Intention to Sue Filed Against the USDA and Michigan Dept. of Agriculture

The Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has filed its intention to sue the USDA and MDA. The full announcement can be found at http://www.ftcldf.org/press-15May2008.html

They are seeking to half the implementation of NAIS on several grounds. The Legal Defense Fund is a sister organization to Farm to Consumer Foundation, www.farmtoconsumer.org You can find the full Notice of Intent at their website.

This is a non-profit organization that benefits all of us involved in fighting NAIS. Please support them in any way you can. This will not be an inexpensive fight. Spread the word among your friends and family that raise livestock or appreciate locally raised food, sustainable farms.

Thank you,

Pat Stewart

Take a stand on NAIS

Where's the beef going?

GLOBAL BEEF MARKETING

By Darol Dickinson - 3/16/2008

Professional marketing makes good things happen around the world. Each sale of a product creates a domino effect of profit to a long chain of beneficiaries. The chain of world beef sales affects ranches, packing plants, livestock auctions, feed lots and producers of every grade and quality of beef.

The 2006 Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns said, "The bottom line is, in order for the US to be successful in the world market, the ID (National Animal Identification System) has to be successful as well. Foreign trade can add $10-$14 per head to our cattle. Without exports, we lose that." With the Johanns numbers, NAIS was hawked to increase US cattle values up to $1,358,000,000 added dollars.

During the American Association of Bovine Practitioners meeting September 22, 2007, USDA's Bruce Knight stated that, "We want NAIS in the United States so the US will be in compliance with OIE (World *Organisation of Animal Health) export regulations by 2010."

Ken Stielow, Chairman of the Cattleman's Beef Board---Beef Checkoff, says, "That's why exports are key to the future of the US beef industry. Though they're not readily visible in this country, programs our beef producers are funding worldwide through their $1-per-head Beef Checkoff program are definitely having an impact on beef buyers and consumers in other countries." In the last half dozen years over $100,000,000 of the near half billion dollar Beef Checkoff collections ($80,000,000 in 2007) was spent on international beef marketing.

NCBA Urges Doubling Checkoff
On February 9, 2008 at Reno, Nevada the NCBA agreed to request that Congress increase the $1 per head Beef Checkoff to be "adequately funded" with an increase to $2 per head. Observers indicate the "sense of" the board's intentions would bring the annual collections, by law, if approved, to over $160,000,000. This would double the funding for beef promotion under the authority of the USDA which also handles the other competitive meat and grain checkoffs.

To build increased beef income for US exporters, US Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan recently was part of the celebration of US Meat Month in Japan. This March new NCBA President Andy Groseta accompanied Condoleezza Rice to South Korea to promote US beef and encourage open trade relations. It appears likely that beef export sales are returning again with the new South Korean president Lee Myung-bak.

It was published by USDA (Jan.11, 2006) that Japan was refusing to resume beef purchases from the US until the NAIS system was 100% operational. Japan did later resume trade with US beef processing plants on July 27, 2006. It appears South Korea will also resume beef trade without any NAIS mandatory requirement. The two largest purchasing countries of US beef are Mexico and Canada and they do not require NAIS. It now appears certain that NAIS is not, and perhaps has never been a factor in the US beef export equation.

Billions have been spent on US exportation of beef. Seldom, if ever, has anyone even considered the cost of return for this "investment." From USDA, Cattle-Fax, NCBA, CBB, to Secretary Rice and Nolan, it is agreed, without question, that it is full stampede do-or-die to export as much beef as possible.

Evaluation Inadequate
The world famous professor and animal scientist Jan Bonsma of Pretoria, South Africa said, "The USA has the greatest data collection in history, of any country, but some of the absolute worst statistical evaluation abilities." World beef export, live cattle, import, pounds, metric tons, dollars and to the penny values are public knowledge. The NASS - National Agricultural Statistics Service at www.nass.usda.gov site is a tell-all. For imports and exports the FAS - Foreign Ag Service at www.fas.usda.gov/ustrade/USTExHS6.asp?QI=. Any cattle producer can check the data, as can any journalist or USDA official.

