Just a ham sandwich away from the total collapse of agriculture

As one commenter put it:

I am so confused. How is tracking the legal animals going to stop his scenario of the ham sandwich? Are we going to catch and tag the feral pigs too? Will those pigs be mingling with the legal pigs at a rave or a mixer? How, exactly, will knowing who owns what animals help track where the feral pigs go? I don't own farm animals at this time but this simply doesn't make any sense. Tracing cows back to the source for mad cow disease, I can understand. Tracking an infected, wayward ham sandwich? Really?

9/14/2009 8:28:47 AM

September 14, 2009

Livestock tracking program upsets some in Southwest Florida

By AMY BENNETT WILLIAMS
awilliams@news-press.com

Michelle Musco doesn't mind telling the feds about her goats - all six of them: Nubians, pygmies and Boers that her two sons care for as members of the 4-H Goats-R-Us club.

Musco, who lives in Buckingham, is one of hundreds of Lee County residents who have voluntarily signed up for a government program to identify and track farm animals in the U.S.

"It was very easy - very user-friendly," Musco said about the sign-up process.

The federal government embarked on the massive effort to locate every livestock animal in the country - from cattle to backyard geese to 4-H hogs - in 2002.

The first part of the National Animal Identification System, now under way, is registering every place such animals live or stay temporarily, such as auction houses.

Although it's voluntary and free, the program may become mandatory in the future, said Stephen Monroe, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Florida's NAIS coordinator.

The second part would be identifying animals - whether with an ear tag, a microchip leg band or other label - and placing them into a federal database. That hasn't happened yet, and may not, depending on funding and the public's reaction, said Vermont farmer Walter Jeffries, who heads up NONAIS, a group that opposes the program."They've gone back and forth on if it will be mandatory, voluntary or abandoned," Jeffries wrote in an e-mail. "Congress cut their funding for NAIS to the bone (and) at this point things are quiet. We'll see what happens."

Although Jeffries and others in some parts of the country are up in arms about the program, in Lee County, no one has kicked up too much of a fuss.

"We've had some angry folks in some places," said Monroe, "people who've accused us of being Big Brother or working for the tax man, but it's not true."

At a listening session in

Austin, Texas, one of 14 held throughout the country, some attendees - mostly farmers - accused the government of lying, conspiring with corporations and wasting money (transcripts are at animalid.aphis.usda.gov).

So far, 220 livestock owners in Lee County have registered, Monroe said. Statewide, the total's about 7,800 - about 30 percent, he estimates.

One of those who hasn't heard of it or signed up is John Domanski of Buckingham, who raises a few dozen chickens, ducks and geese.

"I just don't do that much business," Domanski said, "and most of what I sell goes from here to the cook pot. It seems like it would be a big paperwork burden and the time you'd have to spend would make it prohibitive."

The program is designed to "protect the health of U.S. livestock and poultry and the economic well-being of those industries ... to quickly and effectively trace an animal disease to its source," according to its Web site.

Florida's borders are very porous, with animals and people coming in and out by the millions, Monroe said - some potentially infected with deadly illness.

"We're one sandwich away from a disaster like foot-and-mouth (a contagious disease of hoofed animals)," Monroe said. "Say someone comes from Europe with an infected ham sandwich, but when they take it out in Lee County, it smells funny so they toss it out the window. Feral pigs come along, eat it and then they spread the disease to horses, cows, goats and all of a sudden, we're behind the 8-ball." (A sandwich away???? OMG! - HEN)

"The only chance of containing the disease is knowing where the animals are. It's all about traceability," Monroe said.

"Don't come crawling to us", John Clifford, APHIS

Now the USDA, standing behind the apron of Congress to make NAIS happen even though they hear the message that we, the people do not want it, has invoked Dept. of Homeland Security to shake their big stick to make it seem more serious.

And, they conveniently pulled in the Swine Flu/H1N1 scare:
“The emergence of new viruses further demonstrates our need to not only be prepared to react to disease outbreaks, but to also undertake the necessary mitigation and research efforts that allow us to stay one step ahead,” said Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi."

