by Bob Parker, posted at www.mulesandmore.com 

The big bay gelding stepped high as we entered the south pasture. He was quick and sure on his feet, the kind of horse you thought you could trust. I hadn't owned him long but was impressed with his looks and style. He sure was smooth! As we went past the corral gate a slight breeze caught the old wooden gate, a slight squeak could be heard just as we passed. The big gelding shot sideways shying from the gate way faster than I could hang on. In slow motion I went horizontal in the air and then fell toward the hard packed ground in front of the gate our 1,000 or so head of sheep went through every morning and night. Bam! I hit the ground hard! I was hurt. My hip and right side were in terrible pain. I had been betrayed by a horse that I thought I could trust. I lay on the ground for a long time, too hurt and stunned to get up, at least for a while.

The National Animal Identification System story is similar to my old horse story. The system started with promise and seemed to be something good to those that created it, but before I knew what happened, I was slammed to the ground as I read the details of this extensive Identification plan. Most of us small farmers are just finding out about this plan. I'm referring to the USDA draft plan which can be seen on the USDA website along with the technical supplement that describes the computer coding and requirements of reporting and such. When you read it, you realize what has been dreamed up for all of our Mules and horses, cattle and sheep, 27 species of animals in all.

The animals are to be micro-chipped, processed, computerized, and verified. They are to be reported every time they are born, sold, die, relocated, and trailered, all within 24 hours of the ‘'event.'' There is even a code for turning in your neighbor if you see he isn't complying with the program! Every time you trail-ride with your friends you are required to report where you went. Think I'm kidding? Read the plan. We have yet to be told the cost of the tags, data bases, tag readers, computers and computer programs. How many people do you think will be required to handle the data on all of this information? Millions of entries on millions of animals. I can see why all the fuss over who gets to handle the data bases.

This plan begins as a ‘'Voluntary'' system and then moves to ‘'mandatory, with enforcement''. Several states have already gone mandatory with this. The first step is the registering of your ‘'Premise'' and getting a premise number. Texas has $1,000 a day fines for violations but has put that on hold since 600 mad cowboys stormed their meeting. In January of 2008 all animals will be required to be electronically ID'd, and in January 2009, all movements of such animals will be mandatory according to the plan. Secretary of Agriculture Johannes said in his April 6, 2006 teleconference that this system wouldn't need to be made mandatory if 100% of livestock owners comply with every piece of this draft plan. He also claims that he has been authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill to implement a mandatory system and that no further votes or congressional action are required to make this system mandatory! You can read this on the USDA site also. Click on the news conferences link.

Where did this come from you ask? Because of 911? Terrorists? Disease control? In 1994 there was an organization called the Livestock Conservation Institute, or LCI. This meeting was attended by Ken Olson from American Farm Bureau, Beth Lautner, National Pork Producers Council, Neil Hammerschmidt, Holstein Association and currently the number two man in USDA, also Fred Bower, International Llama Registry, Chuck Sattler, National Association of Animal Breeders, also eartag and electronics manufactures Magtag, Allflex, Trace-em, as well as the USDA, starring John Weimers, and others. 90% of those present said they wanted a national Identification system for economic reasons. The transcripts of this meeting show that it was determined at that time that the system must be mandatory, it must be standardized, it must be computer chips, and it must be a unique number for each animal, remember, this was 1994!

This organization was later re-named the NIAA, the National Institute of Animal Agriculture [ http://www.animalagriculture.org/ ] It's membership includes 13 state Farm Bureau Associations, American Farm Bureau, The American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Horse Council, as well as Cargill, Elanco, DFA, Monsanto, Pfizer, Schering-Plough Animal Health.

The membership also includes the USDA, Indiana State Board of Health, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Livestock Marketing Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, numerous state departments of Agriculture.

Additionally, the following ear tag and electronics manufactures are members, Allflex USA, Inc, Bloodhound Animal Identification Systems, Digital Angel and Electronics ID Inc, E-merge Interactive, Inc, EZ ID Systems, National Brand and Tag company, Optibrand Ltd.,LLC, Science Applications International Corporation, the list goes on and on. [See the full list on their website.] As you can see this is a real cozy club of the big Ag organizations, big Corporate interests, and the regulators. Where were the small producers at these meetings?

My friends, this is the ‘'perfect storm'' for small producers and livestock owners. If you just have one mule, or one cow, you must register your farm and tag your animal[s]. This is no joke. As you can see, the agencies have conspired together when they developed this system. Millions are currently being handed out to animal organizations across the country promising big bucks for handling the data bases. Don't be fooled when they tell you this isn't so. The draft plan was entered into the Federal Register and has never been replaced or removed. Ask for documentation from those that disagree with what I have said here. Ask them what they are basing their statements on.

After several public meetings in Missouri , USDA and the State Vets won't even show up anymore because they look so bad when challenged with the documents. A Missouri Farm Bureau State board member showed up at the last public meeting in Belle, Missouri in August but when I asked the crowd to raise their hand if they felt Farm Bureau needs to do a 180 degree turnaround on this issue all the hands went up. Farm Bureau has covered up the truth about this system to their membership as have many other organizations.

