Open Letter to Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture

The Honorable David Scott

Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture

Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry

1301 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515-6001

 

RE: Testimony for March 11, 2009 Hearing on Review of Animal Identification Systems

 

Dear Chairman Scott and Subcommittee Members:

 

I am Marti Oakley, a consumer, writing to ask you to reject the USDA’s attempts to make mandatory the National Animal Identification System and as a companion assault on private property ownership, the Premises ID.

 

Having witnessed first hand the common contempt displayed by congress, if not outright disregard, when the public attempts to assert their opinions on pending legislative activity, please know that I will post this letter to you in every possible venue.  The American public needs to know what is about to happen to independent farmers and ranches if NAIS is made mandatory, or, if any of the fake [food safety] bills are forced into law.  They also need to be made aware of the resulting threat to not only food production, but its subsequent reduction in quality that will result.

 

Experience has taught me that what may appear to be an innocuous change in wording in reality is a change in legal definition and standing within the law.  This is how [treaties] are re-designated as [agreements] to side step Constitutional criteria and protections and allowing illegal implementation of agreements usurping US law. 

 

Our government’s continual capitulation to these non-US laws and standards is creating an untenable system and jeopardizing US agriculture and what has been the most dynamic and well functioning agricultural system in the world.

 

The language in NAIS referring to landowners and to livestock owners has been changed to facilitate international agreements and standards, most especially Agenda 21 from the United Nations and World Trade Organization demands and the international committees operating under standards and regulations and other misnomers.

 

All the international agreements, standards, regulations and other instruments being deferred to, relegate the actual owner of the land to [operator] or [manager].  The Premises ID is a coercion of the voluntary abandonment of property to the control of the USDA, acting as agent for the Federal government. 

 

Livestock owners are now referred to as [stakeholders], implying an interest in, but not the owner of [the livestock].  As stakeholders, livestock owners would be subject to the rules, actions and intents of the USDA and as [stakeholders] would relinquish any ownership rights. 

 

The final statement by the governments’ witness in the March 11, 2009 hearing contained a referral to livestock owners as [stakeholders]. This was no accidental use of the word. 

 

The US has historically produced the most disease free and well maintained herds in the world.  Because the USDA (nor the FDA) has moved to halt the importation of cattle from Mexico, known to be consistently suffering from bovine tuberculosis, the disease is constantly being introduced into the meat processing system and co-mingled with uncontaminated meat from US producers.  Wouldn’t the logical move here have been to halt imports of cattle from Mexico until they are able to eradicate bovine tuberculosis? Of course, this might cause some problems at that new “Mexican sovereign” terminal being constructed in Kansas City to by-pass our ports of entry and acceptance of in-bond shipments even of cattle. 

 

The unsanitary conditions at processing plants which have been well documented appear to escape the vision of USDA also.  These conditions are not related to herd or flock producers or the overall health of animals.  These conditions are the result of little to no inspections, or the lack of real interest on the part of inspectors, or the lack of an adequate number inspectors. This is also most especially the result of corporate processors more concerned with their profits than public food safety.

 

Why would an animal identification system or gps location of private property correct any of these problems which are not related to the actual health of animals?

 

NAIS has also seen the private ownership of livestock by private individuals referred to now as the [US National Herd].  There is no such herd.  But, NAIS would by the change in terminology, by the adherence to non-US laws, standards and regulations, create one.  This [US Herd] would be assembled by the NAIS and by Premises ID resulting from the forced compliance and forfeiture of private property rights mandated in these two programs and would quickly be handed over to corporate interests waiting behind the scenes for their plans and investments to pay off.

 

Designed by the National Institute of Animal Agriculture, NAIS is the constructed plan for seizing control of livestock production in the US.  Populated by meat processors such as Cargill and Tyson and bio-pirates such as Monsanto, the who’s who of this group also includes Digital Angel, AgInfoLink and Viatrace which are already stockpiling RFID chips, and tracking equipment, apparently having been assured this assault on private ownership and the ability to track it for the new owners was a ‘done deal”.

 

Judging from the stage show that was the March 11, 2009 Ag committee hearing, maybe it is.  What kind of fair hearing allows the paid proponents of NAIS and Premises ID to make grand opening statements containing gross errors in facts, allowing them to consume as much hearing time as they wanted, and limiting the opponents to five minutes or less? 

 

The obvious displeasure displayed committee members when facts were presented that refuted the governments position was noted by many of us who watched this contrived hearing. 

 

This was not a hearing in the true sense of the word.  This was the groundwork being laid for passing this assault on private property rights and anyone who watched it was supposed to come away thinking disease was running rampant in US privately owned herds as the result of too little government intrusion.  We didn’t get this impression at all. 

 

What we were impressed with was the efforts to implement another costly and inefficient not to mention unnecessary program at a time when the country’s indebtedness is skyrocketing.  We need to be cutting cost, cutting unnecessary and inefficient programs; not creating news programs which would exacerbate the debt.

 

It is unfortunate that at every turn we are faced with elected officials who cannot seem to find it in themselves to either adequately educate themselves about a subject or to act in defense of the public.  The idea that this “hearing” was even held is a signal that once again international agreements and corporate interests trump the public good. 

 

NAIS is not about disease control or track back.  It is the outright theft of private property to benefit corporate interests and to subject the American public to yet another round of foreign agreements.  It is another program that supposedly the FDA and USDA will administer not according to US laws and regulations, but rather to facilitate illegal trade agreements, standards and regulations which put the rights of investors and corporations above that of individuals or communities.

 

The data mined information on gps location and any other gathered information about livestock producers and farmers is being compiled on the Oracle database.  Although the Oracle server is located in Texas, the actual files collected have been moved to storage in Canada making them unavailable even under FOIA requests. 

 

It makes me sick to think that this is our government; this is our government working against us.

 

Marti Oakley

 

To House Subcommittee on Livestock: from Darol Dickenson

To House Subcommittee on Livestock:

At this time we are begging all elected leaders to help in the struggle of our life to keep federal government enforcements and regulations from destroying my grand children’s inheritance. The USDA’s panacea NAIS has grown from a bad idea to pandemic proportions, threatening the livelihood of every livestock producer in the USA. Here are some points for your consideration.

NAIS has been promoted by USDA employees as absolutely essential for US agriculture exports. Not true—the US has not produced enough beef to feed the nation in dozens of years. If not a pound of beef was exported, it would be fine to all livestock producers and no loss would be involved.

NAIS has been promoted for safe food. Not true—All the diseases USDA quotes as being horrible and dastardly is of no effect on healthy meat product. Cattle diseases of Scabies, Mad Cow, Hoof & Mouth, TB, Bangs, and Johne’s are safe for consumption. No USDA inspectors condemn meat with these diseases. These are mostly skin problems or do not effect meat for human food with proper processing.

NAIS is said to be free. Not true—Kansas State data proves that a herd of 50 cattle would cost $30 each for tags, computer equipment, readers, etc. The labor and cost per animal is more than the Cattle Fax data for the average profit for a market age steer calf. Financially it will take all the profit from the cow calf business for every commercial rancher. For smaller animals it will kill those people off even faster.

NAIS is said to be developed by veterinarians, educators and animal health people who know the needs of the nation. Not true—It was developed by European bureaucrats with intentions of destroying the livestock industry in the USA and the US negotiators are not experienced in agriculture well enough to know the difference. Not only that, USDA will not listen to farm and ranch do-it-in-the-dirt people who have valid experience.

NAIS is said to be a fast way for USDA to eliminate disease. Not true—the most expensive disease in the US is Johne’s disease that costs dairy people over $200 million annually. The USDA doesn’t want to eliminate disease or they would not have reduced research funding on Johne’s and would place a priority to develop a vaccine and one effective test to determine Johne’s disease. Horrible failure by USDA.

Please help US agriculture to survive bureaucratic flawed thought. It is life or death and we have some people in high paying jobs that are killing us and won’t even answer their phone when I call them. Any assistance you can provide is wonderful to end funding to NAIS–end all mandatory enforcements in all states and end all efforts to demand compliance in the USA.

Attached is an assorted group of articles with detailed info on opposing NAIS.

Thank you, Darol Dickinson, Barnesville, Ohio 43713, ph 740 758 5050.

 

 

Colin Peterson: Wants NAIS mandatory…

These remarks from Colin Peterson (D) MN regarding NAIS should scare the hell out of all of us.  These comments come after Peterson himself acknowledged in 2007 that the greatst threat to the food supply was from imported foods…….only 1% of which are ever checked.  I have to wonder where the logic or rational is in failing to address this admitted flaw in imports, and the attempts to establish NAIS which no one wants, no one needs, and which is another of those useless government programs meant not to help, but rather to implement needless regulations. 

The USDA must be particularly happy with Peterson’s position…..it elevates them to the status of  a national police force dedicated to ending family farms and ranches.  Marti

Please note the last paragraphs of this report on remarks Chairman Peterson gave to the National Farmers Union convention.

 

Following remarks to the National Farmers Union (NFU) annual convention Monday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) told reporters he plans to send a letter to over 400 ag groups this week requesting examples of farming practices that might qualify for payments under cap and trade legislation the panel plans to draft this spring. 

 

Farmers” do a lot of carbon sequestration already and there are probably other things they can be doing.”

 

Peterson said he believes legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions will move through Congress this year, so “we need to get out ahead of this and define how agriculture can be a beneficiary of this and not just something that (lawmakers) are doing to do something to.” 

 

He indicated the Agriculture Committee would probably begin a series of hearings on climate change by mid-April.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) plans to release a draft global warming bill this month and wants a bill through his committee by Memorial Day. 

 

Much of Peterson’s address to NFU members focused on his committee’s passage last month of H.R. 977, the Derivatives Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2009. 

 

“We have put a pretty tough bill together,” he said, explaining  that the urgency to push the bill intensified with the credit crisis where the collapse of some of the nation’s largest financial institutions were linked to their involvement in the trading of unregulated credit derivatives like swap contracts. 

 

“This is bad…and it’s worse than a lot of people, I think, recognize,” according to Peterson, referring to the failure of some of the biggest banks on Wall Street.  “My expectation is the (Obama administration) is probably going to ask for another $1-2 trillion to bail out these banks.”

 

As a condition for using more of taxpayers’ money to keep the troubled banks in business, Peterson said he told Vice President Biden, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Office and Management Budget director Peter Orzag last week that the Treasury Department should start breaking up the big banks.  “We should not have any institution in the United States that is too big to fail.”

 

Peterson went over the agriculture committee’s agenda for the rest of the year with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack immediately prior to taking the stage at the NFU event.  In addition to overseeing USDA’s implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, the Chairman said he wants to: modernize the Department of Agriculture’s computer system; reform federal crop insurance to address “in my opinion, the inordinate amount of power that the agents have and the actual imbalance of premiums that agents are getting in different parts of the country;” and make farmer participation in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) mandatory. 

 

“This is not about us trying to put cost on you, this is about trying to protect” the livestock industry, said Peterson, a vocal critic of the Bush administration’s voluntary approach to NAIS. 

 

“We have spent more money on national animal ID than we would have to spend to do (a mandatory) program and to pay for the ear tags for every farmer.  We basically wasted the money,” he said.   

 

NAIS Tool Kit Index from www.naisSTINKS.com

Below is the index for the NAIS Toolkit……….Get this kit……get informed and make a difference.  Use the link provided to access the entire PDF document.  It can be downloaded and printed off. 

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

http://www.naisstinks.com/flyers/Tool_Kit.pdf  (page 1 is blank)

 

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has deteriorated down to the most feared livestock enforcement tax program to ever be conceived in Washington. To assist livestock owners with information on self defense, the site www.naisSTINKS.comwas developed. Select articles from this site are correlated into an online printable form. These articles detail a few of the grossly negative, pernicious, profit destructive components, and deceptions of NAIS. It may be printed in file form for handouts. God’s speed as you join this most serous battle to accost our devious enemy, our very own government!

 

NAIS: The Basics Page 1 — The Basics of NAIS defined — by Judith McGeary – Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance

 

The Softening Page 2 — In preparation to peddle NAIS the nation must be scared with fear and trembling that there are diseases known and unknown that justify a multi billion dollar defensive. All livestock may die over night if USDA does not use NAIS as a tool. Wolf, Wolf, Wolf!

 

Western Horseman’s Poll on NAIS Page 3 — The only poll conducted to identify real opinions of livestock producers. Result 2.9% think NAIS is a great idea. Opposed was 93.3%. —A.J. Mangum

 

Dishonest Briefings Presented by USDA Page 4 — The US census data compares USDA Congressional briefings. False data by over 2,000,000.

 

NAIS: Not About Disease At All! Page 5 — USDA says NAIS is about disease trace back. False, it has nothing to do with serious diseases that face livestock.

 

NAIS: The Great Scam Page 7 — Details of what NAIS premises involves with land titles, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund —Derry Brownfield

 

NAIS: Cost of Compliance Page 10 — A 10 cow farm will cost $139 per animal for a first time entry cost. Each show, sale, pasture movement will cost additional. —Beef Stocker USA

 

Conversation with Darol Dickinson Page 11 — An interview published in Ohio’s Country Journal. A thumb nail Q & A on NAIS. Details of NAIS toxicity. —Ohio Country Journal

 

NAIS: Not About Safe Food Page 12 — The meat from nearly all diseased beef is safe to eat because these “feared” diseases are mostly skin related and not transferred to people. USDA inspection is the main problem with food safety. — Henry Lamb

 

NAIS: Not about Beef Export Page 13 — The US has imported an annual average of twice the amount of beef exported. For every million pounds of exported US beef, that same amount must be imported back to feed the nation. There is zero profit to the cattle producer to export a single pound of beef and no federal funds are needed to promote beef exports. It is all a wasted scam!!

 

NLIS: Disaster ID in Australia Page 15 — USDA would be wise to consider the flaws of the Australian ID system. It has failed completely with a running tab of $350 million, lost. Australian producers want to end the program which is a zero value fortheir beef export sales. —Australian Beef Association

 

NAIS: Farmers Treated Like Sex Offenders Page 16 — Should a child’s pony have the same federal surveillance as a convicted sex offender? —Henry Lamb

 

NAIS: Opting Out Page 17 — It may be easy to catch a bear, but near impossible to get loose from him—so is NAIS. Here is the escape form to help those who were deceived into surrendering and desperately want OUT! —Liberty Ark Coalition

 

NAIS: The Forth Component, Enforcement Page 19 — For every lowered speed limit on a down hill run, a radar trap is nearby. The terror of NAIS is fines, penalties, licenses fees, and prison time. Projected fines can cost the ranch.

 

NAIS: Why Become an Activist? Page 21 — Those who surrender lose all. To oppose NAIS is the farm, the estate, the plantation, the future of US food. Oppose NAIS with all your heart!!

 

NAIS SURVIVAL TOOL KIT

http://farmwars.info/

From: NAFAW

March 7, 2009

Contact: Darol Dickinson, 740 758 5050

Barnesville, Ohio USA

NAIS SURVIVAL TOOL KIT

http://www.naisstinks.com/index.php?con=tool_kit

 Email This Post

The NAIS SURVIVAL TOOL KIT is on line, and immediately printable in full color. This information is easy to forward, assisting livestock producers world wide to defend their assets and family farms from invasive government enforcements. Michelle Reid sums it up, “We’re out here branding cattle, worrying about our best horse going blind, when all of a sudden the USDA is working at mach speed filling our saddle bags with heavy NAIS rocks.”