These NASS statistics are for all live and processed beef and show that in the year 2007, the Value in Dollars of US export sales were $2,183,977,168. This volume of exports was shown to have increased by a few million dollars each year for the past 4 years. The Value in Dollars for US imports during 2007 were $4,857,454,008 for all beef. The volume of imports increased by a few million dollars each year during the past 5 years.

The average US resident consumes 68 lbs of beef annually, less than 3 oz. per day. This amount has also increased slightly each year. This is the amount of beef the US consumer wants, enjoys and expects.

The export/import is explained in a number of ways. Some say the US exports low quality beef product like tripe, liver, etc., and imports high quality product. Others say the Japanese market buys the highest quality steaks for the world's highest prices. One can bury himself in the NASS data and figure that out.

Buying High, Selling Low
The Egyptian market for US beef liver has been highly touted as one exception. The total value of liver exported to all countries in 2007 was $88,445,888. The US imported $464,475 worth of liver. Beef liver, which is also pure beef, is a major ingredient in pet food. The domestic US pet food market is so huge it makes Egyptian beef liver purchases look like a wheelbarrow load in comparison.

To understand why US beef marketers swear by the crucial importance of exporting beef, one must assume there is a major accumulation of profit between the process of importing and exporting. This profit, obviously, would be large enough that NAIS is imperative and the near $190,000,000 invested to enroll premises was justified by Congress, the President and the USDA. Unfortunately over 2,000,000 livestock and equine producers in the USA are still trying to understand why anyone ever dreamed up NAIS. It doesn't and hasn't ever penciled . . . period!

The NASS data shows that the average per pound price in US dollars paid for imported beef, live and processed, is $2.39. The average price received for each exported pound of beef, live and processed, is $1.60. Each exchange of a pound of beef produces a net 79 cent loss.

To place another factor on the beef plate, Congress wants to use 40 percent of US corn production for ethanol. This amount will be removed from livestock feeding uses. This will cause a 10 to 20 percent decrease in beef production and an even more drastic reduction in pork and poultry.

As beef production decreases in the USA the need will increase for more imported beef. During 2008, for every $1 increase in beef exports, the US consumer will require $3 worth of beef to be imported from some other country with lower quality beef, less herd health and lower inspection standards than the USA. This factor will increase in 2009 and even more in 2010.

Exporting Beef--and Cash
Beef cow herds are reducing promptly as a result of the economics of the Congressional ethanol plan. Available affordable grain for livestock is rapidly diminishing. US beef production can be expected to decline and expensive efforts to export US beef products will abruptly end.

Large meat processing companies may find a profitable niche market in some distant country, and as capitalists, all should wish them well. However, when the beef lovers of the USA are forced to enjoy a much smaller portion each year, it may be very unprofitable to globally export prime steaks right past the US consumer.

In 2012 to 2015 there will be very little meat of any kind produced in the USA using grains that could be used for ethanol or human consumption. There will be very little US exporting of beef. Any association, government or business pouring money into export beef market development will obviously not be able to understand NASS data. Anyone placing NAIS tags in cattle ears to comply with the OIE's world export recommendations, or expecting any premium for NAIS identified cattle will probably not be able to produce profitably.

The quality of US beef is so appreciated for taste, nutrition and safety, it is being oversold world wide. More product is exported out and consumed in the USA than produced on US farms and ranches. As US efforts to export beef keep increasing, there will be a greater need for imported beef to supply the US consumer. If US exports increase a billion pounds, a billion more pounds will be imported to fill the need. One savings would be to drop the Beef Checkoff cost to producers by half, due to the fact massive marketing is being conducted for a nonexistent and declining product. This would allow the Beef Checkoff to compete with the other domestic US foods also promoted by USDA Checkoff funding. That would leave $40,000,000 in livestock producer's pockets.

