Comments on: Swine Show Exhibitors Must Have Premise Identification as of August 1

By: stevie bee

stevie bee — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:31:54 +0000

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!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:11:45 +0000

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.

By: RJ

RJ — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:47:25 +0000

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?

By: Concerned JD

Concerned JD — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:00:01 +0000

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.

By: JDCITIZEN

JDCITIZEN — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:00:18 +0000

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.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:16:12 +0000

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.

By: Black Helicopter

Black Helicopter — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:40:41 +0000

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?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:31:57 +0000

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.

By: carson4575

carson4575 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:13:16 +0000

Jake: I will try to get it added on to our website. I’ll post here when I get it.

By: Jake Nelson

Jake Nelson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:03:17 +0000

To Jack Carson – if one was not able to attend the meeting, where/how can one read and review the rule that was distributed?