORT
NAIS has been gaining support in agribusiness as a method for
sourcing the origins of mad cow disease or possible terrorist
biological attacks on U.S. livestock. Opponents point out the plan
was drawn up by corporations like Monsanto, the National Pork
Producers, National Cattlemens Beef Association, and Cargill Meat.
It would require all owners of even a single farm animal to register
their home with a national tracking system, including global
positioning coordinates (for satellite tracking) and implant or tag
every animal with a radio frequency device (RFID). Large-scale
livestock producers say NAIS would help them control outbreaks of
disease by allowing individual animals to be tracked to their
origins. Small-scale farmers say the registration fees, RFID
expenses and administrative bureaucracy of the system would drive
them out of business.

According to the timelines presented in USDA's NAIS website (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625045 ), the program is to
be implemented in full by January 2009 with premise registration and
animal identification mandatory by January 2008. However, according
to NAIS head Neil Hammerschmidt, the implementation dates may be
delayed.

WHAT IS NAIS?

The National Animal Identification System, which the USDA is
currently in the process of implementing, is intended to identify
animals and poultry and record their movements over the course of
their lifespans, as well as track them as they come into contact
with, or commingle with, animals other than herd mates from their
premises of origin. According to the USDA, the ultimate goal of the
program is to create a uniform national animal tracking system that
will help maintain the health of U.S. herds and flocks. By January
2009, when the program is intended to be fully implemented and
become fully mandatory, the USDA expects that NAIS will be able to
identify all premises and animals that have had direct contact with
a foreign animal disease or a domestic disease of concern within 48
hours of discovery.

Currently, working groups comprised of industry and government
representatives are developing plans for cattle, pigs, sheep, goats,
horses, poultry, bison, deer, elk, llamas and alpacas. Many of these
animals can already be identified through some sort of
identification system, but these systems are not consistent across
the country, according to the USDA.

NAIS began to take shape in April, 2002 when the National Institute
for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) established a task force to create an
animal identification plan. USDA's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) and over 30 livestock organizations
participated in this task force. The final report was presented at
the United States Animal Health Association's (USAHA) annual meeting
in October, 2002, where the work plan was accepted through a
unanimous resolution. APHIS then established the National
Identification Development Team (NIDT), a joint state, federal and
industry group to further advance this effort. Throughout 2003, the
NIDT, consisting of approximately 100 animal and livestock industry
professionals representing more than 70 associations, organizations,
and government agencies, expanded upon the work plan to produce the
initial draft of the U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP).
Although early versions of the USAIP focused on food animals only,
other livestock species (such as alpacas, llamas, and horses) were
incorporated into the plan. In April 2004, the USDA announced the
framework for implementing the NAIS.

IMPLEMENTATION

The first step in implementing the NAIS is identifying and
registering premises that house animals. Such premises would include
locations where livestock and poultry are managed, marketed or
exhibited. States implemented the capability to register premises
according to the national standards last year. APHIS is currently
training state officials on how to use a standardized premises
registration system. USDA is also evaluating alternative
registration systems that states or others have developed and want
to use, to ensure these systems meet the national standards. In
addition, USDA is working with states and industry to "educate" the
public about the NAIS.

As premises are registered, another component of the NAIS-animal
identification-will be integrated into the system. Unique animal
identification numbers (AINs) will be issued to individually
identified premises. In the case of animals that move in groups
through the production chain-such as pigs and poultry-the group will
be identified through a group/lot identification number (Group/Lot
IDs). USDA is developing the standards for collecting and reporting
information, but industry will determine which type of
identification method works best for each species. These methods
could include radio frequency identification tags, retinal scans,
DNA or others. As long as the necessary data are sent to USDA's
information repositories in a standardized form, it will be
accepted.

As premises are registered and animals or groups of animals are
identified based on the standard protocols, USDA will begin
collecting information about animal movements from one premise to
another. With an animal tracking system in place, USDA says they
will be able to perform rapid tracebacks in case of an animal
disease outbreak. As envisioned, only federal, state, and tribal
animal health authorities would have direct access to the national
premises and animal identification information repositories.