To tighten the equation, corn is a vital world commodity. Congress wants 40% of US corn to be used for ethanol production. For the past 20 years corn exports have been increasing due, in part, to the multimillion dollar Corn Checkoff administered by the USDA. Exports of corn are projected at more than 20 percent of US crop volume and increasing each year. That leaves less than 40 percent for US human and livestock consumption. (Corn is also a major part of the pet food industry.)

In recent years, the world's developing countries have increased population numbers 7 percent a year, an unusually rapid rate by historical standards. The resulting need for grain consumption is an annual, calculable increase. Up to three percent of the good US agricultural farm land is being subdivided, paved or in some way taken out of production annually. The largest agricultural land buyer competing with family farms, even more than ranch mogul Ted Turner, is the US Federal Government. Conservation easements and permanent purchases by the US are removing millions of acres from productive use every year. This travesty, many feel, is the largest production loss of all, taken away from private enterprise and the local tax base.

Many changes will come about in the next few years. The cost of grains and beef will increase, but the bloating costs of export marketing of both should intelligently be reduced from a multimillion dollar guzzle to a small drip.

*Organisation---French spelling.

* * * * *

Darol Dickinson, is manager of one of the 50 largest seed stock purebred cattle operations in the USA. He is involved in livestock marketing, retail meat sales, cattle feeding, and exporting. The Dickinson Cattle Co. Inc., ranch site is www.texaslonghorn.com and his information site in opposition to NAIS is www.naissucks.com. Ph 740 758 5050

"NAIS is a USDA boondoggle"*

     By Darol Dickinson

Please cross post

Today history is made!

On March 27, 2008, Buckeye Farm News published an opposing viewpoint to Bruce Knight's March 13. The Buckeye Farm News has an Ohio farmer readership of over 65,000 active farm members. You can read the two articles by following the two links below:

Bruce Knight's article http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/3-13-08_BFN_page7.pdf/$File/3-13-08_BFN_page7.pdf

Darol Dickinson's response appears in http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/032708_pg7.pdf/$File/032708_pg7.pdf

Darol Dickinson is the owner of Dickinson Cattle Company Inc., and a Belmont County Farm Bureau member. He is founder of NAISSUCKS.COM

For anyone wishing to contact Darol, here is his contact information.

Dickinson Cattle Co., Inc
35000 Muskrat Rd.
Barnesville, OH 43713
Phone 740/758-5050

*Ohio Farm Bureau says,

"Opinions are those of the author. Here are current policies, as established by OFBF's members, on OPINION topics:

OFBF supports a voluntary animal identification system. OFBF believes such a system could improve food safety issues, but remains concerned about confidentiality, liability and cost."

Just when you thought it couldn't get any dumber I get this in the mail.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Senate May Restart Mandatory Animal ID Talks 

Open the link to read and see the source.

http://ofbf.informz.net/admin31/content/template.asp?sid=7329&ptid=218&brandid=3191&uid=754437871&mi=273342

Tom

USDA sued by Humane Society

I am sure you have all heard about the USDA being sued by HSUS, if not this link http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hsus_files_suit_against_usda_022708.html tells all about it.

More important is the 18 page brief HSUS filed in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA can be viewed here http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/farm/hsus-v-schafer-usda-complaint.pdf . It is an ease read. Even we "farmers with a sixth grade education" can appreciate the clear language. I am beginning to rethink my personal dislikes of the HSUS. The enemy of my enemy just could be my ally. Food for thought and it is not beef.

Tom

Farm Bill brings Foot and Mouth Disease to your home

Letter to Congress

I am very concerned with a provision in the Farm Bill H.R. 2419 Section 7108 and a companion Section 11048 that will permit the USDA to for the first time to bring contagious pathogens such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to the mainland of the United States for the purpose of research.

I fear the USDA may be setting us up for a disaster of greater proportion than Al Qaeda ever could. Remember the FMD outbreak in Great Britain was a result of a leak of the virus from the government's Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright.