The NAIS SURVIVAL TOOL KIT contains quotes and information from trustworthy journalists, real cattle producers, reliable attorneys, and USDA employees. Research starts with the Basics by attorney Judith McGeary, then NAIS Western Horseman polling data, documentation of the USDA conspiracy to “sell” NAIS, and the deceptive international political entanglements. It documents cost analysis, flawed thought that was conceived either from a desire to destroy the livestock industry or just plain ignorance of food production, animal health and food safety. Producers are totally mystified why NAIS is promoted by USDA with proposed budgets up to $400,000,000 to “make every livestock producer comply.”

Print the KIT and be well informed. Inform everyone. Inform government employees who have never considered the pain and distress they will inflict on livestock owners if NAIS is fully enforced. Share the KIT with veterinarians and county extension agents. For printing go to www.naisSTINKS.com and touch NAIS TOOLKIT. Print PDF and select a 2-sided print text.

A valuable chapter is provided by the Australian Beef Association, chairman Brad Bellinger. It clearly documents the giant $350,000,000 cost of their ID system called NLIS. Five years ago producers were told NLIS would assist Australians in improved export sales, but now, fully operational, NLIS has ABA selling their beef for the second lowest prices of any major export beef country. All globally enforced ID schemes are proving to be profitable only to the governments, and ID equipment providers.

The 14 sheet (front and back) page KIT contains selected articles from http://www.naisSTINKS.com. Mark this site for 85 published articles equipping producers to protect themselves from a run-away government scheme. NAIS is not fully operational and can be truncated. Once a government enforcement program is fully active, the citizenry can never stop funding it. Use the KIT to protect yourself, your family and your grandchildren from NAIS enforcements, fines and Gestapo penalties. http://farmwars.info/

Farm Bills, NAIS and other national disasters

In 2007, Representative Colin Peterson (D) MN, slipped a provision into the 2007 Farm Bill, reducing the number of required federal inspections for small meat processors.  I find this interesting considering how hard he is pushing NAIS.

 

By Peterson’s own admission, he has authored several bills moving the inspection of food from the FDA to the USDA.  Somehow, this seems akin to shuffling chairs on the deck of the Titanic.  Neither agency is capable or willing to work within their mandates. 

 

It would appear Peterson condones the harassment and raids by USDA and FDA on farms and ranches in order to frighten them into complying with NAIS and to end independent farms and ranches in favor of industrialized factory farms.

 

USDA was given the job of enacting the 2005 Labeling Law, which would have required the country of origin to be listed on the label and could have been a [traceability] component when food contamination appeared in the US as a result of e-coli, melamine additives to falsely increase protein content in animal foods, and other contaminants that were dumped into our food supply and co-mingled with domestic products.

 

As of this date, USDA still has NOT enacted that law claiming that it is too cost prohibitive.  But! it seems they have LOTS of money to spend trying to implement and force compliance in the National Animal Identification System; A system no one but industrial factory farms and bio-pirates wants or needs. 

 

As of 2007, the USDA and FDA combined were only inspecting 1% of the $65 billion in food imports.  Almost without exception, any food contamination has occurred in the contents of imported foods and seldom occurs in domestic production systems and when it has happened, is usually at the point of processing where we are supposed to have inspectors.  Once these contaminated and un-inspected food products are dumped into the domestic food supply, it is nearly impossible to track the source.  I was able to find no data for 2008.

Domestic producers (other than most meat), can expect to see an FDA inspector once every 5-10 years.

If I understand correctly, FDA even with USDA help cannot inspect any more than 1% of food imports, cannot show up to inspect domestic producers any more often than once in every 5-10 years because they are so understaffed and under funded……but they have the time and resources to conduct raids and put farms and ranches under surveillance who have refused to submit to NAIS and Premises ID? 

 

When the head of Georgia Peanut Company knowingly ships out contaminated products while sitting on a quality control board for the USDA, I believe it highly unlikely that USDA would be an agency capable of protecting anyone’s safety on any level. 

 

It seems to me if our food producers are so vulnerable to safety issues, we would strengthen the known source of most contamination: foreign imports. Yet even as the multiple instances of food contamination were reported, neither USDA nor FDA or Colin Peterson for that matter, made any move to halt imports from China, Viet Nam, or Mexico: countries that had all sent us contaminated foods.   And, neither did anyone else in either house of congress.  I guess as long as they weren’t forced to consume any of this garbage shipped in from countries whose standards are nearly non-existent, it didn’t matter.

As food imports have increased dramatically in the last ten years, food inspections have decreased. 

Colin Peterson had this to say about contaminated foreign products in May, 2007:

“The next time tainted food or feed products slip through the very large crack in our import inspection system, we may be forced to confront a much more serious situation in terms of animal or human health” he said.

Wouldn’t this indicate at the very least that the attempt to force a pointless, costly program that has absolutely no value to anyone (NAIS) should be scrapped and an increase in inspections, labeling and tracking of imports be the cause of the day? 

 

©2009 Marti Oakley

 

Reject NAIS!!

ACTION PAGE: Radio Chip Animal Identification Would Do ALL Harm To Our Real Food Safety, And No Good 5,379 Submissions so far http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum942.php   sign the petetion to your sentators and representatives and/or send a letter to your local newspaper!

It would be too easy to blame the recent peanut panic on one criminal corporation owner, who KNOWINGLY shipped Salmonella contaminated product. But before that it was millions of pounds of ground beef, and before that tomatoes all over the country, and on and on. And when you ask where is all this horrible filth coming from, with a over a million cases of Salmonella in the U.S. alone every year, the answer is self-evident. It’s the huge factory farms that overflow with seas of untreated animal waste, that then spill into our food supply, including through our agricultural plant crop fields.We have a lot of work to do to clean up this giant mess, but the first thing we have to do is STOP a lunatic boondoggle being pushed by these same corporate interests, to force radio computer chip implanting of literally every farm animal in the country, EXCEPT on their own factory farms. It is absolutely nothing but a further attempt to drive small family farms out of business, who in fact are our safest source of reliably clean food now. More truth points here, with lots more facts to back up your personal comments. The proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) would force even the smallest healthy farms to buy expensive new computer tracking equipment, and potentially would subject them to gestapo-like tactics by the USDA if they are in even slight technical non-compliance. And all this just to fatten the pockets of the RFID chip manufacturers, and to make it LOOK like something is being done to make our food safer. If in addition to submitting this form you want to call members of the House Subcommittee before the March 11th hearing, here are their direct numbers. The one click form below will send your personal message to all your government representatives selected below, with the subject “Reject NAIS, National Animal Identification System.” At the same time you can send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper if you like. Use this link to sign on to the NO NAIS petition.

http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum942.php

NAIS:This is your government at work: This is your government working against YOU.

 

© 2009 Marti Oakley

Bills currently in committee in both houses of congress would make mandatory the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).  This system is nothing less than an adherence to international policies and agreements which will usurp US laws and standards, replacing them with reduced standards.  This is being done to not only acquiesce to the CAFTA [trade illegal] provisions, but also to reduce the standards by which bio-piracy corporations operate. 

 

CAFTA reduces the standards of growing, harvesting and processing of all food types to allow multi-national bio-pirates to increase their profits at everyone else’s expense.  This is done by lowering standards across the board in all countries involved; lowering food quality and safety rather than increasing the standards which would have benefited consumers. 

 

Even though numerous bills have been submitted, none have been passed; none are even out of committee.  Knowing this, I find it strange that the sponsors of these bills have already submitted a request for funding authorization for this assault on independent farming and ranching operations.  I believe this indicates a pre-approved deal and the submitting of bills is only a formality to make it appear these actions are legitimate when in fact those promoting this scam have already enabled and encouraged the USDA and FDA to begin forced compliance using military style enforcement methods.

 

Assembling what appears to be SWAT teams both agencies are storming private farms and ranches, organic producers and anyone else refusing to comply with the supposed [voluntary] NAIS and Premises ID.

 

The funding requested includes increasing the amounts allotted to USDA and the FDA.  USDA has already reduced the number of inspectors, and the number of inspections.  So we know the money isn’t going to this area of operation.  And we can also observe there is no threat as described in NAIS as would be evidenced by the reduction in inspections and the reassignment of staff to SWAT type operations.

 

Both the USDA and the FDA now appear to emulating in-country militaristic organizations.

 

Both agencies are now fully engaged in activities that are not only, not within their administrative procedural mission, but are instead more as mercenary agents of big AG.  Both agencies are now also co-opting local law enforcement to perform their raids on privately owned farms and ranches.  With a complaint arising only from the USDA or the FDA, with no evidence of wrong-doing, no charges being filed, no substantiation of cause, local law enforcement agencies gladly participate in these raids.  This is your government at work:  This is your government working against YOU.

 

Where are our representatives and senators while this is going on?  Where is our Justice Department?  Where is this new AG secretary, Tom Vilsack?  (Well, he’s probably having lunch with Monsanto or some other bio-pirate.)

 

The bills now in congress would increase the power of both the USDA and FDA, even though it is commonly known and accepted neither agency is efficient or engaged in its original mission.  Both agencies, but particularly FDA have become so corrupted with corporate money and influence, neither can or does, exist to protect the public. 

 

Having lost sight of their original reason for existence, and incapable of performing even at a minimal level, both agencies should be shut down.  We would be far better served if these kinds of agencies existed only on the state level where accountability, responsibility and public interest is far better served.

 

ALERT!! HR 1105…..Another bill to force NAIS

           Every Thursday for the past 6 Months, Government Officials have raided

homes and businesses. Sometimes at Gunpoint, sometimes with a Warrant,

and sometimes with nothing more then the burly bodies that intimidate

those about to be oppressed.

 

                        Recite the Names below:

 

Stowers, Greg Niewendorp, Hixon, Miller, Griepentrog, Palmer

 

                           Now add your name.

 

Don’t shrug aside if you are a businesses that provides goods and

services to Livestock owners. If we don’t own Livestock – you have

nothing we need or want.

 

Today, Thursday of course, H.R. 1105 is awaiting assignment to Committee

in the Senate. It stands poised to allocate $289 million to APHIS for

the implementation of the National Animal Identification System. It also

outlines the time frame to implement in 2009 the tracking of 33 species.

 

An example: Poultry – “By July 1, 2009 – achieve 98% traceability in the

Commercial Poultry Industry…

 

That means if Murray McMurray sends you a chick – it had better be

traceable from their end and you better trace it when it gets to your

homestead. Think the cost of a Broiler is bad now? Think what it will be

when every chick that leaves that plant will be accounted for.

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR01105:@@@X

 

The House managed to pass this “Omnibus 2009” in 24 hours and we have no

reason to believe that the Senate will not as well.

 

What are your going to do? We as living human beings do not go to the

polls to elect officials to represent Multi-National Corporations or

Lobbyists paid by groups attempting to get their piece of the pie.

 

THE LARGEST UNPAID LOBBIEST GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS

SITTING IN THAT CHAIR IN FRONT OF THE KEYBOARD – YOU BELONG TO IT.

 

Contact the following Organizations – as many as you can this evening.

 

The first person to contact is AgSec@USDA.gov, then your personal

Legislator. A partial list of email contacts is below to get you

started.

 

The message is simple :

 

We don’t want, nor will we comply with the National Animal

Identification System. We do not want H.R. 1105 out of Senate Committee.

We want it stopped and stopped Friday 27, 2009.

 

Tomorrow is Freedom Friday – make it count.

 

———————

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

http://www.albc-usa.org/tellus.php

EquusSurvivalTrust@yahoo.com

Slow Food : info@slowfoodusa.org

Natural Solutions: editor@naturalsolutionsmag.com

One America Rising: Info@oneamericarising.org

Small Farmer’s Journal: agrarian@smallfarmersjournal.com

Country Side: csyeditorial@tds.net

President Obamas Office http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Farm Show   mark@farmshow.com

http://www.mynaga.org/

North American Game Birds  800-624-2967 or Email: info@mynaga.org

 

Center For Rural Affairs:

Chuck Hassebrook chuckh@cfra.org

Executive Director,

 

GrassFire.org http://grassfire.org/email.asp?ind=2

National Family Farm Coalition:

 

Executive Director

Katherine Ozer

kozer@nffc.net

 

Policy Analyst

Irene Lin

irene@nffc.net

 

FarmAid:

farmhelp@farmaid.org

 

Cattle Associations Links:

http://www.cattletoday.com/associations.shtml

 

Llamas and Alpacas:

http://www.gentlespiritllamas.com/html/links.htm

 

Paragon Foundation:

info@paragonfoundation.org

 

Freedom 21: Ronnie Merritt

Office: 731.986.0099

 

 

Chickens: ****THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR CALL THEM BUT UNDERSTAND YOU

MAY HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE****************

 

There is a list here of over 100 sites: just point, click and attach the

Message.

 

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKHatcheries.html

 

 

cacklehatchery@cacklehatchery.com

 

Welp Hatchery :

Either ask to speak to or leave a message for Kurt and Sandy Welp

1-800-458-4473, and let us know how we can help

 

Murray McMurray: Ask to speak to  Mr. McMurray or leave a message

Phone: 515.832.3280

Toll Free Phone: 800.456.3280

 

Ideal Poultry:

Tel: 254-697-6677

 

BackYard Poultry:

byp@tds.net

 

 

  
Chickens: ****THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR CALL THEM BUT UNDERSTAND YOU
MAY HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE****************
 
There is a list here of over 100 sites: just point, click and attach the
Message.
 
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKHatcheries.html
 
 
cacklehatchery@cacklehatchery.com
 
Welp Hatchery :
Either ask to speak to or leave a message for Kurt and Sandy Welp
1-800-458-4473, and let us know how we can help
 
Murray McMurray: Ask to speak to  Mr. McMurray or leave a message
Phone: 515.832.3280
Toll Free Phone: 800.456.3280
 
Ideal Poultry:
Tel: 254-697-6677
 
BackYard Poultry:
byp@tds.net
 
  

http://www.morganhorse.com/association/contact FORMNationalOffice@AmericanVaulting.org

http://www.appaloosa.com/asna2007/contactus.aspx

FORM

editor04@ctba.com

info@cvaha.org

Information@lqhba.com

secretary@mdhsa.org

mawhc_info@yahoo.com

journaleditor@mfthba.com – or – foxtrot@mfthba.com

Bo7pgk@wildblue.net

wwalker@imine.net

questions@nqhr.org

kwagner@nrha.com

cody.odonnell@gmail.com

 

Sue Diederich

Illinois Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (IICFA)

(847) 873 – 0251

saddlebred@asha.net

Why was “The U.S. has the safest food supply in the world” changed, to “We need Safety Laws”?

 

“It is important to note that no animal identification program will prevent an introduction of animal disease, ensure safe food or prevent a recall.” – SCOTT CHARBO, Chief Information Officer at USDA March 6, 2004

In the final moves of a decades-long plan to monopolize food, Monsanto and the other big International Ag Corporations have introduced four supposed food-safety bills in the House and Senate. The USDA has a final comment period in the Federal Register on a regulation that requires all farms to carry a “Premises ID.” It magically becomes part of the deed, and removes the farmer’s Constitutional property rights. Go to Butner Blogspot to see the bills and comment to your congressman.

Independent farmers still control about 20% of the market, and Big-Ag wants that 20%—especially with organic foods and the local food movement threatening market share. The Death of Farming: a Recent History [Butner blogspot] gives a chronological picture of the corporate take over of the worlds farms and subversion of government safety measures. The attack on our food system is not just here in the USA but worldwide. It is on several fronts: from treaties, patenting of seeds and animals, to World Bank loans to nations. Those loans have strings attached that remove farm support systems and mandate industrial-export agriculture. The worst part of these attacks is a worldwide change in food inspection methods, taking control away from government agencies and giving it to the very corporations being inspected.