Interestingly, the National Cattlemens Beef Association attempted to
have the "national database" privatized and put under their control.
Tam Moore of Capital Press, January 27, 2006, reported that the USDA
has DrOpped a 6-month-old plan for contracting with a privatized
central database to launch the cattle segment of ID. Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns had announced the single privatized concept
back in July 2005. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-
CALF), United Stockgrowers of America and other ID critics
questioned USDA's intention to concentrate the data with a system
the National Cattlemen's Beef Association organized, then spun off
as a free-standing nonprofit organization, the U.S. Animal
Identification Organization. Instead of a single, private database,
USDA, state and tribal animal health agencies will use multiple
databases, relying on those who contract with the USDA to furnish
livestock tracking information.

Much of the responsibility for delivering the program remains at the
state level. Stages of development will allow states to more readily
establish their local action items, according to the USDA. To
determine what your state is doing with regards to NAIS, please go
to https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625046 .

CONFIDENTIALITY

The NAIS is supposed to contain only information that animal health
officials need to track suspect animals and identify any other
animals that may have been exposed to a disease. Animal
identification and tracking systems maintained by the states or
regional alliances will be an integral part of the overall NAIS
information infrastructure. The state and regional systems will be
able to collect and maintain more information than is required for
the NAIS, yet only the required data need to be available for the
national animal records repository. According to the USDA, to help
assure participants that the information will be used only for
animal health purposes, the information will be confidential and
USDA and its state partners are to work to protect data
confidentiality.

KEY NAIS MILESTONES

APRIL, 2005: The USDA issued its Draft Strategic Plan & Draft
Program Standards for public comment, which ended in July of 2005 (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625047 ).

JULY, 2005: All states capable of premises registration
JULY, 2005: Animal Identification Number system operational.

The following dates may be delayed according to the USDA. Updates
have yet to be issued.

JULY, 2006 : The target date for the USDA to issue a proposed
rule setting forth the requirements for NAIS premises registration,
animal identification, and animal tracking. There will be a limited
public comment period after publication of the rule (WAPF will issue
an Action Alert when the comment period occurs).

APRIL, 2007: Premises registration and animal
identification "alerts."

FALL, 2007: USDA will publish a final rule to establish the
requirements of the mandatory NAIS.

JANUARY, 2008: Premises registration and animal
identification become mandatory.

JANUARY, 2009: Animal tracking becomes mandatory, including
enforcement of the reporting of all animal movements.

For more information about the NAIS, contact:
Neil Hammerschmidt
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services
4700 River Road, Unit 43
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
Telephone (301) 734-5571
Website: https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625048 or
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625049


SO, WHY WOULD YOU OPPOSE NAIS?

Perhaps the most eloquent opponent of NAIS is Mary Zanoni,
PhD, JD, executive director of Farm for LifeTM and a New York
lawyer. I have consolidated her opposition statements so you can get
a sense of what folks find intrusive, disturbing and negative about
NAIS.

* In general, opponents of NAIS say that the program will
drive small producers out of the market, will make people abandon
raising animals for their own food, will invade Americans' personal
privacy to a degree never before tolerated, will violate the
religious freedom of Americans whose beliefs make it impossible for
them to comply, and will erase the last vestiges of animal welfare
from the production of animal foods.

* Every person who owns even one horse, cow, pig, chicken,
sheep, or virtually any livestock animal, will be forced to register
his or her home, including owner's name, address and telephone
number, and then be keyed to global positioning system (GPS)
coordinates for satellite monitoring in a giant federal database
under a 7-digit "premises ID number."

* Every animal will be assigned a 15-digit ID number, also to
be kept in a giant federal database. The form of ID will most
likely be a tag or microchip containing a Radio Frequency
Identification Device (RFID), designed to be read from a distance.
The plan may also include collecting the DNA and/or a retinal scan
of every animal

* The owner will be required to report the birthdate of an
animal, the application of every animal's ID tag, every time an
animal leaves or enters the property, every time an animal loses a
tag, every time a tag is replaced, the slaughter or death of an
animal, or whether any animal is missing. Such events must be
reported within 24 hours.

* Third parties, such as veterinarians, will be required to
report "sightings" of animals. In other words, if you call a vet to
your property to treat your horse, cow or any other animal, and the
vet finds any animal without the mandatory 15-digit computer-
readable ID, the vet may be required to report you. If you do not
comply, the USDA will exercise "enforcement" against you. The USDA
has not yet specified the nature of "enforcement," but presumably it
will include imposing fines and/or seizing your animals. The plan
permits no exceptions-under the USDA plan, you will be forced to
register and report even if you raise animals only for your own food
or keep horses for draft or for transportation.

