Will NAIS become compulsory ?
USDA ’s National Animal Identification System has been plagued by controversy since its initial implementation as a voluntary programme in 2004 .
More Chances to Be HeardAlso during the hearing sitting in Louisville , USDA representatives harbinger six additional hearing sessions across the land . Remaining hearing sessions are :
With secretarial assistant of agriculture Tom Vilsack ’s call for a compulsory - engagement programme earlier this year , Farmer and consumers became more outspoken about their wishes and business organization with NAIS .
hearing sessions arranged around the country by USDA this saltation are designed to compile feedback , brainstorm solutions and draw on the factory farm community ’s corporate theme to put a national ID program in place .
exposure by Lisa Munniksma
More than 100 hoi polloi attended the NAIS Listening sitting in Louisville , Ky.
or so 100 people were in attendance at the Louisville , Ky. , listening session on May 22 . In the morning meeting , six people who utter were representing groups that were in party favour of a interior ID program and close to 30 were opposed to a new tracking system .
More questions were raised than solutions proposed by either side . One area that appear to be thwarting to those in attending was that while USDA illustration were present , no spokesperson was there to clear up misconceptions and answer questions directly .
Debate and DiscussionAttendees were given three arcminute to speak during the morning meeting . In the afternoon , the meeter were break into three group and permitted to utter for as long as they wished , which promote dialogue and better intellect from both sides of the issue .
ATTN NAISSurveillance and Identification ProgramsNational Center for Animal Health ProgramsVS , APHIS4700 River Rd . , Unit 200Riverdale , MD 20737
“ I personally secure you that every indite comment will be read and considered before we move forward , ” said Dr. Ulysses Lane of USDA ’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service . “ At the end of the [ listening session ] , we want to ascertain what program options you will support so we can clear that on to secretary Vilsack . ”
speak Up in LouisvilleThose talk against NAIS were mostly from the small - farm community of interests hem in Louisville .
“ The additional incumbrance of NAIS at this point in fourth dimension would ruin many family farms , ” said Dawn Oaks , who was in attendance for her husband , a Fannie Merritt Farmer who could n’t attend because he was taking advantage of the much - call for juiceless weather for planting .
“ You need to go where the [ animal health ] job is , which is not on little , house farms , ” enounce Ben Secaur , a minister of religion and get down - up Fannie Farmer .
Those in party favor of NAIS indicate to the need for a tracking system in the event of an animal - disease outbreak .
Kentucky farmer and noted author Wendell Berry said it ’s crucial to beat the initiative to “ maintain some variety of basis of small Farmer in this country . ”
“ We think the small farm will lose just as much as the openhanded farms with an irruption of animal disease . This is different than food for thought base hit , ” said Dennis Liptrap , a hogg farmer who was representing the Kentucky Pork Producers Association at the meeting .
Even pro - NAIS attendees put forward concerns with the program as it stands , however .
Speakers on both side of the egress commented on NAIS ’s questionable role in food safety , although the USDA representatives in attendance state that an animal - tracking scheme is n’t design to be a food - safety measuring , rather one design to minimise damage to the nation ’s stock in the event of a disease outbreak .
The need for a more streamlined system was pointed out time and again , as well . As NAIS stands currently , confinement - operation - housed hog and poultry , for representative , are n’t require to be individually distinguish , rather they can welcome one number for the chemical group as long as they are enhance and send in that same chemical group ; whereas hogs and volaille domiciliate in pasturage - based organization must each have their own ID number — a discrepancy that appear unfair to sodbuster .
Community Farm Alliance Media EventDuring the lunch break , the Community Farm Alliance , a 2,000 - phallus small - farm coalition based in key Kentucky , held a wardrobe league in the parking lot of the confluence web site to draw care to their concerns with NAIS .
note source Wendell Berry , a Henry County , Ky. , native , speak adamantly regarding his feelings on NAIS : “ It ’s really important that we beat this enterprisingness with NAIS because … it ’s really important that we maintain some sort of basis of small-scale farmers in this commonwealth . ”
Approximately 60 citizenry attended in support of an NAIS protest , and speakers included Berry , CFA president Adam Barr and Liberty Ark Coalition co - father Karin Bergener . This was the first press group discussion of the sort to be held at a USDA hearing seance , and constabulary were on hand but were n’t involve .
Transcriptsof the NAIS listening sessions will be brand online .
