USDA abandons private database concept for NAIS Farm and Ranch Guide: Updates

USDA, after hearing strong opposition from the industry, has abandoned its earlier decision to allow a single private entity to manage the livestock movement database in connection with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

But that wasn't the only major announcement from the agency concerning NAIS:

The agency's NAIS coordinator, Neil Hammerchmidt, told last week's meeting of R-CALF USA that there won't be a mandatory ID program by 2009, as previously announced.

And, he said, USDA attorneys are researching whether they have the legal authority to require producers to report livestock movement to a private entity.

Concerning the database, USDA's top vet, and man in charge of NAIS, Dr. John Clifford, announced they are proposing that USDA would develop a "metadata repository" that would tap into multiple existing databases, such as those being used by breeds, and state and tribal animal health agencies.

This system could allow USDA "to send queries for animal movement records only to those databases that have information on a subject animal or animals," Clifford said. The next step for USDA, he said, is to "begin evaluating the animal movement tracking databases of organizations wanting to participate in the NAIS," to make sure all elements of these private databases comply with NAIS requirements.

Hammerschmidt said USDA has maintained that the Animal Health Protection Act, which was passed as part of the 2002 farm bill, gives USDA authority to develop a national ID system. But, he said, agency lawyers have not determined whether that authority extends to requiring producers to make reports to a private entity.

LMA raised that question in an October public forum on NAIS that was hosted by USDA.

Comments »

Luke Turco wrote on Jun 13, 2008 1:53 PM:

" It's really a matter of power over the people. He who controls the food supply, control, the people. They don't care what the majority thinks, they think we are stupid. "

susan wrote on Jun 2, 2008 1:35 PM:

" The Western Horseman recently ran a for/against poll of NAIS; the results were over 90% against...so why doesn't the USDA get it? Yet NAIS is still being pushed by the USDA using your tax dollars. The program is really for the benefit of agri-biz, the big guys, who get one lot number per groups of animals while the rest of us pay to tag and track every critter we own. "

Virginia Bonney wrote on Aug 24, 2006 10:37 PM:

" As a dairy goat producer who handles every animal every day, knows their health, does without and works full-time as a nurse to stay in business, I can tell you that I will be driven out of the goat business by this program. I have not one minute to spare daily to fool with increase documentation. I am also concerned about privacy issues; it has happened in Idaho that some cattle producers were registered into the program unknowingly, based on brand registration records. Big Brother is alive and well...next the IRS will want to know how many of my cull goats do I eat because they should have been worth about $50 at the market...and therefore that $50 is in my freezer and should be considered income... "

Jon Olson wrote on Jul 12, 2006 3:51 PM:

" I wonder how many of the people posting here have researched NAIS. I have been to meetings and done my own research, and have determined that I, (small farmer, work full time in town, run a 30 head cow/calf operation) will NOT be run out of business. It will be $3-$5 per head, and be no more than a slight inconvenience for the paperwork. If we expect the US to remain in the food export market we will have to buck up and do what is required by the world market, or we will ALL be raising a pig and a few chickens just to survive! "

Brenda wrote on Jul 4, 2006 9:27 AM:

" Over the years we have had to increase our livestock operation just to survive. We strongly oppose the mandatory NAIS, which the USDA has been trying to impose upon us. Recently, we got a call from a cattle buyer who knew he had purchased our cattle a year ago, and was interested when we sell our calves again. This is program would be just another bureaucratic system to keep our costs of production high and drive us into bankruptcy. We as private individuals care very much what happens to our food supply and we do everything we can to keep it safe. The government does not need to get into our business and dictate to us where our livestock go. We would have to report the migration of our cattle, horses, dogs, cats, goats, sheep etc. All this for just a few cases of BSE and other diseases! In the past, other serious diseases have been controlled either by vaccinations or other means. This is not a pandemic situation! Why don’t we have an international wildlife NAIS and report the location of all the wild birds or animals, etc. Then, you would have some work on your hands! Do not impose this mandatory NAIS upon us, because as sure as I am writing this, the food supply will sky rocket! "

amy Learned wrote on Jun 28, 2006 9:36 AM:

" I own a small horse business, and if NAIS passes, im going to throw in the towel, It is NOBODYS bussiness where i take my horses. I spend enough money on these animals and i pay the TAXES on the food they eat and the land they stay on, the gas i use and the license on the truck i drive them. Im not paying for some HUGE system that forces me to report where they go, and fines me out the wahzoo if im late on reporting a death of one of these animals. Its just more more way to milk off your hard earned money. And do you think 4-H will survive this? BAH! NO NO NO NO NO! Do NOT let this PASS! "

Jeanne Drewrey wrote on Apr 28, 2006 7:05 PM:

" I wrote to two newspapers, emailed three major t.v. networks, and emailed my governor, senator, and those campaigning for senate seats, in objection over the NAIS. We live on five acres, have three dogs, two ducks, one pet turkey, and eleven chickens. Our chickens are free-ranging and today they discovered the neighbor's tree-lined driveway. I chased them back but three did a u-turn and scurried right back to the neighbors. According to NAIS rules, I would have to report all the "in" and "out"'s regarding when my chickens were on the property or off. How mindless is that? NAIS is just one more way for big business to make more money and for the government to know more about you and me. Things are getting out of hand! How come the major news networks are not reporting this? "

lee wrote on Apr 23, 2006 9:49 PM:

" Wow,Mckee you are somthing else,you sit and judge the small producers who you say dont care about quality,health,genetics and so on just goes to show how unimformed you are most of american ag is small and most breeding improvements and such have been done on small farms and homesteads GOD HELP US IF WE ARE TO BE HELPED BY YOU BIG ATTITUDE GUYS AND YOUR GENETICLY ALTERED"FOOD" I raise most of my food and refuse to buy your so-calledsuperior produce ,ya go ahead and burn the constitution for your stupid export markets and your greed of a few bucks ,but I can promise you and all likeminded non thinkers that we will fight NAIS to the bitter end and we will win!!! "