If such a problem were it to occur today in the US, it would be contained to Plum Island Animal Disease Center and not the US mainland. The Farm Bill will allow the pathogen here on the US mainland.

We do not need an outbreak of FMD so the USDA can test either the FMD vaccine or the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Act now before it is too late.

NAIS and ( Clinton, Obama, and McCain )

We have come to a unique moment in this election where we just possibly could influence one or more of the candidates to take an anti NAIS stand. I know what everyone is thinking, not a chance they are already pro-NAIS. But never forget they are politicians. They have already spent more on this campaign than the national budget of some countries. We need to make them know they will not get the vote of the small family farms or the employees who depend on those farms for their livelihood. All we need is to get one of them to say no to NAIS and the others will jump on the bandwagon to make it a bigger NO to NAIS. The next round of primary elections will be make or break for Clinton/Obama. I think a letter writing campaign is what is needed. I have already done my part and emailed all of them my thoughts about the damage to the national and state economies NAIS will cause. And how farmers are up in arms over this issue and it will cost them votes.

*** Important note Use the full name National Animal Identification System and not NAIS because there are two different programs with the acronym NAIS, the other is under Homeland Security and stands for Nationwide Automatic Identification System and has nothing to do with animals or farming. Lets not confuse the politicians.

Here are links to send email to the campaigns:

Clinton http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/

Obama http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

McCain http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/

NAIS research, help needed
Does anyone have any knowledge of Cooperative Agreements between the
USDA and the American Horse Council (AHC) or the Arabian Horse
Association (AHA)?
Tom

Send Congress and Bush your thoughts on NAIS http://www.congress.org

I just finished reading NAIS letters that were posted at http://www.congress.org . I searched through the last 800 letters and only found 18 that addressed NAIS.  The good news is all 18 are against NAIS. Each person who takes the time to send a letter on http://www.congress.org is an important vote in this battle.

The shortest letter was only one line and was as equally effective as a two page letter. One of the letters, which is very good, was written by Lorry Wagner who gave me her permission to reprint it here. You have her permission to borrow and customize it. The important thing is send a letter at http://www.congress.org . NO FEAR! Your personal information will not appear on the internet unless you place it in the body of the letter as Lorry did with her website.

To:
President George Bush
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Rep. Kevin McCarthy

January 28, 2008

Dear Mr. President, Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein and Representative Kevin McCarthy,

As a breeder of Purebred Arabian horses since 1960 and having been very active in leadership positions in my local Arabian Club, to National Organizations to representing the United States in World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO) Conferences held in countries around the world, I wish to register my extremely strong protest against this very flawed proposed law entitled NAIS.

I also oppose the repressive and dictatorial practices of getting NAIS quietly passed. NAIS will eliminate the local farmers' markets and our ability to deal directly with the livestock producer and the equine producer.

Horses are vitally important to us. Without our survival as a free and independent people, there may not be any more horses in the United States. Please listen to people who are actually involved with horses! We know what a disaster the proposed NAIS bill is.

President Bush, I implore you to immediately veto this bill if it should somehow and shamefully come to you desk.

To check on my credibility: http://www.sdarabians.com 

Inyokern , CA

Thanks

Tom

Help fight NAIS http://www.wiwfarm.com/doomsday.html

Yesterday February 2, 2008 Vermont farmer Sharon Zecchinelli was to debate NAIS with United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Bruce Knight on The Food Chain with Michael Olson.

Bruce Knight failed to show; apparently Sharon was just too scary. You can hear the 45 minute program by clicking or following this link http://www.metrofarm.com/assets/podcasts/2008-02-02_575dnais4.mp3

Tom

USDA… NAIS and the small farm
Is the USDA really protecting the nation's food supply? Will NAIS
help? On January 30th 2008 the HSUS released a video of animal abuse
in Westland/Hallmark Meat Packing Co. of Chino California. Shame on
the HSUS since they sat on the information for many months prior to
its release but bigger shame on the USDA whose inspectors were in the
plant every day and never saw the abuse. The real issue is not the
abuse, rather the processing of sick "downer cows" into meat products
for human consumption. It is these "downer cows" that are the source
of mad cow disease in our food. This one meat packing plant annually
ships 27 million pounds of meat to 34 states primarily to be used in
the USDA's Federal Food and Nutrition school lunch programs.