* Eradication of Small Farms-people with just a few meat
animals or 40-cow dairies are already living on the edge
financially. The USDA plan will force many of them to give up
farming.

* Loss of the True Security of Organic and Local Foods-The
NAIS is touted by the USDA and agricorporations as a way to make our
food supply "secure" against diseases or terrorism. However, most
people instinctively understand the fact that real food security
comes from raising food yourself or buying from a local farmer you
actually know. The USDA plan will only kill off more local sources
of production and further promote the giant industrial methods which
cause many food safety and disease problems.

* Extreme Damage to Personal Privacy-legally, livestock
animals are a form of personal property. It is unprecedented for
the United States government to conduct large-scale computer-aided
surveillance of its citizens simply because they own a common type
of property. (The only exceptions are registration of motor
vehicles and guns, due to their clear inherent dangers, but they are
registered at the state level, not by the federal government.) The
NAIS would actually subject the owner of a chicken to far more
surveillance than the owner of a gun.

* Insult to Animal Welfare-the NAIS is the ultimate
objectification of higher, sensitive living creatures, treating
individual animals as though they were cans of peas with a bar
code. Many people who raise their own animals or buy from small,
local producers do so because they are very troubled by industrial-
scale production of chickens, cattle and pigs. These people will be
forced to either sacrifice their personal privacy to government
surveillance, or to stop raising their own food by humane standards.

* Burden on Religious Freedom-many adherents of plain (and
other) faiths raise their own food animals and use animals in
farming and transportation because their beliefs require them to
live this way. Such people obviously cannot comply with the USDA's
computerized, technology-dependent system. The NAIS will force
these people to violate their religious beliefs. (The Amish are very
much against this program).

NAIS AND YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

FIRST AMENDMENT: The first amendment of the Bill of Rights
guarantees Americans the right to the free exercise of religion.
Many Christians and person of other religious beliefs cannot comply
with the NAIS because it violates the free exercise of their
religious beliefs. For example, the Old Order Amish believe they are
prohibited from registering their farms or animals in the proposed
program due to scriptural prohibitions. Other simply hold that NAIS
violates their personal beliefs-you do not need to belong to an
established religion to exercise your first amendment rights.

FOURTH AMENDMENT: The fourth amendment guarantees the right to
privacy and security against unreasonable searches and seizures. The
requirement of households and small farms that own animals to
register the premises so that the Department can subject these
premises to satellite surveillance is a clear violation of the
Fourth Amendment.

FIFTH AMENDMENT: The fifth amendment guarantees protection against
the loss of life, liberty or private property without due process of
law. The NAIS allows the Department of Agriculture to seize
privately owned animals without due process.

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT: No State shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immunities of US citizens nor
deprive them of life, liberty or property without due process of
law. Much of the "authority" for NAIS will come through legislation
on the state level.


Whether or not the USDA delays the implementation of a national,
mandatory system, many states are actively implementing their own
mandatory premise and animal identification systems. Wisconsin and
North Carolina have passed legislation for mandatory premises
registration and Indiana has adopted regulations for mandatory
premise registration beginning in September. Legislation is pending
in Texas. To check on what is happening in your state, visit
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625050 .

Clothed in the garb of public safety, NAIS is shaping up to be a
very dangerous fox in the backyard henhouse.

BATTLEGROUND TEXAS

Texas is shaping up to be the first battleground state for NAIS. In
Wisconsin and North Carolina, NAIS legislation passed without any
public scrutiny.

However, in Texas, in response to proposed regulations from the
Texas Animal Health Commission to require every person who owns even
one livestock animal to register their premises with the state,
Texas farmers, ranchers, companion-animal owners, and consumers
rallied in opposition. They sent in almost 700 letters during the
Commission's 45-day comment period, and over 200 people showed up to
the Commission's public meeting on February 16.

Although the public pressure convinced the Commission to table the
regulations until their next meeting in May, the real work has just
begun. We still have to gain support in the legislature, or the
Commission will move forward with the regulations.

A group of Texans are in the process of establishing a new non-
profit to lobbing oorganization on behalf of small farmers in Texas.
The first target will be the Texas Legislature but the organizations
plans to operate on a national level to put a stop to NAIS.

