A
Anonymous
Guest
August 22, 2007
Fox to Represent Organization at ID-INFO EXPO
Kansas City, Mo. – Because of members' ongoing concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Animal Identification System (NAIS), R-CALF USA Animal ID Committee Chair Kenny Fox will attend the ID-INFO EXPO here Aug. 28 – 30, which is hosted by the National Institute of Animal Agriculture (NIAA).
"USDA continues to send mixed messages, saying that Animal ID is voluntary at the federal level, but also acknowledging that the agency is moving forward toward implementation of NAIS," Fox said.
"Also, R-CALF members are extremely concerned with the numerous cooperative agreements USDA has signed with 4-H, FFA and, most recently, the American Angus Association," he continued. "Children should not be forced to register their parents' property in order to show livestock, and national organizations should not be trading their membership lists for cash.
"We are urging our members to not participate in premise registration programs because we're concerned that doing so means they're agreeing to any and all NAIS rules, now and in the future," Fox pointed out. "It also seems like USDA is doing its best to not publicize opt-out procedures for producers who want out of NAIS completely.
"I hope that by attending this conference I can bring some concrete answers back to our members instead of more bureaucratic rhetoric," he concluded.
Membership-established policy states that because implementation of NAIS – whether by federal or state governments – raises concerns about its impact on private property, privacy and the ability to conduct business, R-CALF USA opposes any government action that funds or mandates premise registration and individual or industry participation in NAIS. R-CALF USA also opposes making premise registration or animal identification mandatory for 4-H and FFA, which are USDA-driven programs.
Fox to Represent Organization at ID-INFO EXPO
Kansas City, Mo. – Because of members' ongoing concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) National Animal Identification System (NAIS), R-CALF USA Animal ID Committee Chair Kenny Fox will attend the ID-INFO EXPO here Aug. 28 – 30, which is hosted by the National Institute of Animal Agriculture (NIAA).
"USDA continues to send mixed messages, saying that Animal ID is voluntary at the federal level, but also acknowledging that the agency is moving forward toward implementation of NAIS," Fox said.
"Also, R-CALF members are extremely concerned with the numerous cooperative agreements USDA has signed with 4-H, FFA and, most recently, the American Angus Association," he continued. "Children should not be forced to register their parents' property in order to show livestock, and national organizations should not be trading their membership lists for cash.
"We are urging our members to not participate in premise registration programs because we're concerned that doing so means they're agreeing to any and all NAIS rules, now and in the future," Fox pointed out. "It also seems like USDA is doing its best to not publicize opt-out procedures for producers who want out of NAIS completely.
"I hope that by attending this conference I can bring some concrete answers back to our members instead of more bureaucratic rhetoric," he concluded.
Membership-established policy states that because implementation of NAIS – whether by federal or state governments – raises concerns about its impact on private property, privacy and the ability to conduct business, R-CALF USA opposes any government action that funds or mandates premise registration and individual or industry participation in NAIS. R-CALF USA also opposes making premise registration or animal identification mandatory for 4-H and FFA, which are USDA-driven programs.