Luke Turco wrote on Mar 10, 2006 10:27 PM:

" Deby, Don't take it sitting down. Check out NoNAIS.org Their are many on the lines fighting this right now. "

Deby wrote on Mar 9, 2006 3:39 PM:

" The USDA is going to violate our 4th, 5th and 14th Amendment rights, and we're supposed to lay down and take it, "for the greater good". So says the Head of Kansas Livestock Commission. I'm a hobby breeder and owner of American Quarter Horses since 1981. I raise a few colts, train and sell a few horses and I pay EXTRA attention to quality because of it. The USDA will put me out of business because I WILL NOT COMPLY with this RAPE of my RIGHTS as a US Citizen. Our forefathers must be spinning in their graves over this. "

Judi K. wrote on Mar 7, 2006 5:42 PM:

" Right you are Mr.Turco! America has been the center around the world for individual independence and privacy. Because "most other livestock producing countries" are allowing their governments to intrude on their citizens' individual freedoms doesn't mean we should. NAIS, as I see it, is a camouflaged new way to control what the every person can do in his or her own life. Americans, from day one, have placed high value on individuality and self-sufficiency. Let's not change our greatest asset now. "

Luke Turco wrote on Mar 4, 2006 11:37 AM:

" I beg to differ with you Mr.McKee. We chose to be different than the rest of the world 230 years ago. "

Rae S wrote on Feb 19, 2006 5:06 PM:

" Heritage and rare breeds would suffer from NAIS. Small hobby breeders, people who raise their animals for their own consumption would be forced out. Animal shows, 4H meetings, State Fairs, all would be hampered if not outright stopped with the NAIS guidelines. Can you imagine have to write down all the animals your bird came in contact with at a poultry show? or at a horse show? Small time farmers and ranchers would be put out of buisness. The only group that benifits from this ID program is the commercial growers. With all the smaller people gone the commercial people will have a monopoly on the market. I strongly oppose being required to microchip my own animals so that the government can control MY right to have them. "

Tulon McKee wrote on Feb 16, 2006 2:41 PM:

" A NAIS of some kind needs to be implimented in the U.S. since most other livestock producing countries have already done so. If the U.S. doesn't, we will eventually lose out on the export markets. NAIS is not adding anything extra to most producers processing of cattle other than the insertion and recording of the tag's EIN. Small producers who have a few head of livestock will only be put out of business if they choose not to comply. Most small producers only have livestock as a hobby and contribute very little to the retail input economy, and are not concerned about herd health, genetics, nutrition, or quality of beef produced. These producers only hurt prices and the quailty of beef with the inferior animals they produce. "

Walter Jeffries wrote on Feb 4, 2006 4:33 PM:

" Don't get your hopes up. They said, "Not a _SINGLE_ private database" and not mandatory _BY_ 2009. That leaves them a _LOT_ of wiggle room. We still need to keep fighting against NAIS. NAIS should be completely voluntary and small farmers, homesteaders & pet owners should be specifically exempt from NAIS. Visit http://NoNAIS.org and keep fighting NAIS. NAIS should be properly pronounced as Nazis. "

Mary Stille, wrote on Feb 2, 2006 3:48 PM:

" This story brings me a little hope that I will be able to keep a few chickens for my own food, a pig for my freezer, goats for my milk, and rabbits for meat. The grandchildren may still be able to learn a sense of responsibility from a handicapped grandmother that cannot make it on my own with the little dab of $ that the govt deems fit for my existance. Giving up the animals would not only harm my health, welfare, and life style but restrict the third generation from the satisfaction of raising and showing and participating in parades. Us little people don't hurt the market, and don't need NAIS "

Charlotte Juett wrote on Feb 1, 2006 10:14 PM:

" I was most concerned with the tagging of equines as these animals travel more than just about any other kind of livestock and reporting their movements would have been an onerous chore for any horse owner. I did not like the mandatory nature of the program for food animals. If the farmer or producer want to tag his animals, then it should be voluntary only. "

Luke Turco wrote on Feb 1, 2006 12:54 PM:

" The National Animal Identification System and property registration of anyone keeping livestock, even one chicken is a ploy by Agribusiness to put small producers out of business, and discourage people from raising their own food animals. Some of the people behind this scheme are large corporate producers such as Monsanto, Cargill Meat, and the National Pork Producers; and the makers and producers of animal ID equipment. Small farmers or even people that raise their own food animals were not represented in the implementation of NAIS. This system will not prevent the spread of dieses. The USDA could better spend its time and money cleaning up the large corporate stock yards that are filled with filth and over animal crowding, which we all know multiplies the effects of food safety and disease. I urge people to make their voice heard and contact their elected state and federal officials and tell them that you oppose NAIS. "

Jeff Anslinger wrote on Feb 1, 2006 11:46 AM:

" Open your eyes "

Sharon McCoy wrote on Jan 31, 2006 5:37 AM:

" As a third generation small farmer who is hoping her grandson will follow in the family tradition of farming, The National Id Program as it is currently written will hit the small farmers like Katrina hit New Orleans,It will wipe most of us out of business and deny my grandson the joy and pride of being self sufficent.. "

john mac donald wrote on Jan 30, 2006 4:55 PM:

" Ive been a small scale farmer for over 40 yrs and this law does nothing for us small scale farmers. In fact with these farmers being self producers of their own food and for their neigbors, and not liking any over sight, many will go out of bussiness. where in the constitution does it say the govt. can control private food production. Raise a few pigs and be expected to do any of this NAIS stuff makes no cents. "

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