The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is serving as an
information clearinghouse at this point, so please check their
website for progress on the new entity and information on how you
can help: https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625051 or email
txnonais@att.net


RESOURCES FOR OPPOSING NAIS

* FARM for LIFE TM is a public-interest organization dedicated
to supporting the rights of small and subsistence farmers and
consumers of organic, natural, and local foods. FARM for LIFE's
first project is to stop the USDA plan for mandatory animal ID. The
organization will publish a newsletter three times a year (first
publication scheduled for November 1, 2005), to inform citizens of
developments concerning animal ID and other issues vital to the
small farming and natural/organic food communities. Newsletter
subscribers will also be sent information at appropriate times on
how to contact lawmakers and the USDA to oppose animal ID. In
addition, FARM for LIFE will coordinate with other existing interest
groups to mount an effective campaign against animal ID. Please help
stop animal ID and support FARM for LIFE by subscribing to the
newsletter: $25 individual subscription (1 year), $40 institutional
subscription (1 year). Please help with an additional donation in
any amount. Make your check payable to "Farm for Life" and mail to:
Farm for Life, PO Box 501, Canton, New York 13617. For further
information email: mlz@slic.com.

* Articles by Mary Zanoni, Ph.D. (Cornell), J.D. (Yale),
Executive Director of Farm for LifeTM: "Why You Should Oppose the
USDA's Mandatory Property and Animal Surveillance Program" (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625052 ) and "Comments on
NAIS Draft Program Standards and Draft Strategic Plan" (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625053 ).

* Stop Animal ID.org: Online grassroots organization created
to stop NAIS; their website includes information on what you can do
to oppose NAIS ( https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625054 ).

* Organic Consumers Association (OCA):
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625055 .

* No NAIS.org: Walter Jeffries, Sugar Mountain Farm, Vermont (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625056 ).

* National Property Owners Association:
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625057 .

* American Poultry Association: Preserve Your Rights as a
Poultry Fancier ( https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625058 ).

* Free Tennessee: https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625059 .

* The Petition Site.com: Anti-NAIS petition (
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625060 ).

* The "National Animal Identification System": A new threat to
rural freedom? in https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625061#article4 .

* National Animal ID Run Amok in
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625062 .

* The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association:
https://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?
module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=67791261&u=625063 or email
txnonais@att.net

As more information on the progress of NAIS becomes available, we
will keep you informed through the Weston A. Price Foundation e-mail
Action Alerts.

Likewise, if you have any information about what is going on in your
state, please let us know at bsanda@westonaprice.org.


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

Bill Sanda
Executive Director
Weston A. Price Foundation
bsanda@westonaprice.org






Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 3:59 pm:

joj, thank you so much for posting this information. Yet another area in which our freedoms are being encroached upon . . . I have heard talk of such a thing for several years, now, but haven't been watching it closely as you have. The whole concept is very alarming to me, but quite understandable as we humans have an unhealthy, self-destructive yen for believing that we can control every person and every thing on this entire earth and beyond. In my past experience with groups such as organizations for "sustainable communities" and others, there is always a pompous, sincere, do-gooder, hierarchy of members who, armed with volumes of alarming statistics and a "damn Free Enterprise" philosophy, want to impose every kind of regulation, along with false guilt, upon all the "other" humans who aren't "in the know." The elitest snobbery of these folks, who are so darned dedicated and sincere in their belief that only THEY know what's good for everyone else, is frightening when we realize that it is inching up (has inched up?)into the highest eschelons of our United States government and society.
Encroaching on the freedoms of fellow citizens is a recipe for civil war . . . God forbid that it should ever come . . .
If we don't stand on and speak out for our freedoms now, we may very well not have them in the future.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 6:57 pm:

Well, if this all comes into play, there goes my plans to head for the hills (or woods) if all hell breaks loose with war. We'll be tracked down even with our horses as our only means of transportation. (I am only half serious here....)

I wonder who is going to benefit from this the most financially? And knowing how well the government runs things, can you imagine keeping track of all of the critters? When I heard about this earlier, I had to laugh at the idea of calling in your numbers every time you left the farm on a horse, or trailed them somewheres.

So on a typical day I start out riding in the arena. Decide to mosey thru our woods, and then decide to leave our property and before I know it I'm 10 miles from home, lost in the joy of riding. And wham, here comes what? Some SWAT team surrounds me at gunpoint?

Or my friend, who raises chickens and first told me about this, decides to have fresh chicken ala King and forgets to call in before deheading Sunday's dinner? Then what?

