Swine Show Exhibitors Must Have Premise Identification as of August 1
Posted by carson4575 on June 24, 2009
Participants in swine shows and exhibits will be required to have an official premise identification card issued by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry effective August 1. Officials say the rule will protect both economic and social interests.
“This is a very proactive step that lets Oklahomans decide how best to protect the health of our citizens, our livestock industry and our livestock show industry,” said Governor Brad Henry. “Suggestions were made earlier by the Centers for Disease Control and some commercial producers to eliminate swine shows completely, but this is a much better alternative that lets our 4-H and FFA members compete in livestock shows.”
Even though the Novel Influenza A-H1N1 is not known to exist in any U.S. swine herd, it is possible that a person with an influenza virus could transmit the disease to swine. State Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach, said if an influenza outbreak were to occur, rapid tracking of infected animals and animals they could have been in contact with would be critical to containing the disease.
“This is a tool we will need if an outbreak of influenza were to strike our state,” he said. “We are simply preparing ourselves in advance.”
A large percentage of show swine are kept on school farms, Peach said. In those cases the school farm will have its own premise identification and the exhibitors will not need additional identification.
“If the animal is always kept at the school, no other premise identification is required,” he said. “Also, if an exhibitor shows up at a livestock show without premise identification the new rule does not refuse them to show if they fill out the required identification form immediately.”
There is no charge for premise identification and all information is strictly confidential and cannot be released. No other livestock species brought for exhibition are required to have the premise identification at this time.
The State Board of Agriculture voted unanimously to approve the measure at its monthly board meeting Wednesday.
Premise identification is already required at many swine shows including the Fall Classic held in Duncan annually. Arizona, Colorado and Ohio also require premise identification for participants.
Walter Jeffries said
Tricky way to make “voluntary” mandatory. NAIS only benefits the exporters, Big Ag, government and tag makers. It should not be mandated on small farmers and homesteaders. Our Constitution continues to erode.
Tammy Alger said
Start with cold water, put the frog in. Turn on the heat. As the water gets warmer and warmer, the frog doesn’t notice. By the time it is hot, it is too late. The frog is cooked. Perhaps it is time to rethink livestock shows sponsored by government run programs as the elite in government seem to think that our lives, our farms, our livestock are theirs to regulate out of existence.
Patricia Hampton said
Due to the legal language, obtaining a Premises ID, actually signs legal rights to property over to the government, leaving the tenanat making payments and doing the upkeep on the property, not even aware that has handed over all property rights. Tell me please, just how surreptitiously stealing peoples’ homes and land helps protect animals from diseases that are not even present in this nation?
Lin Ellis said
Thomas Jefferson said, “A government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything away.” Agree with the first comment that this is sneaky! NAIS will effectively eliminate the small farmer. I should think, in OK, politicians would not be undermining the livelihoods of their constituents by pushing through the mandatory premesis IDs for swine producers. Only a matter of time before it exetends to cattle, sheep, horses…where does it end? Just remember the small people vote, too! Please put and end to this and other elements of NAIS before rural America consists only of Big Ag!
esbee said
HOw many of these 4h kids actually legally own the property their pigs are raised on? I highly question the legality of a minor to sign up property they do not legally have title to. But does the USDA really care? Not when they are owned lock stock and barrel by corporate agriculture. Have they heard anything at the listening sessions being held across the country….the people are over 90% against NAIS, and any thing that has to do with NAIS, such as registering premises. Words have meaning as in any contract.
Those who sign up are not being told the whole story. Once they sign up for NAIS, they no longer hold true property title, They become a “stakeholder” on a “premises”. (see any law library for definitions on these words.)
NAIS will not work to increase the health of our livestock. Its only purpose is to convince export markets that we have an effective animal health program, and to make sure corporate middlemen are not liable when the inevitable outbreaks occur.
sbar said
does this include pet pot belly pig shows?
of course, how silly of me to ask…the USDA wants to know the whereabouts of every last livestock animal, whether pet or food and every movement that animal makes…unless of course the animal belongs to corporate ag…they get the luxury of just one lot number per groups of animals…and few reporting events…how convenient for them.
NAIS is trying to be a one-size-fits-all program yet there is a huge difference between granny’s back yard hens, a pot belly pig in suburbia and the multi-billion dollar corporate ag and factory farms, which this program was ultimately made for. (oh by the way, did I mention the factory farms get one lot number per groups of animals, but granny has to microchip every animal she has and report all their births, deaths and off-property movements.)