The new food inspection methods derive from a system called HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) which was developed by Pillsbury in the 1960’s. It was published as an International Guideline by. the Codex Alimentarius in 1993, and was incorporated into the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Agriculture (WTO AoA) in 1995. It was adopted by the FDA and USDA in 1996. Our food safety has gone downhill ever since as we moved away from government inspection of food to government inspection of paperwork.

 

The FSIS (Food and Safety Inspection Service) of the USDA reports:

 

Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems rule, (July 25, 1996) “…Under the HACCP rule, industry is responsible for assessing potential food safety hazards and systematically preventing and controlling those hazards. FSIS is responsible for verifying that establishments’ HACCP systems are working…”

 

Since the inception of HACCP, FSIS food inspectors have complained, but their complaints have been ignored by the USDA. The chairman of the inspectors’ union was even placed on disciplinary investigation status, and the Office of Inspector General was contacted about filing criminal charges. A December 2004 Freedom of Information Act request resulted in over 1000 non-compliance reports—weighing some 16 pounds— being turned over and the charges were dropped.

 

“There seems to be too much reliance on an honor system for the industry to police itself. While the USDA investigation is still on going at Hallmark/Westland, a couple of facts have emerged that point to a system that can be gamed by those who want to break the law. It (HACCP) shifted the responsibility for food safety over to the companies.” Union Chairman Stan Painter

 

A bill was introduced in the Senate called The Safe and Secure Food Act of 2005 FSIS calls it “Farm-To-Table – control of every step in the food chain from production to home preparation.” It failed so this time Monsanto is not taking any chances. “…“Both bills will appear simultaneously in both houses, having been planned before the fact. Since both bills are identical, there will be motions to suspend debate and none will be allowed. They will appear suddenly on the same day with the House voting first in the morning and the Senate in the afternoon….”

 

These bills will strangle family farms in red tape, and levy confiscatory fines, causing farmers to simply give up. Then the Big Ag corporations can grab their land, snapping it up at bargain prices. Once the regulations are in place it will be as difficult to raise a chicken or grow tomatoes as it is to manufacture Tylenol. Then corporations can set food prices in the same way they can set prescription drug prices.

 

If you have any questions about what is happening remember to read The Death of Farming: a Recent History then contact your Congressman. This is too important to ignore.

© 2009 Gale Combs

 

 

 

Congressional Hearing on NAIS

 

***ACTION ALERT***

WHAT: Congressional Hearing on NAIS

WHEN: Wednesday, March 11

WHERE: Washington, DC

 

The U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry will hold a hearing on NAIS on March 11.  Bills to put NAIS into law, HR875 and companion Senate S814, are being pushed through Congress, as well as an Appropriations Bill with funding for NAIS.  This hearing is critical to blocking mandatory NAIS.

 

ACTION: Please call and fax all members of the subcommittee (below).  

1.  When you call, ask to speak to the legislative aide for agriculture.  Form a positive relationship with the aide.  Become his or her source of knowledge for NAIS.  Be RESPECTFUL and POLITE.  Remember, who would the aide rather speak with, someone who is courteous or someone angry and resentful?

 

2.  Please send this to everyone you know, ESPECIALLY to people in the states with members on the subcommittee.  Members need to hear from their constituents–the people who vote them into office.

 

If you are in one of these states, please arrange a meeting with the district representative of the Congressman.  That makes a big difference.  We need to be real people to the legislators, so that when they think “farm” or “food” they think of us, not Monsanto, Cargill, Tyson, etc…

 

(NOTE: The colors are for easier reading.  They have no political meaning).

 

State	Party/Dist	Representative	Phone	Fax	Website email form
AL	R-13	Mike Rogers	202.225.3261	202.226.8485	http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/contact.shtml
CA	D-18	Dennis Cardoza	202.225.6131 800-356-6424	(202) 225-0819	http://www.house.gov/cardoza/contact.shtml
CA	D-20	Jim Costa	202-225-3341	(202) 225-9308	http://www.costa.house.gov/
CA	D-43	Joe Baca	(202)225-6161	(202)225-8671	http://www.house.gov/baca/zipauth.shtml
CO	D-4	Betsy Markey,	(202) 225-4676	(202) 225-5870	https://forms.house.gov/betsymarkey/contact-form.shtml
GA	D-13	David Scott (Chair)	(202) 225-2939	(202) 225-4628	http://davidscott.house.gov/Contact/
IA	D-3	Leonard Boswell	(202) 225-3806	(202) 225-5608	http://boswell.house.gov/messageform.htm
IA	R-5	Steve King	202.225.4426	202.225.3193	http://www.house.gov/steveking/email.shtm
ID	D-1	Walt Minnick	(202) 225-6611	(202) 225-3029	https://forms.house.gov/minnick/tours.shtml
MD	D-1	Frank Kratovil, Jr.	(202) 225-5311	(202) 225-0254	https://forms.house.gov/kratovil/contact-form.shtml
NE	R-3	Adrian Smith	(202) 225-6435	(202) 225-0207	http://www.house.gov/formadriansmith/issues_subscribe.htm
PA	D-17	Tim Holden	(202) 225-5546	(202) 226-0996	http://www.holden.house.gov/contactform_zipcheck.shtml
TN	R-1	David P. Roe	(202) 225-6356	(202) 225-5714	https://forms.house.gov/roe/invite-request-form.shtml
TX	R-11	K. Michael Conaway	(202) 225-3605	(202) 225-1783	http://conaway.house.gov/
TX	R-19	Randy Neugebauer, Ranking Minority Member	(202) 225-4005 (888) 763-1611	(202) 225-9615	http://randy.house.gov/?sectionid=8&sectiontree=8
VA	R-6	Bob Goodlatte,	(202) 225-5431	(202) 225-9681	http://www.house.gov/goodlatte/emailbob.htm
WI	D-8	Steve Kagen,	(202) 225-5665	(202) 225-5729	http://kagen.house.gov/contact.shtml

 

For more information, or if you need help in this process, please contact us:

 

Doreen Hannes	animalwaitress@yahoo.com	(417) 962-0030
Sharon Sabo	muttipie@htc.net	(618) 458-7745
Sue Dederich	suediederich@comcast.net	(847) 873-0251
Sharon Zecchinelli	henwhisperer@gmail.com	(802) 933-6709
Liz Reitzig	liz.reitzig@verizon.net	(301) 807.5063
Deborah Stockton	nicfa@earthlink.net	(434) 295.7176

 

Yours for freedom,

Deborah Stockton, Executive Director

National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (NICFA)

nicfa@earthlink.net

http://www.nicfa.org

 

Our purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade 

that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products.

 

NICFA opposes any government funded or managed National Animal Identification System.

 

 

 

Washington, District of Criminals……your government at work

 

As a country, as citizens of our respective states, nothing poses a greater threat to our existence than the assembly of congressmen/women residing in both houses, some for decades. 

 

For eight years we endured the arrogance, the outright fascist intents of the Bush Administration.  For six of those years we saw the wholesale selling off, selling out and undermining of the economy and infra-structure to corporate interests and illegal and unconstitutional trade agreements that forfeited our rights to regulate and legislate ourselves. 

 

We saw our rights vanish, our freedom compromised and realized that we had willingly allowed the “War of Terror”, causing the greatest series of human rights violations by any supposed civilized society in recent history.

 

We endured eight years of corruption and un-American activity at the hands of people calling themselves Christian conservatives that was so wide spread, so destructive and unimaginable, many of us are still reeling form the sheer scope of it all. Then came the 2008 election, a new president and Democrat controlled congress; and a country so battered and beaten down reached out for what seemed to be a ray of hope.

 

Since 2006 Democrats have had a simple majority in both houses.  That didn’t mean they could do whatever they wanted, contrary to popular belief.  Even when the Democrats seemed to be trying to do something positive, the Republicans threatened a filibuster; 98 times to be exact halting everything in its tracks. 

 

The 2008 election saw an increase in the numbers for the Democrats and with it more power to get things done.  And this bunch has been busy!  Immediately following the inauguration, a flurry of bills began appearing in both houses, and none of them were good news for America or her citizens. 

 

Instead of acting to protect America, the Democrats have flooded the House and Senate with bills designed to increase government regulation and control; to expand and increase the powers of two dysfunctional and mismanaged agencies, the FDA and USDA, to end the right to family and independent farming and ranching, to subject the citizens of the sovereign United States to trade agreements reducing the standards of production, harvest and processing of food, favoring industrialized corporately controlled factory farms. 

 

We have witnessed the greatest theft of wealth from the people in our history, as Democrats led the charge to save predatory lenders, parasitic and corrupt corporations who had mismanaged their businesses to such a degree they were in reality, not salvageable.  While middle and working class people lost their jobs, their homes and virtually everything they had, not one CEO, not one executive, forfeited either their freedom or any assets.  Not one was made to contribute a dime to the economic mess they had created.  In fact, they all profited handsomely.

 

Not one Democrat has stood up to demand the rights that were ripped away from us under the pretense of fighting terrorism, not one of the unconstitutional laws passed by those self-righteous fascists that called themselves Republicans, be repealed or restored.  In fact, the Democrats have picked up right where the Republicans left off and added a few more bricks in the wall.

 

From President Obama:

”Central to this plan will be a renewed commitment to honesty and transparency in government. Restoring our country’s economic health will only happen when ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to hold their representatives fully accountable for the decisions they make.”

 

Like this is ever going to happen.  We have a government that is not only detached from the people, but holds them in contempt.  On any given day, our own congress breaks more laws, commits more crimes and acts criminally against the very people it swore to protect and defend, than any common criminal out here in the streets. 

 

© 2009 Marti Oakley

 

 

 

USDA: Corporate welfare at its worst…Shut it down!

 

 

I am a full-on advocate of shutting down permanently, not only the FDA, but also the USDA.  Neither of these two agencies operates with any intention of protecting the public safety of food, drugs or any other product dumped into our markets from around the world or from bio-pirates looking to make big bucks controlling production and food supplies.  Both agencies are symbolic of the corporate whoring that is eating away at the foundations of the country.

 

In what has to be one of the most morally reprehensible assaults on not only the U.S., but also on agricultural systems around the world, USDA in 2001, patented terminator seed technology as a co-owner and developer of seeds that “commit suicide”.  This means one crop and you’re done. 

 

Think about this:  a world wide food shortage was looming in 2001, and the USDA helped to develop and patent seeds that produced sterile offspring so seeds could not be saved for a second crop.  They didn’t stop there either and were major promoters and enforcers of the use of terminator seeds especially in poor countries where food was already in short supply.

 

USDA is now instrumental in attempting to establish the National Animal Identification System.  With several bills in both houses of congress at this moment, multiple co-sponsors are hoping to cash in on the promotion and establishment of a system that is not only not needed, but will do to livestock what terminator seeds have done to the worlds food supplies.  The only thing deeper than the crap the Washington District of Criminals produces each day is the cash and perks rolling in to float their personal boats.

 

The USDA the FDA and multiple unconstitutional government agencies work hand in glove with what is supposed to be the people’s House and Senate.  Congress decides which corporate pirate they are enthralled with, which is going to provide the biggest long term dividends to them personally, allows lobbyists unfettered access to congress and then proceeds to legislate against the very people it swore to protect and defend.  Agencies such as USDA and FDA then step in as enforcers making up rules (laws) as they go along generating huge profits for them selves.

 

What part of this do you not get? 

 

The USDA and FDA have outlived any useful function and in fact have become agencies that exist for no other purpose than to promote and protect bio-pirates and corporate parasites of all stripes.  These agencies do NOT guard the American people’s food supply or make it safe.  This is not their function in today’s world.

 

Each and every state has its own version of FDA and USDA.  These agencies are far more likely to implement protective, cost effective measures that would protect food safety.  And, these agencies are local, relatively speaking, and accountability would not be demanded from some far away, secretive and corrupt federal bureaucracy that has long since decided to throw in with those who would harm us for profit.

 

Ending the existence of just these two agencies and reserving the right of the states to determine for them selves what is safe and what will be allowed to be dumped into our food supply could protect far more of us than the “For Sale” congress we have at the federal level.

 

The USDA and FDA represent federal tyranny and a threat to those who want the right to choose what they eat, and where it comes from.  As neither any longer, and have not for many years, worked on behalf of the American public, I see no need to continue funding the inefficiency, the mismanagement, the corruption of these two corporate whores.  Think of the money and the lives that could be saved if these two agencies alone were dismantled and tossed to the trash pile where they belong.

 

© 2009 Marti Oakley

 

 

 

 

“Mouse Warrior” Action Items

 

Congress, the President and other decision makers must get your message loud and clear! Now that Health Freedom made it among the Top Ten social issues on Change.org and Change.gov, we are ready to push even harder. That’s where these Health Freedom Action eAlerts make a difference. Please take these actions:

1. Tell Congress “No” on the farm control bills!

2. Tell the President about Change ~ Health Freedom is Our First Freedom! Will the new President listen? Only if hundreds of thousands tell him! We need your help in making this campaign “go viral” and “infect” the Internet! Please forward to your entire list and ask them to ACT NOW!

Get ready to tell President Obama that we want real change — which means more freedom and choice in our lives, not more control over needed medical treatments by yet another overblown, impossible to approach Federal bureaucracy!

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26671

And here is the link to the Open Letter to the President:

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=2096

3. Right to Use ~ Right to Choose Use Nano Silver, Retain the Right to Choose Nano Silver. Deadline extended to March 20th. Tell EPA Not to topical Ban Nano Silver of Any Type

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26405

 

See: Defending Nano Silver: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=1773

4. DIVEST THE FDA – and all government agencies of their often misused power to deny us access to wholesome nutrition and natural remedies. Protect Food from FDA/USDA Regulation!

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26314

5. Please consider joining our new Food and Farming Yahoo!Groups forum.

Check it out at: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/natural-solutions-food-and-farming/

And don’t forget our other very active forums:

NO to GMO

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/no-genetically-modified-foods/join

No Forced Vaccinations

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/no-forced-vaccination/join

 

Links provided by Linn Cohen-Cole.

 

Farmers Under Attack…USDA and FDA acting as mercenaries for biotech industry

The General’s Communiqué

Maj. Gen. Albert N. Stubblebine III (US Army, Ret.)

 

Farmers Under Attack…

 

This urgent message from our correspondent, Linn Cohen-Cole:

———-

We have less than two weeks to stop the take over the farms and ranches.

We need to rally people immediately. 

The new administration is pushing new farm controls through Congress as fast as possible and have coordinated the bills so there will be no debate and the committee meetings are closed.  

Transparency, change, undoing Bush’s regulations, giving the public time to comment, grassroots anything?  Our entire food system and thus our health is being decided without the public knowing and those who do know have zero access and the media is absent and they are moving at warp speed to sew this up.

Would you put these out, in this order, showing the article as you do so people are more likely to read it?  They are imperfect but the closest I’ve come to explaining how the game is going to be played.  No direct, frontal assault on organic farming but an insidious process of “infecting” organic farming…  

Example: imagine Joel Salatin’s wonderful organic farm under the direction of the USDA, with detailed instructions on what he must feed and when, how he must medically “treat” his animals and with what, what he must “spray” and when, … you get the picture.  These bills will industrialize all farms and insure the farmers are forced to buy chemicals and drugs.  Organic is dead.  As well as human control over the food supply.  As well as health.

