I got the following notice in the mail the other day. It aggravates me greatly that they have sunk to this level of trying to make people be afraid. I've met Julie Smith before. She bleeds USDA logos. I'm going to this event and will try very hard to remain civil.
(I think if you click on the jpeg you'll be able to read the notice more clearly.)
Speak Your Piece: Tag EVERY Animal?
Sharon Zecchinelli's hogs, Pork and Chop, would have to be individually tagged.
Photo:Vince Zecchinelli
As my friends and I rode our horses the other day in the Cold Hollow Mountains of Vermont, I tried to savor the moment. Besides hearing the grunt of a moose, whose retreating tracks we saw on the ride back down the mountain trail, there was sign of a big deer alongside a set of canine tracks. I made note of the place where some partridges rose up out of the bush. Here and there fall colors were beginning to appear in the sugar bush.
I sighed, as I always do, thinking about how these days of having the freedom and liberty to own and ride horses with friends could be slipping away due to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
NAIS is a mandate – not a law – dreamt up by various federal acronyms: the USDA (United Stated Department of Agriculture); the APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services); and the NIAA (National Institute for Animal Agriculture). The idea of NAIS is to supposedly trace back disease in the “national herd” within 48 hours of its discovery.
Read the rest of it here.Bush taps Ag deputy to run agency
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON — Charles Conner, the Agriculture Department official picked to become acting secretary upon the departure of Mike Johanns, has worked on farm issues in Washington for more than two decades.
Conner became deputy agriculture secretary in 2005. Before that he was a White House farm adviser and president of the Corn Refiners Association. He also worked on the Senate Agriculture Committee for 12 years, most of that time as staff director.
A native of Indiana, Conner grew up on a farm that remains in his family.
Conner assumes the job as Congress is writing the next farm bill. The House passed its version of the multi-billion-dollar legislation in June, but negotiations have hit bumps in the Senate.
Mary Kay Thatcher, a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the transition should be smooth with Conner at the helm, since he has been involved in the process so far.
Johanns, who announced his resignation Thursday and is expected to run for the U.S. Senate, strenuously objected to the House farm bill. He argued that Congress should put stronger limits on payments to wealthy farmers. The White House issued a veto threat.
“I think the farm bill is an administration position, not a Mike Johanns position,” Thatcher said.
Thatcher and Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, praised Conner’s experience.
“I think (Conner) will be very positive for the process because of his knowledge of all of the intricacies of farm policy,” Buis said. “He’s very well liked on Capitol Hill.”
North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he has known Conner for a long time and has always liked him, even if he hasn’t always agreed with him.
“He is somebody who will be respected in the discussions,” Conrad said.
Still, Conrad said it is distracting to change leadership in the middle of a farm bill.
“For the secretary to walk away in the middle of a farm bill borders on irresponsible,” Conrad said.
Several state officials said that Johanns is expected to seek the Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.
We Will Not Comply - Two NAIS Resistors Lead the Way
by Deborah Stockton
Michigan cattleman Greg Niewendorp and Pennsylvania dairy farmer Mark Nolt have taken courageous leadership positions by refusing to comply with state attempts at invasive incursions into their farming practices. In February of this year, Niewendorp sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) explaining in detail why he would not participate in their dangerous experimental TB herd testing and eradication program. Several months ago Nolt chose to not renew his raw milk selling permit with the state of Pennsylvania, as he continued to sell raw milk and raw milk products directly from his farm to his customers. By extension, and also, they refuse to participate in the NAIS.
Behind both of these state programs (herd eradication and milk permitting) lurks the spectre of NAIS, with its requirement of “premises registration” first on its list of demands. A close look at the word “premises” shows that the first definition, in reference to real estate, is: “The part of a deed or lease that states the parties involved, the property in conveyance, and other pertinent facts.” One must wonder at the choice of “premises” over “property” or other term where ownership is unambiguous. By complying with “premises” registration, one implicitly acknowledges a property in conveyance. When discussing NAIS, the question of property ownership is central. Not only the land itself, but the animals living on that land. NAIS shifts the role of the farmer, or animal owner, to that of keeper. Similar to the way that industrial chicken house “farmers” are not owners, but managers. It is, after all, being referred to as “livestock premises ID.” However, Niewendorp says, “We have discovered remedies for removing our land and our livestock from premises ID. We are investigating several avenues for removing this oppression from our livestock and our land.”