The government can't keep track of their supply of toilet paper but now they want to keep track of all of our animals on some hi tech surveliance system?
Member:
Canter

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 8:05 pm:

This would be a logistical nightmare. If they use RFID technology, then the data is transmitted automatically once the chip is inserted. However, someone would have to manage a HUGE database and know what to do with the information to make any sort of tracking even the least bit useful. Plus, Angie, if your friend decides to make her chicken ala king Sunday dinner, unless she destroys the RFID chip, it will still transmit. So, if someone slaughtered an animal and was careful enough, no-one would be the wiser (toss the chip in the manure pile...who would know?...but be sure not to toss it in the garbage because then data would transmit as the truck is rolling down the road).

This doesn't make sense to me. Admittedly, I didn't read thru all the links. But I know that manufacturers and retailers are just now struggling with RFID technology in the supply chain and there is a long way to go before the technology is produced cheaply and the results utilized. If private industry has trouble, can you imagine the problems the government would have?
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 9:15 pm:

My right to privacy is what get me riled on this. It's bad enough when a neighbor calls on a neighbor and "code enforcement" has to come out and see if all is good. And its enough that our privacy rights now after 911 are in jeapordy AGAIN, (supreme court is now ruling on something that is really going to change that by allowing searches without warrants) and now they want to implement another way to chip my privacy away?

Did you read the part where the big meat manufacturers wanted to privatize it? ha... so they can cover their own behinds.

I'm sorry to say the way they have this written there is no way for anyone to be on the fence, no shades of grey in my thinking. I would agree to commercial farms, big business being accounted for, but c'mon, i have one horse, one pig, 2 birds and 3 goats, and i'm not going to eat any of them. nor will they ever leave my side till they die of old age.

Also, what i can't understand is they can't STOP the spread of disease. Which is what one APHIS representative told some horse folks here in Florida. What about all the wild birds, flies, possums, raccoons, all these animals carry threatening and contagious diseases. What then? And controling the disease? how is that going to be possible. Seems to me it would be a withchunt. And any animal that is found in that path would likely be put down.


The best link to read up on is NONAIS.org and if you can find the Zanoni letter (another long one) she spells it out in more depth.
Member:
Shanson

Posted on Thursday, Mar 23, 2006 - 10:40 pm:

This whole thing is nuts. Here in Texas, the State is pushing to make the first step, premises registration, mandatory in July 2006. There has been little public education and little understanding of the sweeping nature of this program when fully rolled out. If you own horses or other livestock, including chickens, in Texas, NOW is the time to call your state elected representatives and tell them what you think of this boondogle.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 7:12 am:

I'll admit to reading weird stuff like David Icke and his Reptilian people, and the Left Behind Series. If you've read any thing along those lines, this "chip" idea sounds like a step closer to the "mark of the beast"....lets start using it with animals, then people would be more accepting.

What's scary is this "far out" stuff is getting closer to reality every day. Some authors have suggested we will be a military state in the future.....hmmm....RFID chips in animals, and look at all the security every where now since 911.

We are not as free as we think we are, it's an illusion. Freer than some for sure, but we are loosing our freedoms more and more all the time under the guise of "protecting us".
Member:
Erika

Posted on Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 8:20 am:

JOJ. who do we contact to express our discomfort with yet another encroachment upon our freedom?
Member:
Shanson

Posted on Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 9:10 am:

If this program can get traction in a state like Texas, it will be rolled out to the rest of the country. We need to stop it here.

We're not talking about just huge livestock operations. It would be mandatory even for small mom and pop horse, chicken, and cattle operations in rural Texas. I friend of mine in a rural county recently attended a community meeting where a Texas Animal Health Commission representative made a PowerPoint presentation explaining the program. The presentation was made to a crowd of 55-83 year olds. The guy explained how easy it would be. All they have to do is tag or microchip every animal, then use their "Bluetooth wand" to read the data, then upload it from their Internet-connected computer to a database. Easy as pie, right? And, then there's the expense of registering, tagging or microchipping, and the equipment involved. But really, most of these folks would have to pay a consultant to do all this. A few said, "Well we'll just sell our cattle...we can't do this." But guess what? They can't sell their cattle, because they'd lose their property tax ag exemption.