Schoolmarm approach to punishing farmers out of farming.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-and-the-Schoolmar-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090214-935.html

Bills being rushed through Congress, set to destroy organic farming.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-bills-being-rushe-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090217-758.html

 

NAIS ALERT!!! H.R. 814 will make NAIS a federal law

NAIS ALERT!!!  H.R. 814 will make NAIS a federal law

 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.814:

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act to improve the safety of food, meat, and poultry products through enhanced traceability, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 3, 2009

Ms. DEGETTE (for herself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. NADLER of New York, and Ms. DELAURO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

H.R. 814 called the [Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere Act of 2009] or, [The Trace Act of 2009] is nothing less than the federal intent to mandate the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and of course “and for other purposes”.

 

SEC. 26. TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK, MEAT, AND MEAT PRODUCTS.

 

`(a) Definition of Traceability- In this section, the term `traceability’ means the ability to retrieve the history, use, and location of an article through a recordkeeping and audit system or registered identification.

 

`(b) Requirements-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and horses, mules, and other equines presented for slaughter for human food purposes, and the carcasses or parts of carcasses and the meat and meat food products of those animals, shipped in interstate commerce shall be identified in a manner that enables the Secretary to trace—

 

`(A) each animal to any premises or other location at which the animal was held at any time before slaughter; and

 

`(B) each carcass or part of a carcass and meat and meat food product of such animals forward from slaughter through processing and distribution to the ultimate consumer.

 

`(2) TRACEABILITY SYSTEM- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a traceability system for all stages of production, processing, and distribution of meat and meat food products that are produced through the slaughter of animals described in paragraph (1).

 

`(c) Prohibition or Restriction on Entry- The Secretary may prohibit or restrict entry into any slaughtering establishment inspected under this Act of any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or horses, mules, or other equines not identified as prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (b).

 

Apparently USDA was inefficient in its efforts to forcibly overtake the US food supplies and the federal government has found it necessary to intervene and make mandatory the implementation of NAIS on all levels. 

 

SEC. 26. TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK, MEAT, AND MEAT PRODUCTS.

 

(g) Relation to Country of Origin Labeling- Nothing contained in this section prevents or interferes with implementation of the country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).’.

 

Isn’t this section a hoot!  No mention is made of the labeling law passed in 2005 requiring the country of origin to be listed on the label of foods, or, the listing of cloned, genetically altered or mutated foods.  A law which this same government has refused to enforce in deference to corporate donors who know the garbage they are packaging and selling isn’t fit for human consumption.

 

H.R. 814 is clearly nothing less than the federal legislation converting NAIS from a bad a idea to horrendous plan for seizing food production from any source in the US and handing it over to Frankenfood industrialized factory farms on behalf of the bio-pirates who have apparently bought and paid for this legislation.

 

Ms. Degette, Ms. Bordallo, and Mr. Nadler should all be removed from office.  In fact anyone supporting or voting to pass this latest piece of anti-American garbage should be run out of the country. 

 

When will we stop abiding traitors, corporate whores and world government advocates in the government of the sovereign United States?  Our House and Senate on both sides are filled with individuals who have neither patriotism nor loyalty to this country and who work to dismantle our Republic, our freedom and our way of life.

 

The three “public servants” sponsoring this bill are just a small trio in what has become the wholesale destruction of our nation perpetrated by one corrupted congress after another.

 

What will it take for the American public to stand up and say “enough!”. 

 

© 2009 Marti Oakley

 

 

Monsanto and the Schoolmarm method of punishing farmers out of farming

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-and-the-Schoolmar-by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090214-935.html

by Linn Cohen-Cole    

www.opednews.com

 

One thing after another is raining down on small farmers.  

NAIS which is insane on the face of it but has left farmers worrying it is about something much bigger and incredibly more threatening.  For sure the penalties, even for infractions are beyond anything anyone could being to handle.  Farmers it seems, face risks too great to run.

And then there are the buried regulations in the FDA which are criminalizing all aspects of farming by listing them as “sources of seed contamination” – a new contamination if ever there were one.  But seed cleaning equipment is listed and farmers are now supposed to only use what is approved, which is, again, beyond their capacity.  Where was there any contamination of seed, ever, from seed cleaning equipment which would necessitate a farmer giving up a perfectly good seed cleaner they made themselves and used for 40 years and which costs nothing now, to put in a building and equipment for a million and half dollars … for each line of seed?  Never mind the carbon foot print of that versus an already existing seed cleaner.  The upshot of that is farmers are too poor to farm.

The game is simple – scare the public and then use “food safety” and “animal diseases” as the argument for systems that are onerous beyond human endurance.  What systems?  Industrial ones that a normal farmer can’t afford to put in place with bureaucratic tasks that turn farming into something approaching filing out a complex tax return daily, and penalties that are greater than those imposed on felons.

The latest joke on farmers is peanuts.  The problem, like all the problems, are on the industrial side, but what comes from “peanuts” is not peanuts.

So, having whipped the country into a frenzy, here ere come two house bills – out of New York and suspiciously like Monsanto’s friend Hillary Clinton’s plan to centralize the USDA and FDA to save us from “contamination.”  And just after Vilsack said it wasn’t time to do such a thing but they have surely had  this in the works for sometime, this centralizing of corrupt power in the USDA and FDA, over our food.

Goodness they have got the country by the short-hairs on “contamination,” running ads for one thing after another to sterilize our kitchens, our bathrooms, our carpets, our hands, our children even, to save us from it.  My favorite ad is the one of the little brother reaching over to hand his baby sister something but with gross green slimy “bacteria” growing on his hands.  Good grief.  Just ditch the boy and have done, because boys will be boys and get dirty and heaven only knows he might touch his baby sister again.  

Makes you wonder how we all managed to survive to grow up without all that sterilization.  And why kids are sicker now than they ever used to be.

Back to the bill.  The name is a marvel.  “Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere Act of 2009.”

READ MORE

by Linn Cohen-Cole     

www.opednews.com

NAIS: Another link in the attempts to control food supplies worldwide

 (C) 2009 Marti Oakley

Anyone who has researched the history of the National Animal Identification System realizes very quickly this global strategy being pushed by the toxic Monsanto Corporation, Genus and PIC, is nothing less than a plan to seize control of the worlds food production on every level.  And, like the efforts to convert water from a human right, to one of a commodity to be sold only to those who can afford it, food of all kinds, from all sources will no longer be a human right if these Frankenfood corporations and the United Nations are successful.

http://www.eseap.cipotato.org/upward/Publications/Agrobiodiversity/pages%20475-487%20(Paper%2058).pdf

Genus, and other corporations who are jumping on the bandwagon in the hopes of patenting animal genetic resources, is the primary force behind NAIS.  The USDA is a willing and compliant partner, acting as lawmaker, spy, judge and executioner.  The USDA having been reported repeatedly for illegal search and seizure is allowed to act as a mercenary agency on behalf of these private interests without reprimand from congress.  In fact, you would never know we even have a congress when it comes to NAIS and the actions of USDA.

 

The biotech company’s intent is to monopolize existing breeds of farm animals just as they have done with genetically altered seeds.  73% of all grain now grown in the US is genetically altered and patented.  The intent is to pirate all grain crops using seed which, in the case of Monsanto, is only “leased” to the farmer…not sold.  This according to a rule Monsanto developed itself, after the seeds had been sold.  Using this rule, Monsanto is suing farmers…..after sending their own mercenary agents storming onto private land collecting samples and seizing crops. 

The ‘inventors’ of animal breeds  from No Patents on Seeds

“Corporations like PIC and Genus, who are among the biggest international players in the animal breeding sector, are especially active in buying up other firms and patent applica­tions filed. Monsanto is on the other hand entering this business as a relative outsider, having been basically active in a different area. This company has not only bought its way into pig breeding and filed patents having a broad cover­age, it has also concluded extensive licensing agreements with the genome company, MetaMorphix, which has for its part filed numerous patent applications in this sphere.”   http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=42

Rather than advancing biodiversity which is the claim of not only biotech, but also the United Nations, genetic alteration of existing breeds of livestock and the resulting patents would seriously reduce diversity.  Hybrids, which would result from the genetic tampering, would be highly susceptible to disease if such tampering did not actually create new and unknown diseases. 

MAIN GENETICS COMPANIES IN GLOBAL LIVESTOCK BREEDING from No Patents on Seeds

 “The US company Monsanto, net sales 7 billion USD, is better known for its leadership in genetically modified seed than in livestock genes. But with Monsanto’s acquisition, cooperation and patent policy regarding cattle and pig, it in a few years may well dominate gene markets not only with regard to plants but also to livestock. In 2004 it entered a strategic and exclusive collaboration with the genetic research company MetaMorphix, giving Monsanto access to the completest available swine genome data available/                                                               http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/images/documents/livestock_genetics_.pdf                                                                                                               

Genetic alteration is not the same as selective breeding where livestock is carefully bred to produce the best qualities of the breed.  Genetic alteration generally is done to accelerate growth or production at the expense of the animal.  

The wildly false claims Monsanto made about recombinant bovine growth hormone [rBGH] is a prime example of the harsh affects of forcing accelerated growth or production.  Monsanto claimed rBGH increased production by at least 20%.  They just failed to tell the farmer or consumer the 20% was the result of mastitis and the increase was the amount of pus in the milk that resulted from using the growth hormone.    http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/dairy/no-rbgh

In order for genetic patenting to overtake independent livestock producers, it is necessary to know who is breeding what and where is it located.  That’s where NAIS comes in.  This system, if it isn’t stopped, will catalogue all farm and ranch animals and domestic pets. Once catalogued, this data will all be held in corporate data banks which will tell the biotech company just exactly where to establish their altered breeds.  As with the contamination of natural crops by uncontrolled genetically altered seeds, companies such as Monsanto will develop herds in close proximity to natural herds and wait for the opportunity to present itself for cross-breeding.  Once they are assured this has happened, the livestock owner will be sued, just like the seed farmer, and a valuable natural herd will be stolen and the USDA will likely be doing the herding. 

Behind all of the USDA grandstanding about needing to be able to track disease outbreaks, lays the true intent.  The USDA is not concerned with food safety or animal disease outbreaks.  USDA is facilitating the data collection necessary to locate, identify and seize natural herds and to establish industrialized factory farms to replace independent farms and ranches in the US. 

Every effort must be expended to not only halt any further activity in implementing NAIS, but also to abolish the USDA which has become nothing more than a mercenary enforcement arm of biotech pirates. 

 

No patents on Seeds                                                                                                                                                                    

 http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=42

http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/images/documents/livestock_genetics_.pdf

Monsanto rBGH/ pus in milk

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/dairy/no-rbgh

International Agreements Relevant to the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources

http://www.eseap.cipotato.org/upward/Publications/Agrobiodiversity/pages%20475-487%20(Paper%2058).pdf

 

 

 

Monsanto in Illinois: Homeland Security and USDA closed meeting to plan attacks against animals

February 12, 2009

by Linn Cohen-Cole

www.opednews.com

Below is a letter to livestock producers in Illinois asking them and others to contact the Governor’s office to ask to be allowed to be present at a meeting between Homeland Security and the USDA which involves NAIS and “surge capacity” under Homeland Security to attack and seize and destroy – “depopulate” an area of – animals.  This meeting is about what will be done TO THEM but they are shut out.  

Many of you already know about Monsanto’s “rural cleansing” in southern Illinois of 200 – 400 farmers for using Steve Hixon as their seed cleaner .  One is being sued for $400,000.  Do the math.  In 2006, Monsanto made $160,000,000 in this Mafia-like extortion.

Many of you already know that Monsanto was involved in the development of NAIS which, to me, appears to be the set up on the animal side, to do what Monsanto has done with seeds – eliminate normal animals and substitute genetically engineered animals.  I’ve written about how the Homeland Security is set to military type warrantless raids against farms to seize and destroy animals crops and equipment using “animal disease” as the excuse – no due process, no means of checking to see if any of the animals are fine, no way to stop the slaughter.  I’ve also written how the USDA has already proved it  operates this way .

Homeland Security is the centralization of power bequeathed to us by Bush’s “War on Terror,” something many believe was not based on an enemy attack at all.  Amnesty International is calling for an elimination of laws that were passed under Bush’s “War on Terror” justification.  NSA-spying is one such abuse.  

NAIS is NSA-spying on steroids – imagine paying for the equipment used to spy on you, yourself, having to keep it up, having to let the government know in advance of every move your animals make (a trail ride, for instance, your child bringing a pet chicken to school), and to have to file paperwork within 24 hours afterwards or face penalties so draconian, the second infraction if your chicken crosses the road and you fail to report it on time, is $500,000.  

NAIS is backed up by Homeland Security.  Both are connected to Monsanto and, as is typical of Monsanto, both are resulting in terror for farmers.  

Food and Water Watch, the Organic Consumers Association, the Center for Food Safety, Public Citizen, the Campaign for Liberty, Amnesty International, the ACLU, and every farming, food, anti-GMO, animal rights, economic justice groups in this country must come together and with many other organizations, to need to demand NAIS be eliminated entirely.  Homeland Security regulations are in place to provide the required destruction of normal animals and small farmers that Monsanto needs for taking over with genetically engineered and patented animals and making them the only option.  This is happening in Asia already with poultry as small farmers are being destroyed to the benefit of multinationals.  Biotech companies are ready now to replace all poultry in the world with their patented, thus privatized “bird flu-resistant” super chickens .

Homeland Security is the corporate muscle behind the take over of the US food supply.   And the liquidation of our farmers is long planned – by executives.  Homeland Security must be stripped of warrantless, military, search-seize-destroy power over our small farmers and all of us .

So, in addition to this horrific meeting of the USDA (run by Vilsack, Monsanto’s crony) and Homeland Security (also corrupted by Monsanto) to which no farmers are allowed though they are the targets, in southern Illinois, in a six county area, right now, hundreds of crop farmers are living in terror of what is going to happen to them, no longer speaking to neighbors, because Monsanto people lied to them and told them their neighbors turned them in or that Hixon did.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House in Illinois who just pushed through an ethics bill because of the lack of all ethical there, has a staff filled with Monsanto lobbyists. 

This is Obama’s state.  

Why is Monsanto so comfortable taking over there?  Because Obama overrode immense public objections and put in Vilsack, Monsanto’s boy ?  It is time to make him responsible for his agencies and stop this assault on American farming.

 

WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY OBAMA PROMISED?  

 

It is interesting that this closed – to those affected – meeting is occurring immediately after Vilsack (Monsanto) just promised transparency. 

As you read this, realize that the people posting this out have been doing immense and difficult work now for years to stop NAIS, are fighting for their lives, battling agencies without our help, while being lied to, coerced, threatened, forced, and even involuntarily and/or without their knowledge being forced onto NAIS and Premises ID .

Read this message to livestock producers in Illinois to get a sense of how totalitarian things have become and how shut out the public is from decisions that affect it directly and threaten its livelihoods and even existence.

All calls, emails and letters you can send to let the Governor of Illinois know how you feel about this outrage and to demand that the public be allowed into this meeting of two abominably corrupted agencies – the USDA and Homeland Security – would be appreciated.  And if you are members of any of the organization listed above, please tell them you expect them to demand a complete halt to NAIS and to seek with as many organizations as possible, a criminal investigation into congressional and governmental agency corruption into USDA, FDA, EPA, and Homeland Security regulations that threaten the very existence of our REAL American farmers.

