October 9, 2007 – 4:34 am
It will only take a generation to implement “voluntary” NAIS. That is my prediction unless parents who farm take the initiative to turn the tide. Headlines such as “USDA & FFA Team Together to Promote NAIS” and “4-H, FFA members begin enrolling animals in NAIS” show the new direction the USDA is taking. If they can indoctrinate the young people on the “benefits” of animal identification, this intrusion into the farmer’s and rancher’s business will become business as usual when this generation becomes America’s farmers.
Is there a voice in agriculture that can counter with solid information against NAIS and present this side to 4H and FFA members? Will the USDA and industrial agriculture have the undivided attention of our farming youth? The youth of today is infatuated with technology, so NAIS is appealing. We may win the battle in our generation only to lose the war in the next.
Dear Senator Harkin,
I am writing you about the farm bill. I am not in favor of linking Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) with the National Animal Identifiaction System (NAIS). COOL is a valuable program for our U.S. producers, but it doesn’t require the overhead and expense of NAIS. In fact, COOL is more a requirement for imported products.
I am also against manditory NAIS from both a practical standpoint and my personal beliefs. NAIS puts a burden in both time and money on the small producer. It is something that large corporations could make work, but most farm operations are short on both time and money. NAIS should not be funded by taxpayer dollars either. If it has real value, it should be voluntary and funded with private dollars to let the marketplace decide.
My personal beliefs are Christian. I have a conviction not to take the Mark of the Beast spoken of in the book of Revelation. While NAIS is not the Mark, it is a step in that direction. It would prohibit anyone who doesn’t participate from being able to buy or sell without it. It is also an unecessary intrusion into my privacy and that of others. We have that right to personal liberty in our great nation.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry you are in a position of great influence over farm policy and how it impacts our freedoms. I am an independent Iowa voter. My family has three registered voters in the household. We discuss issues that effect our country (and the state of Iowa) and vote accordingly. I ask that you work to ensure that NAIS remains voluntary, so that farmers like myself can decline participation, and so the free market can determine its value.
Please call your Senator or Representative, if you are opposed to NAIS. The proposed farm bill seeks to link Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) with a mandatory animal identification system (NAIS). This is not needed, as many livestock owners do not need COOL, but under the proposed bill would be required to id their animals.
I would just as soon see NAIS go away forever, but at the very least, it should be 100% voluntary, on a permanent basis, with zero penalties for declining to participate. I do support COOL, as it gives our producers the means to differentiate their products from imported goods. It also gives consumers the ability to choose American raised products.
The only way to defeat NAIS is with overwhelming public opposition. This farm bill is a vehicle to deny funding for NAIS.
Here is a link to the farm bill.
Click here to read more about why mandatory animal ID should not be used for COOL.
Use this link to find contact information for both the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture.
NOTE: The vote on the 2007 Farm Bill is now scheduled for July 17th through the 19th, so there is still time to contact your representatives. Now is the time to make your voices heard!
We have been a customer of Azure Standard, for about a year, since they established a route through Iowa. We have enjoyed and benefited from their products and great service. Our delivery is made by a husband and wife driving team. The team, Gary and Sandy Larson, are now in a fight with their local zoning commission over the establishment of a factory hog farm a mile and a half north of their organic farm.
Unfortunately, there is not much time before the zoning commission makes their determination. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 30, 2007 at 7:30 PM. For background information, I have two documents from Gary. The first document is the testimony Gary gave before the Commissioners. The second document is Gary’s proposed testimony for the April 30th meeting.
Gary asks that if you oppose factory farms that you contact the county commissioners at:
Pierce County Commissioners
C/O County Courthouse
240 2nd St. SE
Rugby, ND 58368
From a personal standpoint, this is something that could happen to anyone who owns a farm. The regulations regarding this is the main reason we decided not to move to Missouri. In fact, when looking for a farm, we seriously considered moving to North Dakota and one of our criteria was that no Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations were within 10 miles of any possible farm purchase. Gary is correct when he says that this factory hog farm will most likely make his farm unmarketable.
The best thing that can be done for Gary and Sandy is to pray. Pray that God will intervene on behalf of his people and stop approval for construction of this farm. Also, no matter where you live, contact the Pierce County Commisioners to express your opposition. Click here to go to a web page with contact information for all of the Commissioners.