Livestock owners will be under closer surveillance than illegals, drug dealers, convicted six offenders/child molesters. Currently in the USA, only convicted six offenders/child molesters have to register their premises and file movement reports.
John Dach said
Have you heard or are you aware of the massive move AGAINST NAIS by the small farmers and backyard operators, the very folks who are the mainstay of the county fairs and livestock shows? Who do you think is going to sign a contract with the government (to get their PIN) stipulating that they are now stockholders (NOT owners) of their ‘PREMISE’ (not their property), there by putting an unrecorded easement on their “premise” (their property) and that the agreement stipulates that now the government can come onto their “premise” at any time, with no notification, for inspections? Also, what good is the PIN (Premise ID Number) if there is no connection of the PIN to the animal (on statement that the animals had to be chipped, just that the premises had to have a PIN)? Also, doesn’t the livestock owner sigh up with the fair, give their name, address, phone number and what animals they are showing? Is this not enough information to be able to track any animal that is/was at the show? How is a PIN going to make any tracking any better than the information you already have and have had for every show ever since you have been having livestock shows..? How much money is the federal government going to give the state for going along with their insane program? Who put the pressure on your officials to require this forced program on your farmers and livestock people? Are you not supposed to be working “for” your constituents and watching out for THEIR best interests. Do YOU REALLY know about NAIS and do you really KNOW what the farmers of your state want and thus do what THEY want you to do? I bet you really do not know the REAL ramifications of NAIS are. I bet if you were a small farmer, you would not want to be involved with this sort of governmental heavy handed, oppressive “requirements”. You sign up your house as a premise and become a contracted stakeholder of your premise and consed to un announced federal inspections and having an unrecorded easement on your “premise” forever……………. You wouldn’t, so why do you expect your states farmers and livestock owners to do so? I just cannot believe how folks are so willing to force this sort of “stuff” on others. Please do your job that the citizens of your state “hired/voted” you to do. Stand up for the citizens, don’t fold to the FEDS.
eileen anderson said
Requiring premises id for a problem that has not occurred yet is another example of the liberty our government will strip from us for our “safety”. Premises Id adds nothing as the addresses of exhibitors are already provided on the entry forms. Using children to coerce parents into premises id is a creative way for the state to meet the enrollment benchmarks of it’s cooperative agreements with the USDA and get that funding.
nick said
i always thought the great state of ok was a lead me state not a follow me state.i can not believe a state like ok with its great 4h and ffa programs would bend to a federal want to happen rule.the we the people do not want it.maybe the great state of ok has just drank to much of that kool-aid the federal government has poured out,and now it is pay back time.i would hope not.did you drink the kool-aid? thank you for selling out the best programs out there (4h-ffa},save a bible study.shame on you.not your friend,nick
Steph Nelson said
Another ‘back door’ method USDA is trying to make a voluntary program mandatory! Let’s see, they’ve used ‘mad cow disease’, bird flu, and now ’swine’ flu to scare people into believing NAIS will save us all. Shoot, experts asked the press and public to stop calling it ’swine’ flu because it doesn’t actually have anything to do with SWINE! After all these years and taxpayer dollars spent trying to get us all to fall in line with the government’s plan without good results, it’s down to frightening the public with propaganda – does this sound like the USA we all believe in? I think not. Please, OK legislators and Gov. Henry, don’t let Oklahoma follow the path USDA is laying for us!
Amanda Wallace said
For a voluntary program, you are sure making it more mandatory with every passing day. I will not be showing any animal, and neither will my children. Ever. I care more for my animals than any government official could think about. The State of Oklahoma is attempting to curtail my rights to raise my own food, which I know to be cleaner, healthier and more palatable than anything you pass at inspection at a sanctioned slaughterhouse. Protecting our food source? Not by a long shot. If you were concerned about our food safety, you’d actually enforce the laws that are already in place. And you’d stop allowing animals that are raised in factory conditions a place in the meat coolers in the grocery stores. Subclinical antibiotics, hormones, and CAFO conditions are deplorable, yet you want to stop me from growing healthy, hormone-free animals on my own property? So much for protecting the Constitution of the United States, and the State of Oklahoma’s own Constitution.
Marsha Dodson said
NAIS is the first issue that I have actively been involved in because I thought congress and farm organizations would represent our best interest. What I have discovered is, there is no representation for the people and wow, when did this happen? The organizations will only speak to congress and congress will only speak to the organizations but nobody is talking to the people. The people take it to the media and the media is silenced by the organizations.