Every farmer and person in the entire country who has even a single farm animal – even a chicken or pet duck, is in trouble – and at a time of unemployment and impending food shortages when just a few chickens and a small goat could actually provide the protein needed for a family.

First They Came for the Cows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sharon Zecchinelli                        

(802) 933-6709

henwhisperer@gmail.com

henwhisperer.blogspot.com

“First They Came for the Cows: An Activist’s Story” first novel about NAIS

February 6, 2009 – Enosburg Falls, VT – In the late summer of 2004, at a raw milk ice cream social on a neighboring farm, a middle aged woman and Vermont homesteader learns about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a program by the United States Department of Agriculture to tag and track every livestock animal in the country. Her life changes in an instant as she is brought face-to-face with the biggest threat to food safety, property rights, and rural living anyone could imagine, and she finds herself thrust into the world of grass roots activism.Sharon Zecchinelli’s new book, First They Came for the Cows, a winner in the 2007 National Novel Writing Month, is a fictionalized account of the real fight against NAIS by tens of thousands of ordinary people all over the country. Through the internet, farmers, homesteaders, pet owners, and consumers find each other and learn what it means to be politically involved.

What makes this book different from any other is that it is the first novel ever written about this struggle against the USDA-Corporate alliance that is pushing NAIS, a real David and Goliath story. The inspiration for the book comes from Zecchinelli’s actual experience as Vermont’s leading national anti-NAIS activist. “The heart of the book is right out of real life,” Zecchinelli explains, “with names changed to protect the innocent.”

Zecchinelli, a retired chef, lives in Enosburg Falls, Vermont on a 12 acre homestead with her husband, 19 laying hens, 6 heritage breed turkeys, seasonal meat animals, a horse, and two dogs.

For more information about First They Came for the Cows, or to schedule an interview, contact Sharon Zecchinelli at 802-933-6709 or by email at henwhisperer@gmail.com.

—

 

First They Came for the Cows (978-1440454431, Trade paperback, 204 pp, 9 x 6 $19.99)

NAIS Threatens Access to Organic, Local and Sustainable Food

http://www.naturalnews.com/025569.html

What is NAIS ~~How Do We Protect Ourselves?

 

Monday, February 09, 2009

 by: Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor(NaturalNews)

 

At first glance, many readers of Natural News will think the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is nothing that concerns them because they eat only plant based foods. However, NAIS is only one part of a much bigger issue. The implementation of NAIS directly threatens the ability of everyone to eat locally grown, organic, and sustainable foods, including fruits and vegetables. NAIS is the first step in the final round of the takeover and regulation of all agricultural products, including plant based foods and supplements. Once NAIS is implemented it will be easy for growers of all agricultural products to be pushed around, intimidated and finally taken over by big agribusiness and its best friend, the government. NAIS is the next step in the destruction of the freedom to eat as we choose and enhance our health with supplements.

If you are opposed to the loss of liberty and the expansion of government tyranny that NAIS represents, your help is urgently needed to block the next step in its implementation. Comments must be received at the USDA by March 16, 2009. Specific information and a link to sample comments appear at the end of this article.

Article also incudes:

NAIS hands over production of food to factory farms

What is NAIS?

NAIS will result in a decrease in food safety

Costs are high and benefits are low with NAIS

It is critical that the USDA and Congress hear from the millions of people who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes animal owners, consumers who care about locally produced, organic, and sustainable foods, taxpayers who object to wasteful government programs and expanding government bureaucracy, advocates for a safe food system, and anyone who wishes to continue to have access to nourishing food and supplements.

Step 1: Submit comments to the USDA online or by mail. The comments must be received at the USDA by March 16, 2009.

Submit comments online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmpubli…
Click on the yellow balloon under “add comments”.

Or mail two copies of your comments to USDA:
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0096
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS
Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118

Clearly state that your comments refer to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0096.

Here is a link to downloadable sample comments:
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/cont… Click on the sample comments link

STEP 2: Send a copy of your comments to your Congressman and Senators.

You can find who represents you, and their contact information, at www.congress.org

Sources: WWW.naisSTINKS.com research.

Farm and Ranch Freedom Allance http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/

www.nonais.com

Stop the National Animal Identification System http://sovereignty.net/library/libr…

 

 

NAIS: USDA plans to seize land and livestock

A January 09, 2009 article touting the National Animal Identification System, by the USDA, is nothing less than creative advertising meant to sell an unwanted and unneeded product.  If the need for such a system was real, it would be an admittance by USDA, the agency which swallows up millions of taxpayer dollars each year, was not capable of performing the tasks assigned to it.  Isn’t that fraud?

 

USDA never alludes to its ignoring of Johnes disease which is the scourge of bovine herds.  No attempts by USDA to eradicate the disease or to stop its spread among herds while they attempt to convince livestock producers NAIS is a good and necessary tool.

 

[In 2004 the USDA estimated the Johne’s infection rate to be at 20%. Today, reliable estimates reveal over 60% of the nation’s dairy herds are co-mingled with Johne’s positive cows, a 300% increase in only four years, but the USDA doesn’t feel this is a problem worth their time. The USDA appears comfortable with this major epidemic, and has no plan for acceleration about the problem.

 

The USDA, with their own data, estimates an annual financial loss as a result of Johne’s in dairy herds to be $200,000,000. For one year the Johne’s loss is nearly as much as USDA has invested in promoting NAIS during the past 6 years. This annual loss is more than 1000% over the eradication costs of the US Avian Influenza fiasco, a statistic USDA tosses out to tout the serious need of an NAIS mandatory system.]

http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=nais_not_about_disease

 

This one issue alone, because of its scope and financial costs is the clear indicator that the program known as NAIS is NOT about tracking disease in US herds. Its is plainly and simply a tool being used to gain control and access to food production and to the land which is being used as collateral on the debt incurred bailing out Wall Street. 

 

If this claim of protecting the food supply were valid, why would there be any need to register your property with a Premises ID?  Simple vet tags now used identify not only the livestock, but also the vet who issued the tag and by extension the farm or ranch that obtained the vet certification.  No processor will accept delivery on a non-vet certified shipment of beef.  So where is this big national threat of not being able to track it? 

 

According to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA):

 

About 15% of all beef consumed in the United States is imported.  Imported beef is either processed separately of MIXED WITH DOMESTIC product. (emphasis, mine)

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10528&page=13

 

As USDA knows all too well, contamination occurs at the point of processing at least 90% of the time, not in production.  USDA also knows that countries importing to the US many times either do not have the same health standards, or fail to implement health and sanitation standards, yet the agency has failed to prohibit imports on any level.

 

USDA with its proclivity for pandering to mega-corporations made sure there were provisions in the NAIS to relieve corporate producers from experiencing any significant costs that might affect their bottom lines.  For these special groups, livestock can be registered in lots and fees paid as if there was only one head.  The true costs of NAIS will be passed on to the small and independent producers.  The only real intent of the USDA is to eradicate these independents and allow corporations to seize control of production.

 

IF NAIS was simply a disease tracking tool, why do our pets have to be chipped and tracked also?  Was someone planning to start slaughtering and selling dogs and cats?  USDA wants every domestic animal, of any kind, owned for any reason to be RFID chipped.  Now what the hell would domestic pets have to do with stopping contamination or disease in livestock herds meant for human consumption.

The obvious false scenario’s planted wherever anyone will give USDA ink space are indicative of an agency on a mission for which it has neither the constitutional nor lawful authority to impose.  NAIS has nothing to do with protecting the food supply or tracking disease.  It is simply one more brick in the wall along with REAL ID and the total surveillance society being assembled a piece at a time by various agencies which have neither authority or rights to do so.

NO NAIS…NOT NOW….NOT EVER!

© 2009 Marti Oakley

Busting the Anthrax Myth…….(Another USDA tall tale bites the dust)

I was back on the www.naisStinks.com  website again!   The article below is important to the continued threat from the USDA about bio-terrorism.  This one really puts perspective on the use of fear-mongering and crisis creation where little or no crisis exists.  Marti

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Busting the Anthrax Myth
<http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/busting_anthrax_myth>
July 30, 2008

<http://www.stratfor.com/>

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, chief medical officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told a congressional subcommittee on July 22 that the risk of a large-scale biological attack on the nation is significant and that the U.S. government knows its terrorist enemies have sought to use biological agents as instruments of warfare. Runge also said that the United States believes that capability is within the terrorists’ reach.

Runge gave his testimony before a subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology that was holding a field hearing in Providence, R.I., to discuss the topic of “Emerging Biological Threats and Public Health Preparedness.”

During his testimony, Runge specifically pointed to al Qaeda as the most significant threat and testified that the United States had determined that the terrorist organization is seeking to develop and use a biological weapon to cause mass casualties in an attack. According to Runge, U.S. analysis indicates that anthrax is the most likely choice, and a successful single-city attack on an unprepared population could kill hundreds of thousands of citizens.

Later in his testimony, Runge remarked that many do not perceive the threat of bioterrorism to be as significant as that of a nuclear or conventional strike, even though such an attack could kill as many people as a nuclear detonation and have its own long-term environmental effects.

We must admit to being among those who do not perceive the threat of bioterrorism to be as significant as that posed by a nuclear strike. To be fair, it must be noted that we also do not see strikes using chemical <http://www.stratfor.com/chemical_threat_subways_dispelling_clouds> or radiological <http://www.stratfor.com/dirty_bombs_weapons_mass_disruption> weapons rising to the threshold of a true weapon of mass destruction either. The successful detonation of a nuclear weapon in an American city would be far more devastating that any of these other forms of attack.

Read full article with links to greater information here:

http://naisstinks.com/index.php?con=Busting_Anthrax_Myth

 

Note from Darol Dickinson:

In the last 5 years USDA has alleged that an Anthrax or Hoof and Mouth outbreak, staged by terrorist, could devastate the US livestock industry “over night.” USDA proposed the largest numbering and surveillance system in world history of all US livestock, as the protective method—- called NAIS.

At first blush, livestock producers have largely believed government projections of worst case pandemic scenarios. As facts on world terrorism are more understandable, Anthrax is economically controlled with available vaccines, and Hoof & Mouth disease was eradicated in 1929, the whole NAIS costly concept is clearly of no profit in relation to costs. The crying wolf pandemics are, in fact, only one old snaggled-toothed dog barking below the USDA window.

For scientific information on Anthrax, read below. For more info on NAIS go to http://www.naisSTINKS.com <http://www.naisSTINKS.com>

CHOOSE YOUR CURE

 

CHOOSE YOUR CURE

 

For the last month I have become sick and tired of TV news that hourly comes up with a new super criminal, either elected, or a private thief.  Jessie James, Al Capone, Bonny and Clyde, are all small change compared to the contemporary shysters the likes of Bernie Madoff and the Wall Street gangsters who don’t just rob the train, but haul all the nation’s money away in a fleet of armored trucks.  Not just looting the other bad guys, but stealing their own mother’s savings! 

 

So, I watch old Westerns where the good guy always wins.

 

Livestock publications like Beef, Drovers, and National Cattleman know people like clean and nice stuff so they print the weekly NAIS promotion releases. The NAIS program claims it can stop all disease and save the world.  USDA offers a positive pablum message, but  void of all cost considerations. 

 

USDA has billions to work with.  They hold court on Independence Avenue in what was the largest office compound in the world.  There is something about the authority of making enforcements from the power of a narcissistic filled over two million square foot stone carved building that makes them —- feel — faultless.  Then out in the corral dealing with cattle, horses and managing a farm—-what could these humble people possibly know about livestock and disease?

 

The experience of stepping in real bull dust every day will provide valid lessons totally clashing with the marble halls of USDA.  There is an opinion of the regulators, and an opinion of the regulated—totally different.

 

Check this link putting NAIS in perspective so even (well meaning) people in DC can understand it.  This short video narrated by Henry Lamb represents the view of the regulated.  This is produced by Sovereignty International, Bx 191, Hollow Rock, TN 38342.

 

http://sovereignty.net/library/nais-no/player.html

 

For a second opinion on NAIS this film is produced by Liberty Ark Coalition. 

 

http://libertyark.net/NAIS-new/NAIS%20Clip/player.html

 

For additional videos and You Tube testimonies about NAIS go to www.naisSTINKS.com.  Over 80 of the best documented NAIS articles reprinted from leading publications all over the world.  Those fighting to preserve the freedom of the family farm are welcome to make reprints and forward.  Join this important freedom fight for all the right reasons.  Darol Dickinson

 

 

 

The CTLR Position Statement on NAIS.

http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=ctlr

 

The Cattlemen’s Texas Longhorn Registry does not support any form of a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS), including mandatory premises registration, animal identification, and/or government-mandated animal tracking. We are deeply concerned how such legislation would affect the wellbeing of our irreplaceable genetic base of this heritage breed.-

NAIS invades our privacy and violates the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. NAIS, and any program like it, would adversely affect availability of locally produced, healthy food. The safety and security of our food supply is best protected when producers are responsible for sustaining a healthy herd and ecosystem. Government databases, in contrast, do not improve the health of the animals and are technologically vulnerable.

We advocate cattle be kept in their natural environment where instincts influence their behavior. We discourage confined feeding and unnecessary handling that are responsible for most bovine injuries and illnesses. Producers should remain free to move animals, while complying with current animal health requirements, without the added burden of reporting such movement to the custodian of a surveillance archive. Any government requirements limiting the free movement, sale, or use of animals should be clearly supported by scientific evidence showing that the animal health benefits to be obtained outweigh the costs in time, money, and the loss of freedom.

We support marketing of locally produced foods grown on sustainable farms. If an animal identification system benefits the export market, then it should be market driven with voluntary participation of those who will benefit from export. Independent producers and taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the system. NAIS will not improve animal health or prevent the spread of disease, but it would cost producers, consumers and taxpayers higher fees to maintain databases that benefit only a few corporations. Tracking should be left to private enterprise utilizing Process Verified Programs that assure product quality and compassionate and humane standards of production.

We believe the NAIS is a leap away from democracy and our Bill of Rights. It is the first of many steps to follow that strip away citizens’ freedoms in favor of corporate dominance that will ultimately trap this country into dependence on foreign commodities. We support the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance in their position of opposition to a NAIS. We encourage our members to contact their legislators and request legislation that bars a mandatory program, stops government funding, and protects individuals from coercion or pressure to participate in any voluntary program.

Links for more information about NAIS

http://www.farmandranchfreedom.org/ Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance

http://libertyark.net/ Liberty Ark Coalition

http://www.tofga.org/index.php?page=26&pp=1&lang=51 Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association

http://www.westonaprice.org/federalupdate/aa2006/infoalert_041006.html Weston A. Price Foundation

http://www.ruralheritage.com/search_zone.cgi?searchZone=content&search=nais Rural Heritage

http://albc-usa.org/news.html American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYssebw3_FRuof2bdR1YdCo8OgXA Latest news linking cancer to implanted microchips

http://www.alternet.org/rights/62858/  NAIS Truths

Read the full statement here:

http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=ctlr

Downsize D.C. against NAIS

D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h

---

Media Alert! Jim Babka will appear on the Liberty Roundtable tomorrow morning. See the Postscript for details.

Quote of the Day: “The USDA claims it needs to be able to move fast in case of an outbreak of disease. At first blush it sure sounds fine and good, until you consider that people are in the middle of a major epidemic on US dairy farms, and the USDA hasn’t moved at all to stop it.” – The National Association of Farm Animal Welfare

Subject: From “Voluntary” to Mandatory

Johne’s disease is a contagious infection of the small intestine of hoofed animals.