When Niewendorp submitted his letter to the MDA in February, they immediately placed his farm in quarantine. In May, the MDA referred to his situation as a stalemate. All was quiet until August 21st, when an attempt was made to break the stalemate. Two Michigan state policemen as law enforcement and a regulation agent of the MDA came illegally onto Niewendorp’s property, past his detailed No Trespassing sign and with a state vet lying in wait around the corner down the road, to try and coerce him to test his herd. After escorting them to the property line, Niewendorp spoke with them for several minutes, conversing about respect with regard to personal and professional conduct. Once they left, Niewendorp contacted the local sheriff, who should have been informed and who is the proper and legitimate authority on local enforcement issues, and related to him the morning’s happening. Seven days later, in a 4-way phone conversation with the TB-testing program public relations spokersperson Bridgt Patrick, Michigan state vet Stephen Halstead, and Pat Lockard, liaison to the Governor’s office, Niewendorp informed them that his constitutional rights are violated and that he chooses to face his accuser in the open.
Later in a conversation at the feed store with a fellow cattleman, Niewendorp learned that his case might have been “turned over to the USDA and the Federal Marshals.” I investigated and called the MDA to speak to the vet who allegedly said this, but was told he had been advised not to speak to me. The local sheriff, after hearing Niewendorp’s concerns about possible federal enforcement action, sent a letter to a number of government agencies, including the MDA, Michigan State Police, the USDA, FBI, and the Federal Marshal service, informing them that any enforcement action involving going onto Niewendorp’s property would have to be through him, as the local enforcement agent of the law.
Niewendorp is now openly criticizing the Michigan Animal Industry Act of 1988, the so-called basis for the TB eradication program and for NAIS and livestock premises ID. (Farm Bureau has worked very closely with the MDA, as they do in every other state, to implement this NAIS and premises ID program). Niewendorp said, “Isn’t it interesting that the Animal Industry Act is the vehicle through which this is being accomplished, as it has been on the books for last 18 years and nobody has ever previously challenged it. Having one’s rights violated can give a person the right to criticize because we feel we have something better to offer. It is also my intent to show that the statement that milk is a carrier of TB is a bald-faced lie. The pasteurization laws from the 1930s have to be overturned to allow the sale of Real Milk through private contract.”
Mark Nolt’s actions are based on the position that the private contract sale of his raw milk and raw milk products to his close circle of customers is between him and the individual to whom he is selling. Nolt has also experienced trespass and violation of his constitutional rights. Some months after Nolt chose not to renew his permit, his property was raided by federal and state agents, and $25,000 worth of milk, milk products and dairy equipment was taken. Following the raid, On August 10, a group of Mark’s customers and supporters organized a protest rally to draw attention to his situation. The raid garnered media attention, including a detailed and not unsympathetic editorial in the weekly Lancaster Farming, “the leading Northeast and Mid-Atlantic farm newspaper.” Following is Mark Nolt’s reply to the editorial:“The August 25 article in this paper on “PA Crackdown on Non-Permit Raw Milk Sales” detailed what happened on our farm on August 10.
Mark Nolt and Greg Niewendorp’s property perimeters are the boundaries of freedom for all of us. They are leading the way to the life we all want. Let us unite our will with theirs, together working for what we believe, for the desire of our hearts.
“People ask: Is he trying to change the law? The permit is free, right? Why doesn’t he just get a permit?
“The following is my reply:
“As the article states, ours is a small family farm. We offer all our meat, dairy and eggs directly from the farm to a loyal customer base.
