Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Action Alert

In this issue:	Organizations Urge Congress to Eliminate Funding for NAIS
	Take Action: Submit Written Comments! Come to the Third Annual Farm and Food Leadership Conference

Organizations Urge Congress to Eliminate Funding for NAIS

Over 80 organizations sent a letter to Congress supporting the elimination of funding for NAIS.  The letter notes that NAIS “imposes high costs and paperwork burdens on family farmers and creates incentives for CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) and vertically integrated systems.  This burdensome, ill-conceived, and badly implemented program should not receive any federal funding.”  It details many of the problems with NAIS, including the lack of any scientific support for the USDA’s claim that the country needs 48-hour traceback; the high cost of implementing NAIS; the fact that NAIS will not provide any food safety benefits; and the unfair burdens and disincentives it places on family farms.

The House Committee's version of the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill eliminated funding for NAIS, and no amendment has been offered to re-instate that funding.  But on the Senate side, the Senate Committee's version includes $14 million in funding.  Senator Tester (D-MT) has stated that he intends to offer an amendment to eliminate that funding.  Stay tuned for more when the bill heads to the Senate floor!

You can read the letter and see all the signatories  here

Take Action: Submit Written Comments on NAIS!

While Congress debates funding, USDA is still taking written comments on NAIS.  The opposition to NAIS was loud and clear at the listening sessions, with around 90% of the people testifying against a mandatory program.  Now it's time to send an avalanche of written comments opposing NAIS!  The comments send a message to Congress, as well as to USDA, showing how many people are opposed to this program!

You can use our sample comments to help write your own.  Be sure to personalize them to have the greatest impact!

Submit comments online here
 
The Federal Register site can be confusing and difficult.  Here's what to do:
1)  Click on the yellow balloon under the "add comments" column
2)  Fill out the required fields and type in your comments. If your comments are more than a paragraph or so, we recommend that you first write them in a word document, and then copy & paste them into the comments field.
3)  Click on "next step"
4)  At the end of the process, you should receive a confirmation number.

or MAIL your comments to:
 

    Attn NAIS
    Surveillance and Identification Programs
    National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS,
    4700 River Road Unit 200
    Riverdale, MD 20737

Come to the Third Annual Farm and Food Leadership Conference!

Join us for the Third Annual Farm and Food Leadership Conference on September 14-15 in San Antonio, TX!  Be part of an exciting gathering of non-profit leaders, farmers and ranchers, farmers market organizers, local foods activists, and more!  This two-day event will feature speakers on issues critical to both farmers and consumers, including:

    * Keynote address by Sally Fallon on the Health and Economic Benefits of Raw Milk
    * Food Safety Bills: What's Happening in Congress?
    * Genetically Modified Foods and Their Impact on Mammal Health
    * National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
    * Organic Certification: How do Farmers and Consumers Make the Choice?
    * Climate Change and Agriculture
    * and more

This conference will also give you the tools you need to take action to protect your farm and your food supply!  There will be speakers on how to lobby, create social networks, and approach the media.
 
WHEN: Monday, September 14 - Tuesday, September 15

WHERE: Pearl Brewery on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.  Pearl Brewery is a historic brewery that now houses a thriving farmers market, a branch of the Culinary Institute of America, shops, and housing.

For more information and to register, go to http://et.ratepoint.com/lt/5faf36fccab13dc1b07de77007f7cd9e/1c39b5b40721442c0d9375537a2fe59f 

Support Our Work

Please consider joining or giving an additional donation at  http://et.ratepoint.com/lt/7111f3aff1e0ff89210593f735debd12/1c39b5b40721442c0d9375537a2fe59f 
 
We need your financial support.  And, just as importantly, the strength of our voice depends on our membership!  We are frequently asked, by both legislators and staffers, how many members we have.  The more members, the more they will listen. Please help us be a strong voice.

 

Working together, we can make our voices heard!

Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org
Phone: 512-243-9404
Toll-free: 866-687-6452