• There’s a strong possibility that Johne’s disease in cattle causes Crohn’s disease in humans.
• According to a 2007 government study, 68% of America’s cattle herds may be infected.
• Yet the USDA’s page on Johne’s disease still cites a 22% figure from 1996

Moreover, the USDA’s 2009 budget . . .

• Slashes the already miniscule funding for Johne’s disease eradication 
•  While increasing funding for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS)

The rationale for NAIS is that it will better protect America’s food supply. But at what cost?

• More government surveillance powers
• More expense for ranchers, farmers, and exotic pet owners
• Less freedom and privacy: If one calf briefly strays, a report must be filed. If a horse-owner goes for a trail ride, a report must be filed.
• NAIS is supposed to control disease outbreaks, but it does so at the expense of disease eradication programs.

No wonder the people aren’t buying it. NAIS was introduced four years ago as a “voluntary” program, but the lack of “volunteers” has the USDA playing hardball. It’s proposing rule APHIS-2007-0096 that would . . .

• Require participants in other USDA disease control programs to adopt a NAIS Premise ID number
• Phase in a requirement that newborn livestock be issued eartags under a uniform NAIS numbering system

Our assumption that this “voluntary” program would be made mandatory was a big reason DownsizeDC.org launched its anti-NAIS campaign three years ago.

Please join us in fighting this bureaucratic over-reach.

• Tell Congress to abolish NAIS
• Remind them that Congress never approved NAIS in the first place, but Congress does have the power to de-fund the program
• You can also note that NAIS funding is being increased while Johne’s Disease eradication programs are being cut. This undermines the rationale for NAIS
• Make your representatives aware that NAIS is one step closer to being mandatory.

You can send your message using our Educate the Powerful System.

Please also take an extra step. Strike at the root of the mischief-making powers of unelected bureaucrats. Tell Congress to pass DownsizeDC.org’s Write the Laws Act.

Thank-you for helping us Downsize DC!

James Wilson
Assistant to the President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. DownsizeDC.org President Jim Babka will be on Liberty Roundtable, with Sam Bushman & Friends, just after 9 AM Eastern (8 AM Central, 7 AM Mountain, 6 AM Pacific) on Wednesday morning (Jan. 28). The show is heard on several stations, but the best way to listen is online at http://www.accentradionetwork.com/chooseplayer.htm

D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h
is the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation

NAIS…..The USDA assault on farms, ranches and livestock continues

I encourage EVERYONE to comment on this proposed rule, even if you do not own the livestock currently proposed to be affected (this opens the door to the rest) AND even if you will never own any livestock.  If you like to eat local foods, this WILL affect you.

To comment, click on this link:  http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0096

Comments on Docket No. APHIS–2007–0096 Official Animal Identification Numbering Systems

January 24, 2009

This proposal is nothing more than a back door approach to implement a mandatory NAIS.  What happened to the USDA’s often stated claim “NAIS is voluntary with a capital ‘V’”!

You cite:

“Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.”

How can this be?  The first paragraph of Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act states:

“The American people deserve a regulatory system that works for them, not against them: a regulatory system that protects and improves their health, safety, environment, and well-being and improves the performance of the economy without imposing unacceptable or unreasonable costs on society; regulatory policies that recognize that the private sector and private markets are the best engine for economic growth; regulatory approaches that respect the role of State, local, and tribal governments; and regulations that are effective, consistent, sensible, and understandable. We do not have such a regulatory system today.”

And

“Section 1.  Statement of Regulatory Philosophy and Principles. (a) The Regulatory Philosophy. Federal agencies should promulgate only such regulations as are required by law, are necessary to interpret the law, or are made necessary by compelling public need, such as material failures of private markets to protect or improve the health and safety of the public, the environment, or the well-being of the American p eople. In deciding whether and how to regulate, agencies should assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, including the alternative of not regulating. Costs and benefits shall be understood to include both quantifiable measures (to the fullest extent that these can be usefully estimated) and qualitative measures of costs and benefits that are difficult to quantify, but nevertheless essential to consider. Further, in choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, agencies should select those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity), unless a statute requires another regulatory approach.”

I submit that you are violating this act by not first having this proposal reviewed by the OMB and by not making public the cost/benefit analysis completed by Kansas State University.

NAIS will directly affect my ability to raise and sell breeding stock to other people and 4-H children when they discover that they must register their ‘premises’ (property) in a federal database for a program whose true costs and requirements are yet unknown!  I view NAIS as a direct threat to the continued survival of rare and endangered species of livestock.

NAIS will do nothing to stop disease from entering this country.  It is an ‘after the fact’ reaction.  It will also do nothing to stop disease from entering our food chain because it ends at the slaughterhouse door.  The large recalls that have occurred in the past few years were all from contamination that occurred in either the slaughterhouse, the packing industry or at the retail level, NOT on the farm itself!

On page 1635, column 1, paragraph 3, the proposed rule states:

“It is not our intent at this time to set a date by which AIN eartags in adult animals must conform to the 840 standard.”

The wording of this sentence indicates that you DO intend to do just that in the future.  Requiring livestock owners to retag animals at some point in the future will be a terrible economic burden.

On page 1635, column 2, paragraph 1, the proposed rule states:

“the fundamental purpose of a PIN is to identify locations in the United States where livestock and/or poultry are housed or kept.”

And

“When animal health officials know where at risk animals and locations are and have accurate, up-to-date contact information for their owners, they can respond quickly and strategically to prevent disease spread.”

There is no way this database can ever be 100% accurate!  I have a very real fear that your agency will look at as just that, especially after listening to numerous USDA officials speak.

Your often cited reason for NAIS is ‘mad cow’ disease and the need to trace where said cow went.  Not ONE of the cows who tested positive for BSE originated in this country!  Each one of them was imported from Canada yet you consistently water down the import requirements!

On page 1635, column 2, paragraph 3, the proposed rule states:

“Because the use of a single numbering system to represent premises in all animal-health data systems would help to standardize information and to enhance existing disease-tracing and emergency-response capabilities, we are proposing to remove the PIN format that uses the State postal abbreviation and are proposing to create a single national format for the PIN by requiring that all PINs issued on or after the date on which this proposed rule becomes effective would have to use the seven character alphanumeric code format.”

If the FIN (flock identification number) “serves the sheep and goat population well”, and will be continued under this proposal, why the need to change from the current state postal code numbering system for other species of livestock?

In addition, storing all PIN’s in a single database at the USDA will be far less secure than the current system of storing locations at the state/territory/tribe level.  It is well known that any computer system can be ‘hacked into”.  The USDA’s own system has been a victim of this in the past with social security numbers for private individuals stolen.  If an individual or group wants to contaminate our food supply, how much easier could it be if the location of every producer is stored in one massive database?! 

On page 1637, column 2, paragraph 3, the proposed rule states:

“We do not currently have all the data necessary for a comprehensive analysis of the effects of this proposed rule on small entities. Therefore, we are inviting comments concerning potential effects.  In particular, we are interested in determining the potential costs to eartag manufacturers and livestock producers.”

According to a recent FOIA request for copies of the completed ‘NAIS Cost-Benefit Analysis’, the USDA has a 438 page report from Kansas State University.  This FOIA request was denied.  What happened to ‘transparency in government’?

According to your grant proposal, you paid Kansas State $50,000 of taxpayer money for this study.  Why has this report not been made public? 

Why are you, once again, submitting a proposed rule for a program which you cannot or will not state the actual costs to the producers themselves?

On page 1637, column 3, paragraph 3, the proposed rule states:

“These potential costs may be passed on to livestock producers that purchase the new eartags. We do not have data to quantitatively estimate these potential costs at this time, and welcome public comment from affected entities with this information.”

In this economy, where small farmers are already struggling to make ends meet, why do you propose that these costs be passed on to the producer?  Especially by technology companies who stand to gain windfall profits from the implementation of this system?  This latter fact has been clearly reported in numerous technology journals and memos/reports to stockholders from the approved tag/RFID manufacturers.

It would be far more cost effective and safer for humans if the $130 million of taxpayer money that has been spent so far trying to implement this expensive, intrusive system had been spent on a software system that would be compatible with the current systems in use AND by increasing the number of inspectors at our portals of entry and at the slaughterhouse/processing level.  Then, and only then, would our food be safer.

When NAIS drives all the small farmers out, where will people go to buy their locally grown and wholesome food?

When NAIS drives all the small farmers out, we will become increasingly dependent on importing food, just as we have become increasingly dependent on importing oil.

When NAIS causes parents to pull their children out of 4-H and Future Farmers of America, what will the cost be to society?  Raising animals teaches children responsibility, improves their self-esteem, teaches them the value of ‘community’ and makes them less likely to engage in criminal activity.

When NAIS drives all of us who raise rare and endangered breeds out, where will the larger producers go when they need to improve the genetic strength of their commercial breeds?

Karen Nowak

Pond Ridge Farm

Brookfield, NY

Mandatory Equine Licenses Enacted

by Darol Dickinson~~ 1-26-09

The New Hampshire Municipal Association proudly touts a new special “equine” tax that will increase jobs and create new state income from the estimated 24,000 equine in New Hampshire. A licensing of each and every equine is proposed to be effective July 1, 2009. This is a tax of $25 per horse (equine) and in cases of refusal to comply, the state adds another $50 to slap the cowboys in line. It isn’t a smoke screen about export, food safety or disease, it is just a new state income.

Beyond the state lines of New Hampshire, the USDA has been at war with livestock owners to coerce enrollment in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a multi-billion dollar scheme to computerize, number and create a permanent surveillance system on all US livestock. This plot is the mother of all numbering scenarios. With the commerce of all US livestock, at the end of three years the total computer movements recorded, and paid for by animal owners, would eclipse the number of the earth’s human population.

These draconian sounding tax collection schemes, although totally putrid to animal lovers, are completely sane to bureau-rats who’s salary increases, retirement and weekly sustenance depend on innovative ways to transfer wealth from the regulated to the regulators.

Just down the trail to New York 88 new taxes have been deviously hatched by the lowly staff of Governor David Paterson to help pay for his flawed $15.4 billion budget gap. Hookers who have enjoyed a tax break on work clothes worth less than $110, won’t any more. An 18% increase on sodas is proposed; higher gas tax, increased taxi tax, boats, cars, rental car taxes, cigars, iPods, etc. Plush governmental cubicles high in the New York sky are filled with think-tank devious minds searching the alleys for a new tax source to increase the regulator’s revenue. New York Conservative Party Chairman, Michael Long says, “You’re (Gov. Paterson) sending notice to the people of New York that we really don’t want you here.”

Tribute ideas like the USDA’s NAIS, horse licensing and the New York taxationists search the world over to locate new and innovative collection methods. It is one thing to develop a new tax and another to collect it. That is where enforcements are enacted with fines, late penalties, and refusal-to-comply fees.

In Australia a tax called the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) has been operational for several years. Herds of computer toting Biosecurity Officers now stalk the Outback to locate animal owners out of compliance; conviction is up to a $4000 fine for not registering a livestock premises.

The love of companion animals is multiplying in affection world wide. What a sadistic way to create funding, to assess a new tribute for pets, livestock and beloved family animals. Animal licensing is the contemporary government way to tax not just the animal, but the joy and profit of livestock ownership.

In New Hampshire it starts out,

 

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine, and then explains for Equine Licenses. Amend RSA 435, Sec 41, etc. In a scoop shovel it is proposed, $25 per year, every year, and each animal must have a number. The number process approved by the USDA is a computer chip, surgically injected under the skin by a USDA licensed veterinarian at a fee of $75 to $125 per equine, depending on how many in the remuda.

The Fiscal Impact: “The Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food and the New Hampshire Municipal Association estimates this bill will increase state and local revenue, and increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county revenue or state and county expenditures.”

On July 1, will the horse owners of New Hampshire migrate to other states or will a large population of equine feces machines establish residence on the Concord State Capitol lawn?

This may be the time and place to rethink the New Hampshire motto: “LIVE FREE OR DIE.”

First Australia, the NAIS, the New Hampshire Equine Licenses—-all innovations of hostage taxation, which is a spreading livestock disease in itself. The mystery of expanding government is not how it works, but how in the world to make it stop!

 

More info

 

http://www.naisSTINKS.com, Australian Biosecurity, http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au.

 

 

 

 

Mandatory Equine Licenses Enacted

USDA Unable to Weed Out GMO foods

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50d5zd-us-usda-gmo-policies/

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2009 (Reuters) — The U.S. food supply is at risk of being invaded by unapproved imports of genetically modified crops and livestock, a USDA internal audit report released Wednesday said.

The report, released by the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Office of Inspector General, said the USDA does not have an import control policy to regulate imported GMO animals.

Its policy for GMO crops, though adequate now, could become outdated as other nations boost production of their own GMO crops, the report added.

The Office of Inspector General recommended the department develop an overall control policy for all GMO imports and implement a strategy to monitor GMO crop and livestock development in foreign nations.

The audit found that the USDA needs to develop screening measures to weed out undeclared GMO crops and livestock. The department currently has no measures in place to identify a shipment of unapproved GMO imports unknown to the U.S. regulatory system, the report said.

The United States has been a forerunner in developing GMO plants and animals since the 1990s, but other countries are beginning to invest more in biotechnology.

The report noted that China has pledged $500 million toward biotechnology by 2010 and has developed a new form of GMO rice.

Although the implications associated with Americans consuming unapproved GMO food are unknown, the health and environmental concerns that it poses could threaten commerce.

The USDA’s lack of policies and monitoring capability on the matter reflect the United States’ dominance over the global market concerning genetic modification.

“Department officials stated that they have not needed such a strategy because most transgenic plants were first developed within the U.S. regulatory system, and it was unlikely that anything unfamiliar would be imported,” the report said.

“And transgenic animals have not been commercialized,” the report also said of officials’ reasoning behind being slow to develop regulations.

The USDA, for the most part, agreed with the report’s recommendations.

In a letter to the Office of Inspector General, the USDA said it would create a plan for monitoring GMO plant and animal developments worldwide by November 30. But further action on policy would require approval from the incoming administration.

 http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50d5zd-us-usda-gmo-policies/

Last Minute Rulemaking by Bush USDA Threatens Organic Farmers

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2008/12/03-5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Consumers and Farmers Join Together to Promote Organic Integrity

Excerpted from the full article:

CORNUCOPIA, Wisconsin – December 3 – Many media outlets, from the New York Times to the blogosphere, have tracked what has been dubbed the “corporate takeover” of organic farming.  One of the hottest controversies in this rapidly growing $20 billion industry has been giant factory farms milking thousands of cows each in feedlots and masquerading as organic.  Some of these industrial dairies are controlled by the nation’s largest agribusinesses.

Since the organic community first appealed to the USDA for better clarification and enforcement of regulations requiring organic dairy producers to graze their cattle, nearly 9 years ago, the number of giant industrial dairy operations, with as many as 10,000 cows, has grown from two to approximately 15.  After years of delay, the USDA has finally responded with a new proposed rule that they said would crack down on abuses. 

“The birds have come home to roost,” said Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute.  The Wisconsin-based farm policy research group estimates there are 35,000 to 45,000 cows on giant CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) operating in the United States producing as much as 40% of the nation’s organic milk supply. 

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2008/12/03-5

This is an important article from Common Dreams.org.

The USDA…An unelected bureaucracy gone wild.

The USDA is an unelected bureaucracy which seems to have come to its own conclusions regarding the law and is busying itself with attempting to implement the illegal and unconstitutional National Animal Identification System.

