Linda B. Cole

By Mary Zanoni, Ph.D. (Cornell), J.D. (Yale)
Feb 6, 2006, 18:25
Comments on NAIS “Draft Program Standards” and “Draft Strategic Plan”
I have carefully examined the Draft Program Standards (Standards) and Draft Strategic Plan (Plan) issued by the USDA (the Department) on April 25, 2005, in furtherance of the Department’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Many [...]

Small farmers and backyard flock/herd keepers are facing a serious threat to their way of life. The government is proposing a Mandatory Property and Animal Surveillance Program that will require the registration of property and individual animals, even if you have only one chicken, pig, cow, etc. This must be stopped, or all small farmers [...]

The Tennessee House of Representatives Agriculture Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 in Room 29 of the Legislative Plaza (at the State Capitol) for hearings on Bill No. HB 3297. That bill would stop the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in Tennessee and free Tennessee farmers from mandatory premise [...]

Be aware that the USDA and state agencies have been faking signups for Premise ID and they may come around asking questions to try to get you to signup. Cathy Sorenson suggests you have government agents fill out this form before you agree to talk with them, take surveys, receive papers from them, etc. Note [...]

A bit of good news from the great state of Tennessee:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 7, is amended by adding
the following as a new, appropriately designated part: Section 44-7-501. At no time shall department of agriculture funds or any other state [...]

One of the original reasons for the National Animal Identification System was to open up foreign export markets, like Japan, for the big beef producers in the US. Recently Japan reopened its market to US Beef after it had been closed for two years and then promptly shut the doors again.
“The Japanese government views the [...]