When did organizations start drafting plans and making polices without informing their membership? It has only been by word-of-mouth that a few members have learned anything about NAIS. It has been my experience (because some of these organizations have told me) that NAIS is too controversial to share with members and/or to allow a vote. Also, while these USDA NAIS (consensus only) “listening sessions” are appreciated, it is also necessary to inform the people that they are occurring. According to USDA, only 15 percent of the majority of cattle owners has a computer and the organizations have made no effort to inform members of the listening sessions or their opportunity to post their comments on the Federal Register.
Therefore, you have USDA and Congress listening to organizations and the people are totally by-passed. This being my first experience in the process, I was clueless that this could happen in the United States of America. I have listened to USDA and organization speakers and I have read the NAIS documents that they have written. The talk contradicts the written plan and they have promoted and eluded to congress that NAIS is a about “food safety”, when there is absolutely not one-ounce of food safety in the entire plan!
I was hopeful that the Obama Administration would change the way “the peoples’ business” was conducted in Washington but it is more of the same. The USDA is an executive branch of the President and Congress has authority but has failed the American people in their oversight duties of this agency.
This one issue (NAIS) demonstrates the value given to the citizens of the United States, the Constitution, public health and safety, trade agreements, anti-trust, transparency, the media…and I must ask…where is our democracy?
If I had a voice to congress, I would warn that….
NAIS has no benefit for the American Consumer
NAIS contains absolutely, NO “food safety.”
NAIS will lower U.S. food standards in trade agreements.
NAIS will potentially increase food prices by eliminating competition
NAIS contains no contamination inspections
NAIS has no disease testing
NAIS has no disease prevention
NAIS promotes more CAFOs with no environmental provisions or studies.
NAIS does not have the technology for the speed of commerce
NAIS will destroy our current proven “traceability system”
NAIS gives the meatpackers the ability to export U.S. meat to import unsafe meat
NAIS creates a larger U.S. trade deficit
NAIS does not support the American farmers and will close a majority of farms.
NAIS Benefit Cost Analysis, has been proven to be erroneous!
NAIS is a theory with no scientific quantification of the scenarios mentioned in the plan.
Of course, if my voice were to be heard by congress, then they would call USDA or the organizations that authored this plan and they will assure congress and congress will never bother to read the NAIS documents. Then you (might) receive a letter from congress that “they support food safety.”
For those that have read the documents, I wish you luck on being heard or represented by the media, the White House or Congress.
Micah said
Wow, is it 2009 or 1984? Way to go government, you’re making George Orwell a prophet. How can our state elected officials live in such an agriculture focused state and not realize the effects decisions like this are going to have on its small farmers? I read a beautiful article by Wendell Berry this week about how NAIS gives us small farmers a great cause for civil disobedience. I, for one, will go to jail before I register my premises. Like the post above, I am watching the Constitution erode on a daily basis.
Sally said
Just one of the reasons my family does not participate in livestock shows. My animals will not be a part of NAIS. This is supposed to protect the swine from being infected? I will join Wendell Berry in his stand against NAIS. Send this 50 something grandmother to jail!
Karen said
NAIS IS ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN. Do not let this go through…it is the beginning of the end of our rights as small farmers and livestock producers. Our small herd of animals poses LESS of a threat than the HUGE herds (which, incidentally, get to have only ONE umbrella ID for their whole gigantic herd) that BIG AG has!! YET, they do not have to track every single one of them like we do?? Does anyone realize that Monsanto (and/or other CORPORATE AG GIANTS) is going to be the SELLER of the scanners that will have to be used for the microchips on ALL of our (small farmers) animals (lest we be FINED $10,000 or IMPRISONED for violation of NAIS Policy)??? What kind of racket is this anyway?? No one realizes how our own government (USDA who is supposed to PROTECT our food but are so far down in the pockets of Corporate Ag they can’t see daylight anymore!) are sneaking in the back door now that people have stood up against this heinous and unconstitutional program!! They are using scare tactics like crazy, the Swine Flu (which they are saying was more than likely LAB-CREATED due to the different strains mixed together!!!) “epidemic” which really was NOT (more people die from normal flu viruses every year than have ever died in total from Swine Flu!!!); Vesicular Stomatitis (a virus that will run it’s course in a week or two and that’s it–nowhere NEAR as bad as hoof & mouth disease which has been around forever also!!)! WAKE UP PEOPLE!! Stand up and take back your rights before it’s too late and we have NOTHING left but a COMMUNIST COUNTRY!!!
susan said
we hard working farmers have plenty to do. Clearly the polititians don’t. Stop making things for us to do and think about how you can serve us. That is your job
susan
Harlan said
Can’t find this “rule” that was “unanimously approved” on Wednesday June 24. I called ODAFF on Friday. ODAFF staff said they were still drafting it and it would be finished Monday. What gives?