How does the USDA's NAIS program work when the cow has already been
through the meat grinder? And right under the USDA inspectors nose.
OH, WAIT, I KNOW THE ANSWER! NAIS will get rid of those pesky small
farms and then USDA can spend all its time working with the CAFOs and
inspecting the Westland/Hallmark Meat Packers.

Maybe the USDA has been eating too much of their own inspected meat
and are a little MAD!!!!

Want set the record straight and tell the story of the small farm on
Capitol Hill? Plan on attending and contact Liz Reitzig 301-860-0535.

Coordinate your plans at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/noNAISmarchonDC/


Farm Food Voices DC 2008
2nd Annual National Small Farm Lobby Day
and Legislative Reception
Wednesday March 5, 2008 Washington, DC

1. Call your U.S. Representative and Senator NOW and make an
appointment to speak with them OR THEIR staff Ag Aide on March 5th.
(Staffers are just as important!!!). Find your legislators (enter zip
in top of left column): http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

2. Invite your legislators AND THEIR STAFFERS to the reception at
11:00 (FAX your invitation).

Event information: www.nicfa.org email: info@...  phone: Liz
Reitzig 301.860.0535

no NAIS march on DC

A new group had been formed at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/noNAISmarchonDC/  to coordinate a NAIS
protest in cooperation with

Farm Food Voices DC 2008
2nd Annual National Small-farm Lobby Day
and Legislative Reception
Wednesday March 5, 2008 Washington, DC

The group should be used to distribute information and ideas in regard
to this event. Also, anyone willing to put together events at state
level are welcome to use this forum.

This is NOT the place to debate the presidential election. Let's
concentrate on this one day and make it a HUGE success that just cannot
be ignored!

NO NAIS March on Washington

Hello everyone,
I had no idea what response this thread would create when I started
it 24 hours ago! I have read all the responses only to discover that
many of you have the same limitations I have with being away from the
farm. However, many of you mentioned Small-farm Lobby Day on March
5th could result in a very good event against NAIS in Washington. So
please let me open this for discussion.

1. Farm Food Voices DC 2008
     2nd Annual National Small-farm Lobby Day
     and Legislative Reception
     Wednesday March 5, 2008 Washington, DC
      See http://www.vicfa.net for full details.

2. Everyone who cannot attend can have letters hand carried and
delivered by those of
     us who can attend.

3. Members of ECAHS (Eastern Crabbet Arabian Horse Society) located
in Virginia will be attending the event. They are hopping mad about
NAIS and could help deliver letters.

4. Deliver a letter form Get a neighbor.

5. We may be able to get a good anti-NAIS spokesperson to attend and
address the issue.

It matters not whether we raise food or have an animal for pleasure
or a pet the issue is the loss of our civil rights and property
rights. My horses are not a part of the "National Herd"! The "Nation"
did not breed them, feed them, or clean up after them! (I rant too
much)

Time is short. If this sounds like an idea you are interested in then
leave me a personal note at nais-no-more@... and we can share
email addresses and get the group coordinated

Tom

Washington Post March 15, 2008
150,000 small farmers and horse owners have converged on the
Washington Mall carrying protest signs reading "NO NAIS IN THE 48".
The group leaders say they are protesting their loss of civil rights
under the new National Animal Identification System. The group will
be meeting with congressional leaders to voice their concerns.


This is fiction, but I believe that is what it will take to stop NAIS
or at least make a course correction. When I read the Yahoo Groups I
see left-wing, right-wing, and the strongly religious. They,
regardless of their politics and religious orientation, are all
strongly united against NAIS. What I do not see is the one or two
charismatic leaders that can pull off such a march.