 

Because the proposed system is blatantly unconstitutional and a direct assault on our right to own private property and to be free of encumbrance or interference from the government as long as our activity remains lawful and legal, I began wondering just how USDA and its globalist, corporate pandering, minions were intending to not only implement but to also enforce this illegal attack on private homes and businesses. 

 

How does an agency of the federal government set about avoiding a conflict with the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, and implement a program that assaults and renders as useless those very same rights? 

 

Please look at the list below and see if you can find any law, any proposed bill, or in fact any indication that we even have a congress that might have had a say in this.  These of course are not all the players and this list does not include the Frankenfood corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta among many others, but it should give you a clear picture of how the USDA intends to circumvent the Constitution and your rights to be left alone by government: to be secure in papers, person and effects.

 

• International Animal Court Treaty
• International Criminal Court
• International property Code
• International Standards.org
• International Committee on Animal Standards
• International Standards for Electric Identification of Animals
• World Organization for Animal Health
• International Phytosanitary Agreements
• World Trade Organization

 

This is kind of like finding Waldo…..only the Waldo in this puzzle is congress and they are no where to be found.  No mention of US laws or the Constitution either. 

 

Everyone of these organizations or treaty’s is directly tied to the World Trade Organization. 

 

The World Trade Organization is tied to the World Bank  

 

The World Bank is tied to the International Monetary Fund

 

All of these are subject to the International Criminal Court

 

And every treaty, organization, trade organization, bank, money handler, committee, standard and code is all tied to AGENDA 21 from the United Nations.

 

The USDA has neither the power nor the legitimacy to mandate or attempt to make mandatory any program or plan that is derived from international policies and agendas intended to usurp and replace Constitutional laws and protections and rights.  These international laws, codes and regulations are being utilized specifically because our laws would prohibit not only implementation, but enforcement.  Enforcement, by necessity requires lawful validation which could not be gained under US laws or the Constitution.

 

The recent Federal Register entry, January 13, 2009 citing the USDA’s claim that mandatory implementation will supersede and preempt any local or state laws that have been passed allowing NAIS registration to be only voluntary an dnow making it mandatory, is null on its face.

 

The USDA is nothing more than an agency and as such cannot lawfully make such a declaration.  The 10th and 14th Amendments gives states rights over those of the government.  In this case, this is only an agency of the government…..not Congress or the President.  And it is one of these two only, who can legislate or pass laws which must be attended by the population.  The USDA, no matter how grandiose their thinking, is neither of these bodies.

 

And, no matter what international plan or organization is hiding behind this infringement on our sovereignty, we as American citizens are bound by one set of laws originating from the Constitution.  If the USDA is so enamored with international organizations, holding them in higher regard than our own Constitution then please let me be the first to invite each and every one of them, including Colin Peterson (D) MN and Tom Harkin(D) IA, to take their leave. 

 

I’ll help raise the money for tickets to anywhere you want to go…..as long as it is far, far away from the US.

 

© 2009 Marti Oakley

 

NAIS: Not About Disease !! from NAFAW

January 20,2009 for public release from NAFAW.

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has stirred up a hornet’s nest of problems for the USDA. Dislike for the program is multiplying daily by klans of all flavors.

 

Citing the abject failure of a similar program in Australia, the total costs dumped on livestock producers, and voicing concerns about individual property rights, opponents have demanded the program be totally abolished.

 

On the other hand, the USDA claims it needs to be able to move fast in case of an outbreak of disease. At first blush it sure sounds fine and good, until you consider that people are in the middle of a major epidemic on US dairy farms, and the USDA hasn’t moved at all to stop it. Is there a tiny touch of hypocrisy showing between the lines?

 

Unsolved Multiplication

 

Sixty-eight percent of all dairy cows in America are infected with an always fatal disease called Johnes (pronounced yo knees).

 

In 2004 the USDA estimated the infection rate to be at 20%. Today, 68% of the nation’s dairy herds are comingled with Johne’s positive cows, a three-fold increase in only four years, but the USDA doesn’t feel the need to mandate an eradication program. Why? The USDA appears fine with this epidemic, and refuses any serious dialogue about the subject. The USDA, with their own data, estimates an annual financial loss as a result of Johne’s in dairy herds to be $200,000,000. For one year the Johne’s loss is nearly as much as USDA has invested in promoting NAIS during the past 6 years. This annual loss is more than 1000% over the eradication costs of the US Avian Influenza fiasco, a statistic USDA tosses out to tout the serious need of a NAIS mandatory system.

 

USDA is not totally avoiding Johne’s. A small budget is allocated for research, public awareness and informational press releases on how to manage a dairy with Johne’s. Just peanuts!

 

So, if the USDA is aware of the Johne’s epidemic, why aren’t they focusing their efforts in that direction? If you think it’s because Johne’s doesn’t affect humans, think again. Reliable information connects Johne’s with Crohn’s Disease. Crohn’s Disease, virtually unheard of in 1940, was on the rise by 1950, about the same time as the concept of factory farming showed up on the scene. Today, a generation later, up to two million US citizens and even more Canadians are infected. Most cases of Crohn’s Disease are diagnosed in children, who will suffer a life of physical misery because of the debilitating symptoms for which there are treatments, but no cures. The stark similarities of each disease causes knowledgeable scientist to be certain that once bovine Johne’s is eleminated, the same process can be effective to solve the human coequal.

 

Symptoms?

 

The symptoms of Johne’s Disease in dairy cows are identical to the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in humans:

* Persistent diarrhea

* Abdominal cramps and pain

* Fever

* Fatigue

* Rectal bleeding

* Loss of appetite

* Joints, eye, skin, and liver pain

* Obstruction of the intestine

* Development of fissures (small cuts or tears in the anal canal)

* Abscesses

There is no cure for Johne’s or Crohn’s. Fortunately for people, there are treatments. Cows aren’t so fortunate. Johne’s is always fatal, with death coming in slow, painful extended waves.

 

What Causes Johne’s Disease?

Johne’s is contracted by ingesting feces from infected animals. Animals who are raised on clean grass pastures seldom get infected. This is where a mix happens. Dairy herds are often mixed with beef cattle herds to provide a more diverse farm income. Many beef herds with Johne’s have traced their infected stock back to dairy raised purchases.

Today Johne’s is found in beef herds but with lower percentages than dairys.

 

If the USDA and corporate proponents of the NAIS were sincere in their concerns about disease, they’d at least exhibit a good faith effort about Johne’s that is rapidly consuming America’s highly productive dairy cows. The most costly disease of our day appears to have the urgency of watching paint dry. USDA’s rubber neck attack on Johne’s shows one of the most milk-toast approaches to disease eradication in the history of USDA. Only two things are needed to permanently deal with Johne’s, one fool-proof vaccination and one fool-proof negative/positive test method. At this time neither appear to be a consideration or priority to USDA. They are totally consumed in promoting NAIS premises permanent enrollment.

 

How to Locate Infected Herds?

 

Is locating infected herds a problem with Johne’s? Perhaps a test—-if it was announced that a vaccine and valid test method has been developed, cattle owners would stampede to use it. USDA will not have any problem locating herds. The owners of infected cattle are the first to be concerned and promptly notify health professionals. As long as USDA procrastinates on a good-faith attempt to deal with Johne’s disease, anything they say about their “come hell or high water” premises enrollment is totally and completely bogus! It will be impossible to convince livestock producers that premises enrollment will do a “gnats bristle” of good to

eleminate disease when Johne’s is not a priority USDA issue. Until USDA can clean up this mess, I’ll be hard to convince producers that USDA can do better with the

quackery of a costly NAIS.

 

More info: http://www.naisSTINKS.com, http://www.libertyark.net, http://www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org.

Quotes and data provided by Countryside, Peggy Steward, Jerri, Darol Dickinson, and Jim Silwa. Thank you.

 

 

NAIS ALERT!!!

FA-RM  Is another website we found that is dedicated to fighting back against NAIS.  Visit their site to read the full article on the latest move by the USDA to make NAIS mandatory. 

http://www.fa-rm.org/blog/2009/01/action-alert-on-nais-usda-is-moving.html

Saturday, January 17, 2009

ACTION ALERT on NAIS: USDA is Moving Fast!

“Excerpted from the full aricle:

In regard to advancing NAIS, the four most important aspects of the USDA/APHIS Jan. 13, 2009 rule are:

1. As of the effective date of the final rule, the NAIS Premises ID Number (PIN) would be the only form of PIN allowed for certain official uses. (Note on timing — the comment period is open until March 16, 2009. Then USDA reviews the comments and at some point can issue a final rule. That date of issuance would be the effective date for the mandatory assignments of the NAIS Premises IDs.

However, a large number of unfavorable comments might result in the postponement, or even retraction or cancellation, of the rule.)

2. Although the system announced in this proposed rule supposedly permits the continued use of the National Uniform Eartagging System (traditionally, metal tags) and a “premises-based numbering system,” in fact, these systems would be used in the same way as NAIS Animal Identification Numbers. The older forms of eartags and individual IDs would all be connected into the NAIS Premises ID database through the Animal Identification Number Management System (“AINMS,” the USDA system that keeps track of what individual animal identification number is assigned to what farm or ranch). In other words,

under the system of this proposed rule, anytime a farmer/rancher has metal tags applied to livestock (such as for TB or brucellosis testing), the farm/ranch will be placed into the NAIS Premises ID system and the numbers on the tags will be tied to the farm/ranch through the USDA’s AINMS system.

3. Some requirements are being added for official eartags and these new requirements might make it very difficult or even impossible to obtain metal tags instead of the NAIS tags.

The additional requirements include a “U.S. shield” printed on each tag, and tags must be “tamper-resistant and have a high retention rate in the animal.” The APHIS Administrator must approve all tags. The NAIS tags now available already meet these standards. It is not clear that metal tags have ever been judged by these standards, so it is possible that the APHIS Administrator could fail to approve metal and other non-NAIS tags.

Also, tag manufacturers will have a clear self-interest in abandoning production of cheap metal tags in favor of expensive NAIS RFID tags, so non-NAIS forms of tags may quickly become extinct.

4. The addition of a definition of the AINMS to the animal-disease program rules in the Code of Federal Regulations is huge.

Previously the AINMS has only been defined in the non-rule NAIS informational documents (Draft Strategic Plan, User Guide, Business Plan, etc.) so it did not have any defined legal status.

Now this proposed rule adds a definition of the AINMS and also provides that eventually the AINMS will be used to tie all types of “official” tags — not just the NAIS 15-digit tags — to a NAIS registered premises. The proposed rule accomplishes essentially a mandatory system for the first 2 elements of NAIS — NAIS premises ID and NAIS individual animal ID. The only difference from the original NAIS plan is that now the metal tags and other traditional forms of individual ID have become additional forms of numbering/tagging that are used as part of NAIS.

Note that even if your state has passed a law to keep NAIS “voluntary,” that will not necessarily save you from this rule. The Federal Register notice specifically states: “All State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this rule will be preempted.” (p. 1638.)

However, if you are working to pass a state law limiting NAIS in the present legislative session, keep working — such a law could still be very important. It shows the opposition of animal owners and consumers to NAIS, which may help get the rule postponed or rescinded. In addition, the question of whether this rule would pre-empt contrary state laws in all circumstances may someday be open to legal challenge.” (end quote)

 

Read the fullarticle here: http://www.fa-rm.org/blog/2009/01/action-alert-on-nais-usda-is-moving.html

I urge everyone to sumbit comments on this sneak introduction of NAIS onto producers and consumers via the Federal Rulemaking Portal. The proposed rules may be read in full here in the Federal Register. Clearly state that your comment refers to Docket # APHIS-2007-0096.

FA-RM Action

Group Accuses USDA of Continued Illegal NAIS Activity

 

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America

 

“Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer”

 

For Immediate Release                                                                Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator

January 12, 2009                                                                      Phone:  406-672-8969; e-mail: sdodson@r-calfusa.com

 

Group Accuses USDA of Continued Illegal NAIS Activity;

 

Seeks Help from Congress to Protect Producers from Agency’s Unlawful Actions

 

Billings, Mont. – In a letter sent today to USDA and Congress, and copied to state veterinarians in all 50 states, R-CALF USA alleges illegal activity on the part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with regard to the agency’s Dec. 22, 2008, memorandum that canceled Memorandum 575.19 originally issued on Sept. 22, 2008. The original memorandum would have forced mandatory premises registration under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) upon livestock producers who participate in federal disease management programs.

 

“We are pleased that USDA canceled the September 2008 memo on the basis that the agency recognized it was improper to establish a standardized premises identification number as the sole premises identification number under the agency’s proposed NAIS without first conducting a rulemaking, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA),” said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group’s animal health committee.

 

“However, USDA has again violated its own regulations in the December 2008 memorandum by unlawfully mandating the use of a standardized PIN (premises identification number), which is actually an NAIS PIN, in the administration of federal disease programs,” he continued. “This action is unlawful. Until and unless the agency promulgates a rule to require the use of a standardized NAIS PIN, the agency has no authority to mandate that state animal health officials comply with the December 2008 memo.”

 

Thornsberry explained that USDA issued a final rule on July 18, 2007, to allow the use of a numbering system such as the standardized NAIS PIN to identify premises where animals are managed or held. However, the agency has not promulgated rules to implement the NAIS, and further, the agency expressly states in its final rule that use of the new numbering system (standardized, NAIS PIN) is not required by this final rule.

 

“This action (December 2008 memo) effectively converts USDA’s so-called ‘voluntary’ NAIS program into a scheme that mandates strict compliance with NAIS,” he said.

 

In the letter accusing USDA of illegal activity, R-CALF USA requested that the December 2008 memo “…immediately be canceled by the Administration, either on its own or by congressional action…and that (USDA) be directed to immediately inform each state animal health official that the agency no longer is requiring the use of the standardized NAIS PIN as a condition of producer participation in regulated animal disease programs, or for any other purpose.”

 

Note: To view/download R-CALF USA’s letter, please visit the “Animal Identification” link at www.r-calfusa.com.

 

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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketin! g issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com  or, call 406-252-2516

 

FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS – the intended QUICKSAND now taking under all sustainable agriculture

Lynn Cohen-Cole takes a hard look at the real reasons behind Food Safety regulations.  It is not for your safety! 

 

FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS – the intended QUICKSAND now taking under all sustainable agriculture

 

www.opednews.com

 

http://www.opednews.com/articles/FOOD-SAFETY-REGULATIONS–by-Linn-Cohen-Cole-090108-947.html

Corporations, in conjunction with the FDA (and international agencies they also have control over) are now using “food safety” and “bioterrorism” to establish global regulations that remove normal human control over seeds.

“These new rules represent innovative solutions to 21 st century problems. They offer us new information on food production and distribution for the first time, including a complete inventory of food facilities both foreign and domestic, comprehensive information on all imported foods, and information on precisely who is handling the food throughout the entire chain of custody on either side of the border. These new rules will allow FDA to better identify potentially dangerous foods, as well as respond more quickly to new threats and to handle foodborne illness outbreaks more efficiently.”

Read the full article here:

FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS – the intended QUICKSAND now taking under all sustainable agriculture

The disaster of animal indentification in Australia……and Representative Colin Peterson wants to make it mandatory in the US?

 

ABA Congratulate R-Calf on NAIS Opposition

TheCattleSite News Desk

January 07, 2009

US – The US cattle industry has moved a step further away from implementing a National Animal Identification Scheme (NAIS) thanks to the Ranchers and Cattlemens‘ Action Legal Fund (R-CALF)’, stated ABA Chairman Brad Bellinger.