How the State Board of Ag approve an unfinished draft?
How does ODAFF staff change something approved unanimously by the State Board of Ag?
carson4575 said
Harlan:
Who did you talk to today? We passed out copies to anyone who wanted one on Wednesday at the Board meeting. –Jack Carson
steve b said
I have been to many places on the web reading articles on NAIS..Where comments are allowed they are overwhelmingly AGAINST NAIS!
I’d like to see them do this to soccer moms…register homes where even one soccer ball resides, microchip the soccer equipment and file reports on every game and practice Johnny does with that equipment just so pro-soccer teams can travel the world saying they are disease free…that would go over like a lead balloon and people would take to the streets in major riots….But if they can chip our 4-legged critters, the 2 legged ones ain’t far behind!
So that is corporate ag added “animal disease tracking” and claim it for “food safety” to the NAIS plan (it did come later) so it would not sound so bad to the peoples who eat.
Michele said
I raise show horses and the government will chip them over my dead body. Have been fighting NAIS for five years now and I will never give in.
See you in court Big Brother.
James Stepp said
Up to this point in life, I have not been involved politically in any sigificant way. However, recently, it seems that it has become necessary in order to survive as a small farmer and producer. But, it doesn’t seem that any of the state and federal regulators are listening.
I try to put myself in your place to understand your motivations. I have to admit that I have not been able to do so. Government employees have reached the point that they would rather see small farmers and ranchers go out of business than attempt to support, help and foster rural economic development and safe, local foods. I know there must be some macro reason they want to do that, but I can’t understand why.
Mark my word, NAIS sounds the death toll for small producers.
I don’t believe that for a minute that my efforts will stave off the ambitions of the people behind this, but I didn’t want to go down without at least sounding off against this horrible unrealistice, invasive set of regulations.
nick said
to all those that might be reading this blog: there is a cattle group out there that is against nais,their dues are not high and they get things done.i know you guys are concerned about the type of animals that you raise,but i must tell you, stop it in the cattle and it stops everywhere.R-CALF usa is the group you and your friends need to join.dont just take my word for it,check them out your self. time is running out,
steve b said
Tracking disease is not new. In 1938-Nazi Germany targeted one segment of society they thought responsible for spreading disease, the JEWS. A law was passed that ALL JEWS had to register every piece of property they own into a massive database. IT worked. The Gestapo knew exactly who to raid by the value of their art and jewelry. We know the rest of the story, a minor event called the Holocaust! That massive database was run by IBM, even though they deny it to this day.
In the same time period, the Russian Communist Govt under Stalin starved millions of citizens in the most fertile part of the country because the law stated that ALL the grain they grew belonged to the govt! They were not even allowed to eat what they grew!
The reason was to modernize the farms and sell the grain globally, which did happen but at look at the cost.
The kids today have no idea of what it means to live free and without govt interference in every part of their lives. I remember the cold war with communist threats, my grandparents came from Italy to escape fascism under Mussolini, where the govt owned all the cows.
Ryan said
I find it amazing that this idea was ever contemplated or entertained for even a moment in the middle of the heartland. I find it shocking that it could be implemented in Oklahoma at all. You are all failing in your duties to morally and ethically represent the citizens of this state when you endeavor to implement such a ethically bankrupt policy . Numerous Oklahomans and others across this great nation practice subsistence farming. It is a time honored practice which teaches the values of self reliance and independence on which our Nation was founded. How any reasonable man or woman could come to the conclusion that this is a good idea is unimaginable much less constitutional . I can only echo what others here have penned before me. Stop looking out for the interests other parties and the furtherance of a big government agenda.
John Washington said
I must be missing something. I have read all the comments on this blog and most have completely missed the requirement in this rule. All you have to do is obtain a FREE premise ID number. There is NO cost to this program. Nothing in these rules requires anything that costs money. You don’t have to microchip anything.