I'm a moderate person normally, but this has steam coming out of my ears. It's nothing but a money grab by the state animal health commission, which badly needs the revenue source to survive, and technology companies and consultants looking to expand their markets. BTW, the huge livestock operations that may benefit from this by perhaps expanding their international markets get off pretty easy. You and I subsidize them.
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 9:24 am:

erika, There is a list of state representatives somewhere on those links, and i would say start there. with your particular state and where it stands.

Then there is a petition (not sure how good those are)

and then next check out noanimalid.org which will help you send letters to congressional people and so...

SoTRUE sharon... texas is a very republican state. And most small rural, off the beaten path people who this is going to hit most are more liberal. So if Texans won't stand for it, i think there is a good chance it will be seriously revised to make sense or DrOpped. Which i hear this isn't anything new. They have been bringing this kind of legislation up for years, but i guess, only now that "pandemic" is an everyday word its just gotten more fuel.
Member:
Shanson

Posted on Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 10:09 am:

To tell you the truth, the way NAIS is being rolled out in Texas is so egregious that it transcends "liberal" or "conservative" labels. The audience in that presentation in rural Texas was as conservative as it gets and they were scared.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 6:22 pm:

Hi. I understand the privacy issue, how-ever there is an upside. I breed and, foundation train, dogs for Police Depts and Dept. of Homeland Security. All my dogs are micro-chipped and belly tattooed ( do it myself, it is quite painless). This is for purposes of verifying the dogs origin and correct where-abouts. If there is a suspicion of theft or the dog goes missing and ends up in incorrect hands it is easy to check. If the dog ends up in an experimental lab, there is an inspection, the dog can be safely returned to its rightful handler/owner. I love my animals. I put a year of hard work and dedication into their formative year. I want to ensure their well-bing...I also want to ensure the reputation of my work and careful breeding (no puppy mill here!) I wish it was as easy for horses. We are in the midst of a nightmare with Mangalarga Marchadors, my fiance has a 6 figure civil judgement against a woman in Florida for fraud. It has taken 2 years and much effort and money to prove how she defrauded many people with this imported Brazilian breed. So much so that the DA of Ocala, Florida is pursuing criminal felony fraud charges against her. It's in process. We have already given depositions in this matter. Had there been closer registration and tracking facility with horses this could never have happened.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 6:47 pm:

I agree that ID on horses is a real good idea. Many Arabians are freeze tattooed under their manes. What I personally don't agree with is the micro-chip tracking device that will be required to be put in by even small farmers and ranchers, if my interpretation of this is right.

I have many relatives that are small (a few hundred acres) ranchers with a 100 head or so of cows. There is no way they'll be able to afford this.

I also have friends who are large ranchers, with their acreage and cows in the thousands, yet they are a family run business. As it is, they spend thousands and thousands of dollars dealing with government. This will be just one more expensive government thing. Soon, the only people that will be able to stay in business will be the big corporations.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 8:39 pm:

Will this initial mirco-chipping not be initially subsidized? I would think that there would be lobyists who would ensure that this occur...husbandry is too important for it not to be protected. The current administration is quite pro small business, would this not be the time to put in the ground work? I'm not a rancher so wouldn't know where to begin to get this going, but surely the ranching community can become a co-hesive group and as such present as a force to be noticed. Heck I'd start with the media and work in circles out from there.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 9:29 pm:

I don't really know. I have my doubts that the government would help very much, at least not the small breeders/producers. I'll have to do more reading, as that's a good question.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 9:41 pm:

If you want to know about the NAIS got to the following site:

https://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/newsroom/factsheets/nais_qa_factsheet.shtml# 8

If I am reading this right, owners of horses that go to show or "commingle" are "encouraged" to use the system.
Member:
Shanson

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 12:02 am:

As proposed in Texas, it is likely to be mandated, not "encouraged." Understand that what's important here is how NAIS is being implemented in each state.

Ilona, I agree that there are benefits to microchipping and a few of my friends have done this with their horses. But, it was a voluntary thing they did in case their horses were stolen and it was kind-of expensive. This has nothing to do with NAIS.
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 4:30 am:

Ilona, you're missing the point. Anyone can microchip their animals for safety reasons, if you feel the need. But being forced to do it against your will and your right to privacy becomes null and void, than what? Now that your lovely horses are chipped, and now come in contact with a disease of some sort, the federal govt. can now come in and take them all away.

Also, the microchipping done right now is on a state level only. and there are many humane societies that do this. but its on a state level only. for the sheer purpose of lost animals. NAIS is not for that purpose.