Missouri Farm Bureau told the USDA last year in a letter dated July 6, 2005 and signed by President Kruse [contrary to Missouri FB policy at that time] that;

• They believe a Mandatory System will ultimately be necessary.
• Producers would be willing to pay a fee....for tagging.
• Both seller and buyer should report animal movements.
• Animals (should) be identified prior to entering commerce or being commingled.
• The suggested timeline for implementing NAIS is realistic.
• All livestock listed in the draft standard plan should be included, (e.g. cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, alpacas, llamas, deer, elk, and aquaculture.)

I remember when Ross Perot talked about the giant sucking sound that we would hear from Mexico as they sucked up our American jobs. The NAIS will suck billions from the pockets of producers over the next several years unless it is stopped. This can be stopped if we get our legislators to refuse to implement this program on the state level. The states must stop taking money from the Federal Government for this program! This will be devastating for the last of our independent small farmers and ranchers as they struggle to remain viable. This is a violation of our constitution. This is a violation of our freedom. This is a violation of all that we in the country hold dear, and it must be stopped! Free men don't ask for permission to ride a horse or a mule or raise their own food.

Bob Parker and his wife Karen have farmed in Missouri since 1977. They continue to run registered Corriente cattle on their 700 acre farm near Raymondville , Missouri . Bob has served on the Texas County Farm Bureau board for many years and continues to travel across Missouri and Arkansas speaking at public meetings about the National Animal Identification System.  

wow!

Thank you for sharing this and making many of us aware that this was happening. I, for one, hadn't heard of this until now and it scares the crap out of me to think that "big brother" is headed for the barnyard!

I ditto the feelings of you both. 

I'm against them going after the small farmers and owners of livestock for pleasure purposes. Food chain is another story. How the heck are they going to monitor people taking their horses out for a trail ride? I'm sure the police departments are going to love this one.  Are they going to have to keep a laptop in their cars to check the "database"?  "Please"..........I'm sure were going to be the least of their problems. What a bunch of bull. (no pun intended)

If they get this ridiculous thing passed, it could very well stop incompedent ownership of all types of livestock.  Especially for the equine world.  ie; owning, breeding, selling etc. That would be the only thing good out of this that I can think of.

Big Bad USDA.  No one complained when they were the first to identify West Nile and helped develop the vaccine.  What about the one stray "mad cow" in the Northwest.  Everyone wanted an instant ID on where it came from before it wrecked the cattle economy.  What about e coli in your spinach?  Care about that.  We all complain about big brother but not a single person stands up and says go away when "they" want help.  There are diseases that if spread would cause states to shut their borders to horse transporation.  So who would we turn to then?  USDA works through and must consider thousands of public comments each time it makes a rule change for decades.  IMO, this is a bunch of worry about nothing.  There is not a federal or state budget yet can can afford to hire the thousands of investigators to worry about you going to a rodeo, horse show, or trail ride.  I am a public servant and I tire of people who hate the government but come crying when they have a problem that affects them.

 I had heard about NAIS over a year ago. It was in the very beginning stages and our extension agent asked that we register our farm. They told us that it was so animals could be traced in case of an emergency requiring identification of the animal and where it had been. I didn't think much about it at the time because I knew it would cost a fortune for the state and federal government to get it together.

 I think many of these things start with our best interest in mind but eventually the people that make the decisions about how it is implemented have no clue about the reality of those decisions for those of us who are actually involved. Horses were thrown into the NAIS because they are livestock.  I could tell story after story about regs that have beem mandated for our farm. Many times totally impossible to do and other times conflicting directions from different agencies.

I agree that if a "fiscal note"  were required, this regulatory "scheme" would go nowhere.  However, anytime laws/regs are put into place with only a tiny amount of enforcement ability, there arises the spectre of selective enforcement.  And this situation only encourages lack of respect for the law, since everyone knows the law is only a bunch of words.  Personally, I have a philosophical problem with a bunch of laws/regs in the books that are incapable of application, regardless of whether said laws should be applied.  

Further, no law or regulation is going to make a ratbag do right..............................................

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/audiences/horses/index.shtml

Check out the complete list of work group members.  The horse industry is well represented and the PRCA even has a position on the board.

Check out the brochure link at the right side of the webpage.  You should read it.

There is the potential for this to be as bad as everyone says.  But, it notes that NO equine group has endorsed this and notes that USDA has not issued equine related rules and is aware of that.  It also notes, that states have, will, or can create more restrictive rules and regulations.  I believe that many of the papers that TX VQ referred to are probably state regulations.

Again I apoligize if I offended anyone.  Check the link I provided and do what people in a representative government do -- write in with your comments.

Your comments will be read, cataloged, and considered.

Finally, I do not have any affiliation with this issue in my government service.

Green belted.  That's a term I've never heard of.   Is that kinda like "zoned agricultural"?

Was just wondering.