I guess I see this entirely different from everyone else who has elected to post to this blog. If you are that opposed to getting a premise ID, don’t participate in the livestock shows. There is no RIGHT to have shows – they are a privilege. My parents taught me many years ago that with privileges come responsibilities. If people don’t wish to meet those responsibilities they don’t deserve the privileges.
I won’t hesitate to get the required premise ID number so my children can participate in the county fair and hopefully even the state fairs. Life is full of rules that we all have to comply with. This is just another of those rules. Unlike virtually everything else the government is proposing these days, this rule won’t cost me a penny and I truly believe it is a step that will protect my privilege of attending livestock shows.
Tammy Alger said
John Washington, you apparently have read none of the USDA documents about the implementation of the National Animal Identification System of which the first step is “voluntary” registration of your “premise.” I suggest you do some homework before you put what amounts to a permanent easement on your property.
stevie bee said
The person who posted comment #25 may be a mole sent to this site to add a good word about NAIS or a young person who never experienced the cold war or what communism/fascism is really like.
Signing up for NAIS is indeed free but may not stay free. Texas wanted to access a $20/2 yr fee for each premises registration buy offered waiving it if you signed up by a certain date. How long before you think the other states are going to catch on and say “Hmmm, here is a way we can make a few million extra each year!”?
The costs come later on in microchipping (vet calls, software, readers, computers) and filing reports (a massive database is not going to be free) and loss of freedoms.
Has this person read the NAIS business plan document? The reason so many oppose NAIS is because they have read the document and those 3 little steps (premises registration, microchipping, reporting animal movements then the part where the USDA can depopulate if disease is suspected are in there in black and white. If the NAIS were benign or beneficial for everyone I guarantee the ranchers/farmers/horse owners who are already very busy doing their jobs raising and taking care of animals would not even spend any time or effort fighting it.
Drug dealers always give the first hit free, too.
Jake Nelson said
To Jack Carson – if one was not able to attend the meeting, where/how can one read and review the rule that was distributed?
carson4575 said
Jake: I will try to get it added on to our website. I’ll post here when I get it.
Ryan said
John Washington,
In the purest sense of the word privilege means a license to do something. Just as driving is a privilege. Farming is not a privilege it is part of our rights that one either simply chooses to exercise or not. I do not want unnecessary regulation or constraint on what I and many others do to feed our families because of an incorrectly perceived solution to a problem that does not exist. Properly regulate those large commercial farms who are involved in all types of spurious agriculture practices instead of subsistence or homestead farmers and small farms. We properly care for our animals and crops and are good stewards of what was entrusted to us by our fathers. It is absurd to submit the theory that NAIS will make the food supply safer. How is registering my premises and putting a synthetic device into my animals going to make you safer.When my animals will never end up on your plate? I would have to tend to believe you must be affiliated with USDA or some other organization when you so vocally espouse your beliefs as you have and tell us we do not have a right but rather a privilege to show our animals or care for them as we see best. If you are not a pitch man for NAIS I suggest you do as Stevie Bee has already stated and read NAIS, you would be very shocked if you did.
Black Helicopter said
At the risk of being attacked and called a “mole” or a “NAIS pitch man” I am going to agree with John Washington’s comment on #25. All the form calls for is name, address, phone number and what type of operation you run. I filled it out and have never once been charged a fee or been asked to microchip an animal. I don’t believe that premise registration is a “morally bankrupt policy”, and I certainly would never compare it to what Nazi Germany did to the Jews- both of which are viewpoints mentioned above. If (God forbid) we ever did suffer a disease outbreak, I’ll take comfort in knowing that the authorities can track it’s origin a little bit better because I spent 5 minutes of my time filling out a form.
When you walk past a tree, do you get scared thinking about what’s behind that tree………. or do you realize it’s just a tree?
Barbara said
I’m a bit late finding this discussion, but I must tell John W and Black Helicopter that they do not understand NAIS and the significance of a premises ID number(PIN). Of course, a PIN is free – NOW! The taxpayers have paid to create the database. Later, the costs will be borne by those who are registered. There will be fees for renewals and changes of ownership information. When you sell your property, the PIN must be revealed to the buyer – even if he doesn’t intend to keep livestock -since the number stays with the land until it is paved over. If the buyer doesn’t want a PIN, you will have lost a sale. And, once you are registered, the rules can change at any time, since you won’t have a written contract.