Nothing will be subsidized. It will fall on the owner, farmer, operation. And ultimately the consumers.

In your case you mentioned above it will likely never be used for that and will be another reason why logistically this would become a nightmare. Taxing the system for civil purposes outside of the APHIS reasonings will create even more work and the system wouldn't be designed for civil uses. government only.

I love the manga larga horses. I learned of them when working with a colleague who had a ranch in Brazil. Very cool breed.
Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 9:55 am:

Residents of Gloucester County, VA, where I live, recently defeated an attempt by our board of supervisors to resurrect a very old tax on livestock that had survived from a more agriculturally-dominated time. It had not been regularly }enforced in years. They began researching ways to identify all owners and locations, and devising ways to determine the value of horses. I did say "livestock," and this tax was supposed to apply to chickens, rabbits, goats, etc.....but the rising horse population and their estimated value made them the real target for this tax.

We were able to defeat it because there was no way} to determine every owner in the county, nor was there a fair assessment policy. Had NAIS been in place, it would have been an easy task indeed.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 12:37 pm:

Gosh, Terri, are you suggesting there could be an underlying, unspoken reason for this bill???
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 1:28 pm:

All horses in the EU have to be passported and microchipped since last summer. Cattle and sheep are ear-tagged. It's no big deal. It's very good news regarding theft, "ringers" in racing, and pretty useful for disease management too. I'd guess it's also going to be useful in the future for research scientists (eg slaughterhouse studies where they do work on carcases - they should be able to go back to the Horse Board based on the chip and find out about the history of the horse, did it have a competition record, what is its correct age at death, where did it come from etc).

In general although people don't like expense and bureaucracy, because of the problem of eastern European horses being passed off as Irish to give them greater value at the sales, people are in favour of it. The microchipping does not hurt the horses, usually they are done at about 6 months when they get their first tetanus vaccination.

Just thought you might like to know how it works in practice. The cost is about 60 euros including the vet creating the marking chart to send to the Horse Board along with the number of the chip.

Best wishes

Imogen
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 2:08 pm:

Again, micro chipping for ID purposes is good. This isn't the purpose of this bill, nor, from my understanding of what I've read, are they talking about a plain microchip. Micro-chipping one or two animals isn't too cost prohibitive; but what if you own 2000 cows? I know people that own more cows than that. The government isn't paying for this. That's just one of the problems, imo, with this bill.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 3:58 pm:

Micro chipping as an option has benefits especially with very valuable animals. But OPTION is the key word. Anything that is shoved down our throats by our government under the guise of being in our "best interests" is, IMO, total BS. It's no ones business how many animals I own on my property as long as the property supports them, and they are all well cared for. Of course I'd like to say the same applies to guns and ammo too, but that's another story. We will lose more and more of our rights if we don't keep our eyes and ears open and take a stand.

A few years ago in MI, all equine owners had to have the Coggins test done on our horses, mules, and donkeys. Supposively to see if IEA, or whatever it is Coggins tests for, was active in our state. As far I know, not one horse, mule or donkey tested positive. So you would think the laws requiring it would have slackened off? NO, still have the same requirements for shows, and any organized events. We all paid for that outa our pockets, and althought it's nice to know no active cases were found I still think it was just money making deal for someone in the government.

Like Terri says, this could lead to more taxes if they get the idea hey, we can tax every cow, sheep, chicken, and horse....look at the possible revenue!! we all know how nice it is to be taxed to death on everything, and how well that money is spent!!!
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - 1:04 pm:

Here's a link to an update on what's going on with this:

https://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=6987

I haven't changed my views on how ridiculous I think it all is.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - 1:10 pm:

I notice this article is saying about how they want to prevent the spread of disease on hooves, hide or other forms of transportation. But this does not apply to dogs and cats which shows how much sense it makes. I would venture a guess that our cats travel many miles at night and could very well harbor viruses, bacteria and such on their fur.
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - 1:58 pm:

Thanks for that update. It seems the HORSE is minimizing it all by this article. I have been writing my congressmen and what not. but its not helping here in Florida. They just passed a bill that would help put forward funding for NAIS implementation.