USDA/APHIS continues with it's intentional misinformation "Clifford says that while a strong infrastructure is in place for NAIS, with only 35% participation, the effectiveness of the program is hampered. There has been pressure to make the program mandatory and Clifford said that all available options need to be studied with stakeholders before any decision is made." The number is more along the lines of 9%.
Read this article to understand the truth behind the misinformation.

Tuesday, May 5 – 200 p.m.
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry —Joint Public Hearing with the Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology.
RE: To review the National Animal Identification System.

Panel I

• Dr. John R. Clifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Thomas McGinn, Chief Veterinarian, Office of Health Affairs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.
  

Panel II

• Dr. David C. Smith, Assistant Director, Division of Animal Industry, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Albany, New York
• Dr. Jerry R. Gillespie, Former Director of Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, University of California, Davis, Hopland, California
• Mr. Kevin M. Kirk, Special Assistant to the Division Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division, Lansing, Michigan

In my next blog post I will talk to you about the 7 listening sessions the USDA is holding around the country beginning next week. There is information you need to know regarding the 'consensus building' sessions in the afternoon. Right now I have to go make a bigger pen for the chicks to move to.

Two Open Letters to Chairman David Scott, Subcommittee on Livestock, etc.

I've been offline for a few days due to a hard spanking by Wildblue for going over our bandwidth. I have to say Thanks to Kevin who works in the escalation office who restored our usage. In the meantime, two open letters about the fake hearing in Congress the other day have been published. I want to make sure that you read them.


First letter by Marti Oakley:

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.

Read the rest here. Link will open a new window.

Second letter by Darol Dickinson:

Wednesday I listened with attentiveness to the “Public Hearing” on NAIS. I respectfully was sickened by the flawed information presented by the USDA to members of the committee. I was equally nauseated by the choice of “briefers” USDA had chosen to inform members of the Senate and Congress about NAIS prior to the hearing. Please share these points with your associates who are considering making a decision on NAIS that will adversely affect livestock producers from the smallest up to the largest operations for the rest of our lives.

1) NAIS proposes 48 hour trace back; it would not change food safety. Every human sickness from meat products is caused by incorrect processing, which are stamped and approved by USDA inspectors. Nothing before slaughter is detrimental to human health. The proposed NAIS ends before slaughter.

2) USDA presented NAIS as an important issue that must be dealt with promptly. That is not true. There is no urgency, no need, no rush and no value.

3) At this time the USA has the most disease free livestock in the world and the safest food. The system used by the once dedicated USDA has and will safely serve the nation. It is not out dated as you were falsely told. US private enterprise herd health is the professional example to the world.

Read the rest here. Link will open a new window.

Please come back here and buy First They Came for the Cows: An Activist's Story. Now more than ever you need to understand the history of NAIS.

House Subcommittee on Livestock Public Hearing

Follows is from one of our intrepid anti-NAIS fighters, cattle rancher Darol Dickinson. I hope you remembered to listen to the subcommittee's hearing. The deck was stacked. The chairman was hostile. They continue to believe NAIS is about food safety.


House Committee on Agriculture~~Public Hearing.

Darol Dickinson~~reporting

Wednesday, March 11, 2009, Longworth House Office Bldg.
Re: To review animal identification systems

Washington DC---at 10:00 AM the first public hearing was held on USDA's proposed NAIS animal numbering and enforcement plan. Numerous organizations were frustrated that no public forum was provided in the last six years to approach elected officials concerning this polarizing strategy. Livestock producers all over the US were excited about this opportunity to present opposition to NAIS. Recent polls have revealed that over 90% of livestock owners, if given a choice, would not enroll property in NAIS.

For starters, USDA organized the format with eight approved speakers who were required to submit a written text prior to their presentation.

Dr. John Clifford, Deputy Administrator, APHIS was given the floor with unlimited dialog time to explain the imperative nature of NAIS. Committee members not familiar with livestock were provided written questions to ask Clifford. He is an employee of USDA and his job approval has to do with selling NAIS. He alleged the cost of NAIS would be as little as a half cent per cow. He also alleged volunteer NAIS property enrollment was 35% of the US livestock producers and later a different sworn testimony stated sign up was as small at 9% in some states. (Nationally NAIS enrollment is under 10% when accurate numbers are calculated.)