I am personally willing to help get such a march on the buses and
headed to Washington.  Anyone else interested in stepping up to the
bat????

Tom
http://www.wiwfarm.com/doomsday.html

If the NAIS is not defeated we all need to be prepared for more
cruelty and abandonment of horses. While our horses will never be
allowed to suffer I fear for the treatment other horses will receive.
Let me explain…

Diane and I fall into that "small farmer" category. We raise and
train Arabian horses. If you recall, horses are not part of the food
chain.  They do not carry or transmit any diseases that affect other
animals in the food chain. Yet, they are included in NAIS. Each horse
requires a microchip. Every movement requires reporting to the
Department of Agriculture within 24 hours. Each animal that leaves
its birthplace is required to have a 30 day certified veterinary
health certificate before it can be moved.

The simple act of taking a trail ride or attending a horse show or,
as we sometimes do, taking a horse to a cancer fund raiser requires
all of these expenses and red tape under NAIS.

Very simply put….We are out of business. We are trying to find good
homes for unsalable horses. Owing a horse under NAIS is a large
liability, especially when you consider a $1000 fine for each
violation. For more information about how it affects horses please
check our website http://www.wiwfarm.com/doomsday.html

Tom

p.s.
We each need to contact our state House and Senate members as well as
Governor and voice our opposition to NAIS. The State Departments of
Agriculture are receiving funds from the USDA to bring NAIS to the
states so NAIS will be mandatory at the state level.

"The ultimate tragedy is not the brutality of the bad people, but the
silence of the good people." -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr

----- Original Message -----
> Clearly, the jump in  MA premise numbers represents all the people who
> didn't reply in protest when they notified us in November that we had two
> weeks to notify them or we would be forcibly added to the list.
>

To add to my original message, they said at the time that they had notified
something like 10,000 farmers -- was that the number? Does anyone remember
the actual number? If 10,000 is the right number, the jump from 1,685 to
8,064 means that nearly half rejected the proposal, which is a lot when you
consider how short the time frame was and how few people usually bother to
reply to mailings of any sort.

Bonnie


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Henny" <henwhisperer@...>
> To: <MA_Against_NAIS@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:33 PM
> Subject: [MA_Against_NAIS] Hey Massachusetts!
>
>
> > Where is everybody? Did ya notice the jump in premises registration
> > numbers in Mass. On 12/11/07 Massachusetts had 1,685 premises
> > registered or 47.4%. but on 12/31/07 the number jumped to 8,064
> > premises registered or 226.8%.
> >

Clearly, the jump in  MA premise numbers represents all the people who
didn't reply in protest when they notified us in November that we had two
weeks to notify them or we would be forcibly added to the list.

Bonnie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Henny" <henwhisperer@...>
To: <MA_Against_NAIS@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 9:33 PM
Subject: [MA_Against_NAIS] Hey Massachusetts!


> Where is everybody? Did ya notice the jump in premises registration
> numbers in Mass. On 12/11/07 Massachusetts had 1,685 premises
> registered or 47.4%. but on 12/31/07 the number jumped to 8,064
> premises registered or 226.8%.
>
> We never got any follow up from the dust up with MDAR. How'd that turn
> out?
>
> Chatter! We need some chatter. We're all in the same fight.
>
> Sharon in Vermont
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1210 - Release Date: 1/5/2008
11:46 AM
>
>

Where is everybody? Did ya notice the jump in premises registration
numbers in Mass. On 12/11/07 Massachusetts had 1,685 premises
registered or 47.4%. but on 12/31/07 the number jumped to 8,064
premises registered or 226.8%.

We never got any follow up from the dust up with MDAR. How'd that turn
out?

Chatter! We need some chatter. We're all in the same fight.