If anything follow your state representatives and vote accordingly. i will be.
congress.org is a great site. It tells you how your reps voted. gives you the opportunity to write them (makes if very easy). and will update you on items your interested in. great site....
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - 2:13 pm:

Am I paranoid? Maybe . . . but I also feel that I have a pretty good handle on how evil operates . . . and it is very subtle . . . often cloaking itself in the guise of "helping to protect humanity."
My guess is that this is on a fast track . . . and that it will pass . . . and that its subsequent "success" in helping to track diseased animals (and I choose not to believe the media hype about the imminent dangers of bird flu) will be the percurser to the argument that microchipping citizens at birth will help control the illegal alien issue . . .
Sounds really radical and "off the wall," doesn't it? Maybe . . .
On the other hand, as dear Edmund Burke has been quoted as saying, "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Member:
Erika

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2006 - 4:24 pm:

Still think this bill is a crock of you-know-what! Those of us who live near state borders would be on the phone "reporting" daily. More red tape, more taxpayer cost, more horse owner cost.
Holly, that is my favorite quote. Let's all contact our congressmen about this. Just do a search for your state and it is very easy to give your opinion by email.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2006 - 3:15 am:

Just to let you know . . .
This afternoon, as I DrOve to work, I heard that there is talk of microchippping illegal aliens in order to track them. Ha! Wonder how THAT will be done since we don't seem able to find them. Wouldn't it be easier and more efficient to microchip American citizens as soon as they are born?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2006 - 7:15 am:

As far as horses are concerned this would have huge costs in taxpayer money, horse owner money, ag officials time, and the horse owning public's privacy in return for a tiny benefit since it would be a near duplicate of current information that is available through the Coggins testing / State Transportation laws.

Really the only horse disease that I can think of that is of much concern from a public health standpoint would be Foot and Mouth Disease which can shut down the livestock industry and is transmissable by horses. The EU recent experience with FMD is probably the impetus behind the horse registration program. It is the reason that Vesicular Stomatitis causes transport shut downs in Western USA every year. Though VS is a mild disease for all concerned, clinically it cannot be distinguished from FMD. However I believe education rather than regulation will go a lot further in preventing transport of infected animals in the case of an outbreak.
DrO
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2006 - 5:20 pm:

Oh My Gosh, Holly! Don't even suggest such a thing! Some fool in Congress might hear of it and think it's actually a good idea!

I just read, but now can't find, an article that some city is now requiring that dogs and cats have id chips. Think that'll solve the stray cat and dog problems? It makes more sense that micro chipping livestock and horses, especially if the ID cues in (via computer?) to the pet's address or owner. But still, it will be an expense some (the elderly and poor) might have a hard time affording and thus won't comply.

It's all just sounding too "Orwellian!"
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2006 - 5:59 pm:

Sara, I'll bet the shirt off my back that the idea of microchipping humans has been discussed for years behind closed doors . . . long before I ever mentioned it.
It's an awful thought, isn't it? When I first heard about microchipping dogs and cats in Vermont, years ago, I thought that we'd eventually hear about it for people. I love my animals, but if they get lost or stolen . . . I'll do my best to find them . . . and if I find a lost animal, I'll do my best to get it back to its owner . . . but I never want to have my animals microchipped, and if it is ever a requirement, I'll be one grumpy pup.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2006 - 9:06 pm:

I've always said the day I am forced to be microchiped, I'll probably be in jail for non compliance. I wonder how many will meet the "do gooders" with the micro chip with a shotgun and a request to "get off my property?"

There are so many things that money needs to be spent on, much more important that what will be done with this idea. Many more things that time needs to be spent on too.

I also don't think the bird flu is a major concern. I also have to question if it is a man made disease that got out of hand?
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Saturday, Aug 12, 2006 - 3:45 pm:

i'm reading this article now... very long. But its how the NAIS will specifically target the horse industries. Racing, breeding, traveling, etc.. Figured everyone should read this...and pass it along for others.


https://cals.arizona.edu/rtip/Symposium/20
05%20Symposium/05%20Transcripts/tues_microchips.html
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Saturday, Aug 12, 2006 - 6:28 pm:

https://cals.arizona.edu/rtip/Symposium/2005%20Symposium/05%20Transcripts/tues_mi crochips.html
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 13, 2006 - 6:50 pm:

Thanks jojo. Very interesting reading.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 7:54 am:

I am sure we've had more recent posts on this subject that I could have added this to; at any rate, I thought this was pretty interesting. (sorry, I just emptied my deleted HA posts)

https://www.newswithviews.com/Hannes/doreen5.htm
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