Bill Nutt, of Georgia Cattleman's Assn testified that the current numbering systems used by livestock owners were totally adaquate for all animal ID. NAIS enforements were not necessary. (5 minutes allowed)

Dr. R.M. (Max) Thornsberry DVM, President of R-Calf, written testamony attached. He stated NAIS was not necessary, not wanted by the majority of livestock producers and the proposed plan would not make meat food safer. (allowed 5 minutes)

Three other individuals testified for NAIS who were licensed by USDA, under the authority or had been given grant money by USDA.

Dr. Rob Williams of Australia testified how the Australian animal ID system worked well. He did not state that in Australia livestock breeders dislike the cost of their NLIS system because they can not compete in the world market with countries who don't force a numbering compliance. NLIS is considered by producers in Australia to be detrimental to world competitive trade for Australia. Australia has a 100% numbering scheme and their beef is the second lowest priced on the world market.

Kerry St. Cyr of Canada Cattle Identification Agency is employed by the Canadian numbering scheme and his salary depends on it's continuation. Canada also can compete against US meat products better if US has the cost burden of NAIS.

Today NAIS was judged by our elected leaders. USDA selected their own jury, and determined how many minutes each testified. The testamonies, much like speed dating, gave little time for serious evaluation.

Please see the attached [it is not attached, click here to go to the House Ag Committee's statements webpage - Hen] by Dr. Thornsberry who represented the over 3,000,000 livestock producers who are apalled by the NAIS. This is the R-CALF USA's written and oral testimony's on NAIS which was not allowed enough time to complete. The oral is the shorter version.

Please contact your elected officials to oppose this flawed program.

Honest to God, who is in control in the government?

There are a ton of things going on right now. Is the old administration running like mad to dump a bunch of programs and rules in the road so that the new administration can inherit this stuff and deny they had anything to do with it?

The first thing I should mention is this. NoNAIS has the full article here.

From Mary Zanoni:

On Tuesday, January 13, 2009, the USDA published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would make two elements of NAIS — NAIS Premises ID and NAIS individual animal ID — effectively mandatory in several USDA animal disease programs.

This rule, if it goes into effect, would be an enormous step toward creating a fully mandatory NAIS for all U.S. livestock.

The proposed rule directly affects cattle, bison, sheep, goats, and swine. However, it will also bring a full NAIS closer for all species. Therefore, all owners of horses, poultry, and other species should also submit comments and urge their livestock/farming organizations to submit comments. [read the rest of it at NoNAIS. Use the link above. - Hen]

Next to tell you about is this smart decision by Homeland Security and USDA to move Plum Island Animal Disease Center, which is off Long Island, NY, way out in the water, off the mainland, to Manhattan, Kansas, in the middle of cow country. Is there anyone who can't see that this is an - ahem - 'accident' waiting to happen? I am so sorry for our country. It is being led by mad men. It probably has been this way for some long while, but I was not engaged in politics when Bush came to power the first time.

Please don't forget to read a preview of my upcoming novel, First They Came for the Cows. I am still taking pre-orders for this, the first novel written about NAIS.

Lastly, pray to God that he moves to protect us.

Oh, Vanity! Death be thy name

Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you. ~Miguel De Unamuno

FDA approves Allergan's drug for longer eyelashes

BOSTON (Reuters) - Allergan Inc, the maker of Botox, said on Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its eyelash-thickening drug Latisse.

Latisse is designed to treat a condition known as hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, which means a person does not have enough eyelashes.

The active ingredient in Latisse is bimatroprost, the same ingredient that is in Allergan's glaucoma treatment Lumigan. Patients taking Lumigan found a side effect of the drug to be eyelash growth, prompting Allergan to study it for the new use. Read the rest here.

How many people will line up to get this product? Honestly, what is wrong with this world? Have you see then television ad for "prescription strength deoderant"? It helps keep your underarms soft. Gosh. What kind of a world are our young women coming into where they think they might be judged for sparse eyelashes and rough underarms?

Did you hear it scream?

From Australia we hear that USDA's Undersecretary Bruce Knight has said, "At one time, NAIS set a "trigger" for it to become mandatory in 2009 if there was insufficient participation, he acknowledged, "but I took that out behind the barn and shot it to death. It's no longer there."