Sharon in Vermont

***ACTION ALERT***

FARM BILL PAVES WAY FOR MANDATORY NAIS

CALL YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE

Yesterday, July 19, the U.S. House Ag. Committee passed the Farm Bill with a provision that paves the way for mandatory NAIS.  Inserted by Collin Peterson (U.S. House Ag. Committee Chairman (D-MN)) the provision allows linking mandatory NAIS to Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) by repealing a law that now prevents that.
 
THE FARM BILL WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE FULL U.S. HOUSE BY THE END OF JULY. YOU MUST GET THROUGH TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IMMEDIATELY.
 
In short: COOL becomes law in 2008 and requires source verification of livestock stamped "U.S."  Source verification can be provided privately by industry, but will be used as leverage for mandatory NAIS if Peterson's provision passes the full House.
 
The current law reads: "The Secretary [of Agriculture] shall not use a mandatory identification system to verify the country of origin of a covered commodity." Peterson's provision would repeal this law.
 
Peterson's provision states: REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON MANDATORY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING. (Title XI, Subtitle B, Section 11101 of the Farm Bill).

NOTE: Representatives are being told by Peterson's office that this provision is just in there "in case of emergencies"...if NAIS becomes mandatory then without this they wouldn't be able to use the NAIS database.  This makes no sense and is a smokescreen. It also means Peterson is planning on mandatory NAIS.  If we do not stop this NOW, they will probably be able to force mandatory NAIS.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE 
ACTION: Contact your representative and tell him or her you OPPOSE Title XI, Subtitle B, Section 11101 of the Farm Bill that allows linking COOL to mandatory NAIS. Call and SEND FAXES.  (find your Rep. at: http://www.house.gov/ ) (Note: For email, go to the individual rep.websites at http://house.gov -- most use email forms).  Tell your Representative to REMOVE this provision from the Farm Bill.

If you can find a way to meet personally with your Representative, or his agricultural aide, PLEASE DO SO AT ONCE!

SAMPLE PHONE and FAX MESSAGES:

Ask to speak to your Representative's Agriculture Aide.WHAT TO SAY: My name is ______ and I am calling about the Farm Bill.  I would like to speak to the agricultural aide for Representative______; who is that please?  Please ask Representative ______ to remove Title XI, Subtitle B, Section 11101 of the Farm Bill.  This section allows a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS) to be linked to Country of Origin Labeling.  I oppose NAIS. This section would allow COOL to be used as leverage for forcing mandatory NAIS.  NAIS has nothing to do with Country of Origin Labeling and the law currently prohibits using mandatory NAIS for COOL.  This section would change the law and allow COOL to be used as an excuse for forcing NAIS on farmers who do not want it, do not need it, and will be destroyed by it.  NAIS is not an "emergency" system, it would be a permanent, unnecessary burden on America's small farmers.  The overwhelming majority of America's small farmers are not affected by COOL, yet they are the ones who would be destroyed by a mandatory NAIS.  Americans want local food and NAIS will destroy local agriculture.   Please tell Representative ____ to remove this provision from the Farm Bill.
 
Thank you.
 
FAX: 
 
Dear Congressman/Congresswoman_______,
 
I am writing about the Farm Bill to urgently request that you remove Title XI, Subtitle B, Section 11101.  This section allows a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS) to be linked to Country of Origin Labeling.
 
I oppose NAIS.  NAIS has nothing to do with Country of Origin Labeling and the law currently prohibits using mandatory NAIS for COOL.  This section would change the law and allow COOL to be used as an excuse for forcing NAIS on farmers who do not want it, do not need it, and will be destroyed by it.  NAIS is not an "emergency" system, it would be a permanent, unnecessary burden on America's small farmers. The overwhelming majority of America's small farmers are not affected by COOL, yet they are the ones who would be destroyed by a mandatory NAIS. Americans want local food and NAIS will destroy local agriculture.   Please remove Title XI, Subtitle B, Section 11101 from the Farm Bill. 
 
Thank you.
 
Name
Address
Phone number
(You must include this information so they can verify you are from their district.  If you don't include it they will toss your fax).
 

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