“The article quoted Bill Chirdon, Director of Food Safety at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) saying ‘selling raw milk requires a big commitment and sanitation is so important.’ I agree. As a private farmer providing food for the people who put our farm raised food on their table, I am very aware of the importance of food safety. Our customers are also very concerned about the nutritional quality, the freshness and purity of their food.
“Our food is not sold in public stores or through public distributors.
“Is it against the law to sell farm raised food directly to the people who eat that food?
“In my research I found no lawful requirement for me to obtain a permit from the PDA. I found many
laws that protect my liberty in both the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Bill of Rights – U.S. Constitution. These liberties and rights were recognized as divine God given rights having been established at the time of Creation. Only knowingly and willingly can we waive the use of these rights (such as by taking a permit, license or by contract). When I revoked my last permit with the PDA, I inquired whether they were aware of any waiver or document that still bound me to their public regulations. They have tacitly confirmed that there is no waiver of my rights.
“The August 25 article also quotes doctors with the Department of Health stating that Salmonella
poisoning was linked to raw milk from a York County farmer who has had his raw milk permit revoked by the PDA. They have accused him of having caused 29 cases of Salmonella poisoning. Like our farm, they have seen absolutely no evidence to verify that anyone has become sick from their milk. (Our farm has been accused by the Health Dept. of causing 5 cases of foodborne illness with no evidence to verify the accusation). I am aware of many other raw milk permitted PA farmers who have been accused of having pathogenic bacteria in their milk who haven’t caused any illnesses. The York county farm has been shut down for nearly 6 months. What is the real cost of a permit?? My desire is that the truth can be known.
“Even though my rights are clearly spelled out and protected by the constitutions, it is not my intention to be stubborn, just to preserve these rights to earn a livelihood and do the work of my choice. Rather than be forced to take a permit, I could give up dairying. I could seek another avenue to support my family. But neither is it my desire to cheat my neighbors, my community, nor my fellow farmers.
“Many people yearn to make a living on a small farm. Many folks desire healthy food obtained directly from the farmer. Many people come to us for a food recommended to them by their doctors or by a doctor’s prescription. It behooves us all to fill this responsibility. It is for this cause that I stand. I encourage your readers to support this cause as well.”
Deborah Stockton is the Editor of VICFA Voice, the monthly newsletter of the Virginia Independent Consumers
and Farmers Association, and writes from Charlottesville, VA. www.VICFA.net email: editor@vicfa.net
A super nice reading of the Constitution by Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Renee Zellweger, Kevin Spacey, Winona Ryder, Ed Norton, Whoopi Goldberg, Benicio Del Toro, Kathy Bate, Ming Na.
Maybe we should remember to read the Constitution every day to help us remember (yes, remembering to remember is the hard part) what this country is supposed to be all about. You, dear reader, must realize that we have drifted so far away from the original intention that our Republic is nearly unrecognizable. It is going to get much worse before it gets better, so be prepared.
MICROCHIP IMPLANTS CAUSE FAST-GROWING, MALIGNANT TUMORS IN LAB ANIMALS
Damning research findings could spell the end of VeriChip
The Associated Press will issue a breaking story this weekend revealing that microchip implants have induced cancer in laboratory animals and dogs, says privacy expert and long-time VeriChip opponent Dr. Katherine Albrecht. [AP article now posted - Hen]
As the AP will report, a series of research articles spanning more than a decade found that mice and rats injected with glass-encapsulated RFID transponders developed malignant, fast-growing, lethal cancers in up to 1% to 10% of cases. The tumors originated in the tissue surrounding the microchips and often grew to completely surround the devices, the researchers said.
Albrecht first became aware of the microchip-cancer link when she and her "Spychips" co-author, Liz McIntyre, were contacted by a pet owner whose dog had died from a chip-induced tumor. Albrecht then found medical studies showing a causal link between microchip implants and cancer in other animals. Before she brought the research to the AP's attention, the studies had somehow escaped public notice.
A four-month AP investigation turned up additional documents, several of which had been published before VeriChip's parent company, Applied Digital Solutions, sought FDA approval to market the implant for humans. The VeriChip received FDA approval in 2004 under the watch of then Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson who later joined th ecompany's board.