USDA (The United States Department of Agriculture) issued a memorandum on 22 September 2008 to mandate premise registration under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) for producers engaged in interstate commerce and who participate in any one of the dozen or more, federally regulated disease programmes.

 

“R-CALF told the USDA that the memo constitutes an unlawful action implemented without public notice or opportunity for comment, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act. As a result, the memorandum has now been cancelled,” continued Mr. Bellinger.

 

“This premises registration equivalent to our PIC (Property Identification Code) is the first step for the USDA to build their NAIS ambitions. R-CALF has recognized this and is now encouraging cattle producers not to register their premises, or if they already registered, to remove their premise names and property off the NAIS database.

“Australia’s NLIS has now cost our cattle producers over $350 million dollars in tags and reading charges alone and continues to be a disaster. Inaccuracies in producers database accounts, consistently run at between 20 and 30 per cent, with tag loss rates reported as high as 80 per cent,” stated Mr. Bellinger. (emphasis mine)

“What is worse, no vote was conducted in Australia to determine if cattle producers wanted this scheme to become mandatory. ABA knows most producers are fed up with the system, once they discovered it was not just a matter of putting a tag in an animal’s ear. They are also fed up with bearing most of the costs of implementation.

“The State Governments, which are implementing mandatory NLIS, are now in the embarrassing situation, says an ABA press release, adding that the reasons for implementing NLIS are proving to be incorrect.

“There is no ‘paddock to plate’ traceability, – despite the promises;  there has been no increase to market access and the claim that other countries will be soon be following Australia’s lead in implementing NLIS, especially by the US, is a fallacy.

“R-CALF is to be congratulated by helping save the American cattle producer from being inflicted with one of the most costly white elephants that could be imposed upon the cattle industry, which has proved to be of no benefit to anyone, other than to tag companies,” Mr. Bellinger claimed.

www.thecattlesite.com

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USDA Issues New Memo…But…..Still Plans to Register People’s Property

USDA Issues New Memo

 But…..Still Plans to Register People’s Property

Liberty Ark Alert:

In September, the USDA issued a memo to animal health officials that mandated NAIS premises registration be used any time someone had any activity on their property (such as vaccinations or testing) conducted under any of the federal disease control programs. We publicized the memo in November, and a public outcry ensued. The September 22 memo is posted here.

On December 22, USDA issued a new memo posted here, that revoked its September memo. The fact that USDA felt pressured to take this step is good news! But the new memo is far from being a complete victory.

On the last two pages of the new memo, USDA still provides for mandatory premises registration any time Veterinary Services personnel conduct an “activity” related to a federal disease control program, including such activities as vaccinations, certification, or surveillance. Moreover, accredited veterinarians are still expected to provide information on their clients to the government authorities to enable the voluntary or involuntary issuance of the NAIS registration. At the very end of the document, USDA includes language indicating that a property owner might elect not to have a NAIS PIN assigned to the premises, but does not explain how that fits with the directives in the memo that “all locations” that have a disease program activity “will be identified” with a NAIS PIN.” The ultimate effect is very unclear.

So, what is the difference between the two memos? The primary difference is that the new memo is more ambiguous. We’ve seen this before: in the original NAIS documents, USDA had a clear list of reportable events. By late 2007, USDA had vague categories such as “local” versus “regional,” and “high priority” versus “low priority,” to determine what co-mingling events were reportable. So apparently this is USDA’s mode of operation. It puts out documents with clear provisions, and then responds to citizen protests by cloaking the next document in ambiguity, without making significant substantive changes.

The substance of this new memo is very similar to the earlier memo, including mandatory registration of citizens’ property. The main improvement appears to be that people who choose not to be registered in NAIS will not be branded with a special code in the premises database, labeling them as dissenters.

In the new memo, USDA tries to add a feel-good aspect when it re-iterates that it has a procedure for people to opt out. However, if any “activity” for a disease program has occurred on the property, the property address will remain in the NAIS database.

In other words, the new memo appears to establish the following procedure:

1. If an animal health official or a federally accredited veterinarian conducts any activity (including vaccinations and certifications) under a federal disease control program (which includes brucellosis, tuberculosis, scrapie, pseudorabies, and equine infectious anemia), your information will be submitted to the agency and your property will be registered in the NAIS database.
2. If you then ask to opt out, your personal information will be deleted, but the address of your property will remain in the database with the assigned PIN number since a “program activity” is associated with it.

The language of the memo leaves a lot of unanswered questions, including what is the role of the state authorities. USDA states that “when the State or producer, or person responsible, for the premises elects not to have a standardized PIN assigned to the premises,” a state PIN will be issued. But is this only after the property is assigned a NAIS number and its owner seeks to opt out? And will the state authorities check if the registration is voluntary or not before sending people’s information to the USDA to be placed in the NAIS database? And what “events” or “activities” will prevent people from being able to opt out and use a state PIN? The memo leaves more questions than it answers…

 

NAIS — the Fourth Component……What USDA doesn’t want you to know.

http://www.naissucks.com/index.php?con=4th_Component

NAIS — the Fourth Component
        by Darol Dickinson
        July 11, 2008

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The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has been alleged as a three component program, however now a fourth component facade is starting to reveal itself.

The first step of NAIS is premises enrollment, next animal identification, and then coast to coast 48 hour animal tracing.

USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Bruce I. Knight has promised that the NAIS program is easy to enroll and totally voluntary on the federal level, “if . . . enough livestock owners enroll so it does not have to go mandatory.”

The NAIS program has distributed thousands of “selling” USDA press releases quoting Knight. The constant controversy of NAIS has placed the Knight name among the top ten Internet bureaucrats according to Google, with Bruce Knight or Bruce I. Knight showing up over 17,000,000 times.

The fourth Component is meticulously touched by Knight, “If USDA decides to make all or parts of the NAIS mandatory, APHIS will follow the normal rulemaking process.”  With rules, laws, inspections, taxes, regulations, or licensing comes the fourth component……Enforcement.

Enforcement of NAIS is not a happy subject especially when the first component is still not setting well with the majority of producers.  However, it is a dead serious issue for animal owners who want to know what new enforcements are involved, and their price tag, before they permanently enroll.

In 2007 the US spent nearly one trillion dollars (from taxes and borrowed funds) in regulation enforcements, policing, investigations, and mandatory compliances.  Although this was a huge expense to the citizenry, the fines, collections, penalties, licenses, fees and private property confiscations from all law violations was an equally swelling amount; a number impossible to locate from federal published data.

The current “rule making process” for USDA is found on line at Cornell University Law School, Legal Information Institute, U.S. Code., Title 7 >Chapter 109> 8313.   Penalties. #8313 

(b) Civil Penalties, (1) In general (A)

(i) $50,000 in the case of any individual, except that the civil penalty may not exceed $1000 in the case of an initial violation of this chapter by an individual moving regulated articles not for monetary gain;
(ii) $250,000 in the case of any other person for each violation; and
(iii) $500,000 for all violations adjudicated in a single proceeding.

Penalties appropriate to the violation is a cornerstone fundamental of the US judicial system.  Enforcement is totally capricious with USDA.  One could be fined in county court $1000 for a 70 mph speed violation through a school zone, yet $50,000 for crossing a state line with one number incorrect on a USDA issued livestock health certificate—for a perfectly healthy child’s pony!  Dr. Max Thornsberry, President of R-CALF USA says, “The USDA is a run away agency out of control, with total disregard for U.S. citizens.”

Producers have been mystified by the massive amount of grants and funds (cooperative agreements) doled by USDA to get NAIS closer to full mandatory mode.  The nearly $150,000,000 invested to promote enrollment looks large, but ….. it would only take 300 violations of $500,000 each to quickly earn it back.

US leaders watch other government trends closely in creating new laws and taxation.  Europe has been a leader in pioneering thought for US policy.  Government animal numbering systems have been urged in a few countries prior to the marketing of NAIS in the US.  Australia is the only country to have implemented electronic tagging and tracking as is proposed by the USDA.  Australia is a prototype for enforcement also.

Stephen Blair, a Director of the Angus Society of Australia was recently fined $17,300.  He was prosecuted by Australian Minister McDonald for moving cattle from one of his ranches wearing  ear tags from his other ranch to a livestock auction. No diseased or stolen livestock were involved. It was a matter of a government rule violation.  This is a small example of the enforcement USDA could wield over US livestock producers if NAIS was exacted mandatory.

Part of the title for Bruce Knight, is “REGULATORY PROGRAMS.”  This probably helps explain his tigerish priorities for the income generating fourth component of NAIS—ENFORCEMENTS.

USDA enforcements are now, and will be a coerced obligation of all licensed USDA veterinarians.  Vets will be required to report all non compliance of their valued clients or be subject to immediate licensing reviews.  The USDA/APHIS policing division is the Investigative and Enforcement Services (IES) with headquarters in Raleigh, NC; Fort Collins, CO; and Riverdale, MD.  IES boasts of increasing thousands of “clients” with a 51% increase in case load and “more than a threefold increase in the dollar value of civil penalties” in one recent year. To enforce the ever increasing number of regulations, the government seeks to make ordinary citizens into their enforcers. Even today all neighbors, farm employees and friend or foe associates are encouraged on the IES web site to “Report potential violations, please contact IES.” Wisconsin tried to use bulk milk haulers to enforce NAIS against Amish dairy farmers in 2007. The Fourth Component is operational and extremely aggressive.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) printed an information flyer to dispel negative NAIS exaggerations.  Question: Reports say you’re going to charge $1000 a day for not participating if it is mandatory.  Answer: The TAHC is a regulatory agency and has administrative penalty provisions in it’s law as a recourse for persons who refuse to comply.

The Fourth Component is Enforcements  It can be disastrously expensive.  The majority of US livestock producers don’t like the thought of imprisonment and exorbitant fines.

NAIS, when mandatory, as proposed by USDA, will require 100% computer movement documentation at the full expense of livestock owners.  In a three year period the total NAIS computer movement  numbers in the USA will more than eclipse the number of all people living on the entire planet earth. The whopping magnitude of this federal numbering burden will require a giant increase in USDA employees, facilities, and, of course IES will explode with new “clients.”
Every livestock producer is encouraged to study the many intricate details of NAIS.  The large majority of livestock producers refuse to enroll their premises in NAIS.  Oppose NAIS now, rather than when it becomes scurrilously mandatory.  There is a small amount of time remaining to politically react. For more information www.naisSTINKS.com or www.NONAIS.org or www.LibertyArk.net.

Australian ear tag case:
Http://www.agmates.com/blog/2008/06/30/

Cornell Agriculture Law:
Http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/7/usc_sec_07_00008313—-000-.html

APHIS’ Investigative and Enforcement Services
Http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ies

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FDA on the attack against family farms

 

In the past few years we have suffered food contamination in products from China, Mexico and places unknown.  Thanks to CAFTA [trade illegal] provisions we do not even have the right to have our food labeled with country of origin and have no way of knowing where it came from, how it was produced or what the standards for processing were, if any.  The FDA appears to view this as a minor problem.

 

Then came the National Animal Identification System.  Of course this only applies to American family owned farms, but not to corporate farms.  This is a system of RFID tagging of every animal, even those not used for food, and a data base system that is GPS operated.  This means every animal tagged in this system can be located using GPS. 

 

Family farms are required to RFID tag every chicken, pig, cow, horse, duck, dog, cat, or other animal.  Corporate farm animals on the other hand, are not.  Massive herds of animals are counted as [one], and the fee for these herds is as if only one animal exists.  Family farms pay by the head.  Also, the family farmer or rancher must report within 24 hours the death of an animal for any reason, including food production.

 

The immediate question that comes to mind is:  Why would the federal government be interested in locating every domestic animal in the country? 

 

Turns out it isn’t so much the tracking of animals as it is controlling the food supply and the rights to land, ownership and privacy. 

 

Under NAIS, the farm owner is required to register his property with the FDA.  Only it isn’t his property any longer.  Now, the owner is listed as the operator [manager] of the PREMISES.  Property is no longer property…..implying ownership.  It is now a [premise] and is consigned to the FDA.  The operator [manager] is simply the person running the operation.  Every state complying with NAIS is forcing farmers and ranchers to obtain a Premise ID…….in effect rendering them tenants on their own land, rather than owners.

 

The farmland and ranchland that has now been seized by the federal government under the auspices of the FDA is being used as collateral on the loans taken out with countries such as China and Japan among others, facilitating the bailout of Wall Street. 

 

I found it odd that among all the reasons given as to why our animals should all be tagged and locatable with GPS, including some rare form of rabies that might occur or ecoli, salmonella or some other prefabricated bio-terrorist threat, no one mentioned the use of farmlands and ranchlands seized under the FDA rules being used for collateral on the national debt racked up by bailing out Wall Street.

 

So, if I understand all of this correctly, the crooks and thieves on Wall Street got to keep all their stolen loot, continue to receive millions in unearned bonuses and perks, will not be prosecuted for corruption and get to go home to their lavish accommodations……and the most valuable farmland in the world is being seized to accommodate this theft.

 

And if I understand the FDA correctly, they see no problem with China shipping contaminated food and infant formula into our country, and the FDA made no attempt to halt or impede the flow of products from China, but live in absolute fear of organic family farms with no history of problems here at home.  Unless of course you count the charges of contamination levied against farms who refused to cooperate with this invasive agenda, in which case just because you work for the FDA you can say there were problems without any evidence whatsoever. 

 

Behind all of this is the hidden intent.  The intent is to eradicate all family owned farms and ranches in favor of multi-national corporate farms and ranches.  Once food production is totally converted to corporations, who eats and what they eat will be the questions. 

 

For some reason, the FDA sees no problems with GMO or the crops grown with mutated bacteria and viruses inherent in their genetic make-up.  The FDA dismisses any reports of the adverse affects on the human body from consumption of GMO foods such as Morgellans or the reports of organ damage.  Instead they attack organic farms which offer uncontaminated food. 

 

The questions we all should be asking now are:

 

• Why would the government attempt to eradicate whole foods uncontaminated by genetic engineering?
• Why would organic farmers and ranchers pose a threat?
• Why are genetically altered foods not labeled?
• If genetically altered foods are safe, why was the Artic Seed Vault, containing thousands of organic and natural seeds species built?  Why are there no genetically altered seeds included?
• What is the real purpose of tagging and tracking domestic animals in the US.

 

What we eat should be our choice.  And we should have the right to know what we are consuming and where it came from and what has been done to alter it.  The claims of increased production, better foods and healthier choices have all been shown to be false.  Ask yourself why our own government is promoting and protecting this assault on our food supply, and who does it benefit?

 

You can bet that none of those profiting from this corruption of the food supply are consuming any of this frankenfood.  They know better.

 

© 2008 Marti Oakley

 

 

“Fighting to Stop the National Animal Identification System (NAIS

www.libertyark.net/

 

Stop Animal ID. org

http://www.stopanimalid.org/

 

 The National Animal Identification System(NAIS)

http://www.survivalblog.com/nais.html

The National Animal Identification System: A new threat to rural …

www.countrysidemag.com/issues/90/90-1/Mary_Zanoni.html

 

GM diets may cause organ damage and disease

http://blogs.drgreene.com/perspectives/2008/08/13/gm-diets-may-cause-organ-damage-and-disease/

 

Monsanto and GM Foods: Health Risks – SourceWatch

www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto_and_GM_Foods:_Health_Risks

 

The farmland itself is being stolen out from under us, under the guise of ….. to sign up farmers’ land as collateral for the World bank to cover the bailout

www.opednews.com/maxwrite/showtags.php?tid=7336&tag=/Bailout