Umm, yeah. Sorry I don't believe it for a second. If it were truth why hasn't that information shown up in the US media?

Here is a good post about NAIS called Don't Sleep Through The NAIS Attack.

Have you, dear reader, put together NAIS with the other world government programs to see that it is not about disease, traceback or the so-called cry by consumers for information about where their meat came from (aside from COOL - Country of Origin Labeling).

Now let's talk about the sinful waste of food, the latest meat recall. Don't you find the Humane Society culpable for knowing about it for months and only making it public later? And, do you think for a minute that what the video showed wasn't anything that isn't done every single day at slaughterhouses all over the world? This is the difference between ethics and morals when it come to raising and slaughtering food animals. Temple Grandin, must be furious. She is an autistic with a PhD, who has designed humane slaughterhouses for agribusiness. See USDA cover their collective butts here.

Now this next part is a test. It seems that just as soon as I post the name of a senator or representative down there in crazy Congress-land, I get hits within seconds from the Sargent-At-Arms. So, let's see, what can I say? Oh, yeah, Senator Patrick Leahy is starring in a radio ad for Barack Hussein Obama. Senator Bernie Sanders is apparently a friend of Obama's. "...Obama campaigning for openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Interestingly, Sanders, who won his seat in 2006, called Obama “one of the great leaders of the United States Senate,” even though Obama had only been in the body for about two years." I guess that makes Obama a Muslim socialist.

End of test. I'll check the blogs stats and see how long it takes for the Sargent-At-Arms to see this page. Last time it was ONE SECOND.

Two articles spinning the lies of USDA and Bruce Knight

The first article is Buckeye Ag Radio. Click through the link to read good ol' Andy's comments, including a gloat, "Bruce answered my questions."

I'm Worried About Colorado

As if it wasn't enough that the Colorado Pork Producers Council decided to "unilaterally disarm" on the subject of using gestation stalls, now the state legislature is getting in the mud on National Animal ID. This story goes back to last year's Colorado State Fair, where some students were disqualified for not obeying expo rules regarding having their premises registered. So here's my concern: I'm not necessarily of the opinion that requiring Freddy 4-Her to register his premises as a prerequisite to showing is a good idea, but regardless, if that's the rule, that's the rule. There are a number of rules that you or I may or may not agree with, understand, or like in general, but the rule is the rule is the rule. To whit, the State Fair officials simply followed through on what should have been an implied and understood promise that the students would be disqualified if they did not comply.

Here's my even bigger concern, however: in the reporting on this issue, the headline is never about State Fair Officials enforcing policy. Instead, the mostly misinformed journalists twist the story into the evil monolithic National Animal ID System "heavy-handed bullying... the kids." Regardless of what happens in the actual case in point, the overall situation is a public relations nightmare for Animal ID, which, I should remind everyone, is voluntary and only premises, not individual animal, registration. I just have to wonder what's in the water out there, and where the common-sense producers are to stand up and tell the story... correctly. [View the comments here.]

The second article is from Capital Press.

USDA Undersecretary Bruce Knight makes a case for premises registration and animal identification during a session at the 2008 Cattle Industry Convention in Reno. [Nice picture of Bruce Knight, huh? It surely makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. - Hen] Animal ID and premises registration stressed at cattle meeting Bob Krauter Capital Press RENO, Nev. - Cattle industry leaders and a top USDA official made a strong case for premises registration and animal identification at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association 2008 convention here on Thursday. Citing the need to protect the nation's cattle herd against catastrophic foreign animal diseases and to promote U.S. beef in overseas markets, several speakers drove home the need for traceability. Bruce Knight, undersecretary of USDA's marketing and regulatory programs, laid out reasons why animal identification and premises registration are critical. An outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom last year, he said, was quickly contained because they had an animal ID system in place. The United States, Knight said, is lagging behind other countries in being able to quickly trace the origin of animals in the event of a catastrophic disease outbreak like foot and mouth disease. After trying a run at a mandatory livestock ID system in 2003, federal officials acquiesced to a voluntary program that exists today. Read the rest of it here.