I’ve personally asked the USDA NAIS Coordinator if a PIN gives the government the right to enter my private property without permission or a warrant. The answer should be
“yes”, “no” or “I don’t know”.
I never got a straight answer. What does that suggest to you?
As far as the fair requiring a PIN for entrants, how is the information any different than what is already on the entry form? How does it protect a pig from catching the flu from a person? Do you mean to tell me that the fair would be unable to contact their exhibitors without a PIN? The only reason to require a PIN is to gain more coerced registrations so USDA can tell Congress that they are making progress in instituting a plan opposed by over 90% of livestock owners and organic food consumers.
JDCITIZEN said
The PIN may SEEM to be free (for now) but it has actually has cost us taxpayers well over $100,000,000.00 (so far) and and GOVERNMENT programs NEVER get cheaper as they go. This program is an out of control brain fart of a group of equipment makers and sellers, and a few folks, actually in government, who want to get profit, power and control. Large scale livestock operations are a huge problem in he area of animal health as the “owners” are not in with the animals on a daily basis, if ever. A program of this sort would NEVER have come out of smaller scale livestock operators group, as if really addresses NOTHING of importance or consequence. It is a LOOK GOOD – FEEL GOOD program, written by and for the big guys. They ARE the problem, but what they are proposing in NAIS will do N-O-T-H-I-N-G to fight disease. It is a 2 sided sword, one side to give the APPEARANCE of disease control (for overseas marketing) and the other side to “get ride of” the small scale operators (who do not need nor want this bogus program). It is terrible that the Dept. of Agriculture is so deeply in the pockets of large scale operations. Actually most all of the Government is in the same boat,,,,,, helping the “BIG GUYS” ($$$ and getting their minions into areas of political power) while letting or getting the small guys to take a beating. I was a farmer for over 25 years but got out because of low value, government interference, slow pay, labor problems, and on and on……….. I was an organic apple grower and fruit stand operator in N. California. We now have OUR private garden, I help other folks who are trying to make farming a way of life as well as small growers for their own use. I is a shame what is happening in this once great country. I feel very sorry for my kids and their future offspring.
Concerned JD said
I can’t beleive that ODAFF doesn’t have the courage to do what they want and make this a requirement for all livestock in Oklahoma. But they have a yellow streak a mile wide in making it mandatory for our kids. I suspect this is all in the name of getting federal funding for sighning up as many voluntary premise ID’s as possible.
The thing that get’s me is that there is no way this has one thing to do with H1N1 except I figure USDA got the media to name it that for this very purpose. Not many post on here in favor of the new rule. No legitimate reason for it, where are our elected officials who are supposed to regulate ODAFF? I guess this is to be expected under the current big government administration. I’m voting against everyone in OKC and Washington.
RJ said
How can a USDA “voluntary” program so far be privately mandatory? I am an independant livestock producer that received a letter from a major packer stating that all producers that provide livestock for slaughter as of 2010 will have to be inspected by an independant consultant so as to appease and assure the animal rights groups about living conditions of the animals that they are slaughtering are raised in a humane manner. Of course they are! I have nothing to hide and somebody walking my facilities to satisfy this only requirement is ok especially the ever more scrutiny livestock production is faced with. However, I am also mandated by the packer which requires me to register for Premise ID which I believe they have no jurisdiction over. Especially when it comes to potentially sacrificing my private property rights to protect their brand name and their freedom to merchandising at will. With my barns in compliance I am still considered out of compliance if I don’t (voluntarily sign under the guise of USDA) register, therefore they stop buying my animals. If this isn’t stiff arm coersion tell me otherwise. Is there any legal way they can do this? What about my legal rights involving this? Any suggestions? Anybody I may contact regarding this matter?
Barbara said
RJ,
You have encountered the “market forces” that USDA is relying on to force people into NAIS. I compare USDA to the Mafia for that reason. NAIS is like buying insurance from the Mob. You don’t have to do it unless you want to remain in business. Make a stink about it to your state reps. Possibly bring in the news media to add pressure to them.
stevie bee said
I WISH we could get the media or conservative talk show hosts in on this one but for some reason they remain silent, even Hannity will not discuss NAIS and the one time I was on the air to tell about NAIS, I was accused by the hosts (Mark Davis of WBAP Dallas TX) of wanting to get everyone else angry because I had to tell the govt every where I go with my horse and he is so conservative he is for smokers’ rights!!!! Those without animals just do not have a clue!