more info on the usda nais meetings around the country

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Learn More About NAIS

 

http://www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org

http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/nais.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/federalupdate/nais.html

 

 

USDA Announces Location for Listening Sessions on NAIS!

 

BACKGROUND

The USDA is holding seven " listening sessions " about the National Animal

Identification System (NAIS). The NAIS would impose severe hardships on

small farmers, and impact anyone who owns even one livestock or poultry

animal, even those raising animals for their own food or as pets. While

benefiting Big Ag's export market, NAIS could cripple small farmers

providing grass-fed meats, eggs, and dairy to local consumers.

 

Key Congressional leaders have called for a mandatory NAIS, and USDA

Secretary Vilsack has indicated that he plans to push forward with some

sort of program soon. It's going to take a lot of people speaking up

loud and clear to keep a mandatory NAIS from being imposed on every

livestock owner in America! These listening sessions are a critical

opportunity to get media attention on NAIS and demonstrate the level of

opposition to the program.

 

The dates and cities are listed below. As soon as we have the exact

addresses, we will send out another alert. You can also check USDA's

website for updates: http://www.usda.gov/nais/feedback

Please plan to come to these meetings! You can have an impact simply by

being there and showing that a lot of people are opposed to NAIS!

 

 

TAKE ACTION #1 - COME TO THE MEETINGS!

 

The meetings will take place from 9 am to 4 pm.

 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Thursday, May 14

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, 2300 N Cameron St.

 

Pasco, Washington

Monday, May 18

Trac Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.

 

Austin, Texas

Wednesday, May 20

Embassy Suites Hotel Austin Central, 5901 N IH-35

 

Birmingham, Alabama

Thursday, May 21

Cahaba Grand Convention Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway

Louisville, Kentucky

Friday, May 22

Crowne Plaza, Louisville Airport, 830 Phillips Lane

 

Storrs, Connecticut

Wednesday, May 27

University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus-Bishop Center, One Bishop

Circle

 

Greeley, Colorado

Monday, June 1

Location TBD - check http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/feedback

 

 

1) If you want to speak, plan a short statement (3-5 minutes). We will

send sample talking points in our next alert.

2) You can also bring written comments. It's best to bring two copies -

one to hand to USDA staff and one to keep so that you have a record of

what you submitted.

3) The USDA coordinator has stated that the afternoon will consist of

" facilitated sessions, " where the attendees will be divided into groups

to develop solutions. Be prepared to politely disagree with the

facilitator. If they claim that a " consensus " has been reached with an

answer that you don't agree with, say so!

 

 

REGISTRATION

 

If you want to speak in the morning or participate in the afternoon

sessions, you must register.

Pre-registration:

1) Send an email to NAISSessions In the subject line of

the e-mail, indicate your name (or organization name) and the location

of the meeting you plan to attend. If you wish to present public

comments during one of the meetings, please include your name (or

organization name) and address in the body of the message.

2) Call 301-734-0799 to register by phone

On-site registration: From 8 am - 9am on the day of the meeting

 

TAKE ACTION #2 - Submit Written Comments

 

You can also submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at:

 

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail & d=APHIS-2\

009-0027

 

Although the USDA did not specify a deadline in its notice, a USDA

official has stated that the deadline is Monday, June 1.

We will provide sample comments in our next alert. If you want to

comment before then, you can get ideas from the sample comments posted

at: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/action-02-02-09

 

 

 

USDA's Statement

In the Federal Register notice announcing the meetings, USDA

specifically asked for input on the topics listed below. These questions

will most likely form the basis for the facilitated sessions in the

afternoon of each listening session. Do not feel limited by these

questions in preparing your oral or written comments!!

 

Cost: What are your concerns about the cost of the NAIS? What steps

would you suggest APHIS use to address cost?

Impact on small farmers: What are your concerns about the effect of the

NAIS on small farmers? What approaches would you suggest APHIS take to

address the potential impact on small farmers?

 

Privacy and confidentiality: What are your concerns regarding how the

NAIS will affect your operation's privacy and/or the confidentiality of

your operation? What steps or tactics would you suggest APHIS use to

address privacy and confidentiality issues?

Liability: What are your concerns about your operation's liability under

the NAIS? What would you suggest APHIS consider to address liability

concerns?

 

Premises registration: Do you have any suggestions on how to make

premises registration, or the identification of farm or ranch locations,

easier for stakeholders? How should we address your concerns regarding

premises registration?

Animal identification: Do you have any suggestions on how to make animal

identification practical and useful to stakeholders while simultaneously

meeting the needs of animal health officials who must conduct disease

tracebacks?

 

Animal tracing: Do you have any suggestions on how to make the animal

tracing component practical, in particular the reporting of animal

movements to other premises, while meeting the needs of animal health

officials who must conduct disease tracebacks? "

 

USDA's Federal Register notice is posted at:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-10037.htm

USDA contact for more information: Dr. Adam Grow, Director, Surveillance

and Identification Programs, National Center for Animal Health Programs,

VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 200, Riverdale, MD 20737; 301-734-3752.

 

With Regards,

Pete Kennedy, Esq

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund Interim President