Under FDA policy, it would have been VeriChip's responsibility to bring the adverse studies to the FDA's attention, but VeriChip CEO Scott Silverman claims the company was unaware of the research.
Albrecht expressed skepticism that a company like VeriChip, whose primary business is microchip implants, would be unaware of relevant studies in the published literature.
"For Mr. Silverman not to know about this research would be negligent. If he did know about these studies, he certainly had an incentive to keep them quiet," said Albrecht. "Had the FDA known about the cancer link, they might never have approved his company's product."
Since gaining FDA approval, VeriChip has aggressively targeted diabetic and dementia patients, and recently announced that it had chipped 90 Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers in Florida. Employees in the Mexican Attorney General's Office, workers in a U.S. security firm, and club-goers in Europe have also been implanted.
Albrecht expressed concern for those who have received a chip implant, urging them to get the devices removed as soon as possible.
"These new revelations change everything," she said. "Why would anyone take the risk of having a cancer chip in their arm?"
ABOUT CASPIAN
CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.
Dr. Katherine Albrecht
Founder and Director, CASPIAN Consumer Privacy
Over on Stock Insight they are thrilled with this news but all they care about is money. This is a crying shame and should scare every American. I know it scares me.
Revelation 13:16-17: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
For more, and a biblical perspective, visit The Raputure Alert and read A Big Week for The Implantable Microchip.
Press Release Source: Digital Angel Corporation USDA Approves Digital Angel's RFID Chip for Equine Use in National Animal Identification System
Tuesday September 4, 8:30 am ETCompany's Microchip First of Its Kind to Be Approved for NAIS
Potential Market of More Than Five Million Horses Used in Competition SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Digital Angel Corporation (AMEX:DOC - News), an advanced technology company in the field of rapid and accurate identification, location tracking and condition monitoring of high-value assets, announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the Company's LifeChip® equine radio frequency identification (RFID) injectable transponder for use as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The USDA made the announcement at the Ag ID Info Expo held last week in Kansas City, Mo.
"We are very proud our LifeChip microchip is the first of its kind to receive NAIS approval," said Rae Powell, vice president of sales and marketing for Destron Fearing(TM), Digital Angel's animal applications business. "We believe this is another important step forward for our Company as the U.S. moves closer to establishing a national animal identification system.
"Not only does our LifeChip fulfill all U.S. animal safety standards, it also complies on a global platform with the International Organization of Standardization (ISO). Furthermore, our LifeChip with Bio-Thermo® temperature-sensing technology differentiates our product from the competition."
The exclusive Bio-Thermo feature allows equine owners, breeders, trainers and veterinarians to quickly and safely check a horse's temperature at the site of administration. Each LifeChip microchip - about the size of a grain of rice - contains a passive transponder programmed with a unique 15-digit number that can be read by any ISO-compliant reader.
Once administered, microchip numbers can be recorded in breed and discipline registries or kept in farm and ranch files for future reference. They are invaluable in providing proof of ownership in the event that a horse is lost or stolen. They also can be used to identify horses involved in breeding operations, competitive sports, and international and domestic travel.
Paramount in gaining NAIS approval is the exclusive use of a patented, biocompatible material called BioBond® that eliminates potential migration and secures the microchip to the administration site. LifeChip microchips offer an unalterable means of identifying horses and ponies of all ages, breeds and sizes.
About Digital Angel Corporation
Digital Angel Corporation (www.DigitalAngelCorp.com) develops and deploys sensor and communications technologies that enable rapid and accurate identification, location tracking and condition monitoring of high-value assets. Applications for Digital Angel's products include identification and monitoring of humans, pets, fish, poultry and livestock through its patented implantable microchips; location tracking and message monitoring of vehicles and aircraft in remote locations through systems that integrate GPS and geosynchronous satellite communications; and monitoring of asset conditions such as temperature and movement through advanced miniature sensors.
