This is a discussion group for Maryland residents who
are opposed to the harmful National Animal Identification
System (NAIS) which is being implemented by the USDA's
APHIS through the states as a result of executive order.
Under the guise of national security and protecting the
nation's food supply, this complex and invasive program
will offer little in the way of protection for American
citizens and their livestock; it will, however, benefit
large corporations such as Monsanto and Cargill, foreign
interests such as the foreign-owned horse-slaughter plants
in the U.S., and serve to get more business for large U.S.
meat producers from foreign nations... at the expense of
small farms and individuals.

The NAIS, formerly known as the USAIP, will benefit large
agribusiness related corporations at the expense of small
farms and other individuals owning any type of livestock,
no matter how few animals one owns.

Anyone who has any livestock on one's farm or at one's home,
even if just a few chickens or a couple of horses, one will
be required to have one's farm or home registered as a
"premise," which will then be assigned GPS coordinates so
that it can be monitored via satellite surveillance by the
government. Furthermore, every animal that one owns, which
can be classified as livestock, must be identified to the
government, tagged or RFID chipped, and be tracked by
the government from birth to death. Any time that animal
leaves the "premises," its movements must be reported to
the government within 24 hours. If you take a cow to a
4H exhibit or take your horse for ride down the road or
anywhere off of your property, you will have to notify the
government. If you do not comply, your veterinarian may
be required to report you to the government and not treat
your animals; fines for non-compliance may be high, such
as $1,000 per day or higher, and, or, the confiscation of
your animals.

Maryland's Dept. of Agr. has begun work on implementing the NAIS in Maryland.