[announce] Mercantilism and the National Animal Identification System

[Official Missouri Libertarian Party Announcements]

Mercantilism and the National Animal Identification System

By Bob Parker

I would like to comment on Senator Purgason's Sharing the View of the State
comments in his May 5, 2008 update.

Senator Purgason's strong words against the lobbyist's and leadership of
Missouri Farm Bureau are shared by myself and many others across the state that
are aware of their activities. Most people don't realize that American Farm
Bureau was instrumental in the development of NAIS, or the National Animal
Identification System. Transcripts of early meetings of the Livestock
Conservation Institute and the NIAA confirm this. In other words, Farm Bureau,
as well as Big Ag Corporations, as well as micro-chip manufacturers have been
pushing NAIS for many years. Why? It will make them huge profits in all the
various aspects of this program as they will handle the data and charge for the
services as well as many other issues to lengthy to go into here.

Briefly, NAIS will force everyone that raises any of 29 species of animals to
register their farms, micro-chip their animals, and report all movements of
animals when fully implemented. Currently, this program is being rolled into
every program imaginable, from marketing programs, FFA, 4-H, Animal health
programs, State fairs, and others. It will just be a matter of time before your
premise number is required before you can buy or sell any animal. My history
tells me when the state wants to control something and make money off of it,
first, they must register it. The current animal health programs have
eliminated various diseases in the past which I support. When Missouri's State
Vet Taylor Wood testified a few weeks ago on Senate Bill 931, he made it sound
like there would have to be a special session of the legislature called to
fight any disease outbreak in Missouri. This is the kind of mis-information
that the opponents of anti-NAIS legislation have been spreading. You would
think that America wouldn't be able to function without the National Animal
Identification System if you listen to the USDA and the rest of Big AG. This is
their dream program, it sucks Billions from small producers and goes right into
their pockets. I guess we can just import all our food too like our oil.
Regulate domestic production out of business and let the big multi-national
Corporations and others rake in the profits.

Senator Purgason's bill was trying to limit NAIS and keep it voluntary, even
though it is already becoming mandatory in several States, but his words below
say it best;

  "For the last couple of years, I have worked on legislation to ensure that
the National Animal Identification System remains a voluntary program. This
legislation has been opposed by MFB. They claim they are also in favor of a
voluntary system, but do not want any state legislation that could interfere if
the program were to be made mandatory by the USDA and the federal government." 

Senator Purgason describes very well what I have run into with MOFB, they want
to ensure that when NAIS goes mandatory that no Missouri legislation will be in
the way to make that happen. They are doing all in their power to not only stop
any bill that will do that, but personally attacking anyone in their path such
as they have done with the good Senator. I want to applaud Senator Purgason for
not only his efforts to stop NAIS from destroying Missouri's small farmers, but
also thank him for having the guts to stand up to bullies like Missouri Farm
Bureau's out of control leadership.

Hopefully, the good members of Missouri Farm Bureau will find out the truth
about the leadership of their organization before it is too late. I personally
was voted off the Texas County Farm Bureau board after many years of service
because I exposed the truth about Charles Kruse and his team of lobbyist's and
co-horts. The faithfull Farm Bureau membership has been fooled too long, heads
need to roll. Wake up Farm Bureau members and demand the whole story and not
just from Kruse and the information he controls! You won't get the full story
in Farm Bureau news releases and their magazine stories. Get on the internet
and Google up NoNais.org or Bob Parker Farm Bureau.

You don't speak out about Missouri Farm Bureau without paying the price. The
leaders make sure of that. Hundreds of members have dropped their insurance and
their membership over NAIS and what Farm Bureau leaders have done after hearing
what they are doing, I hope it continues until somebody gets the message.

For the record, MFA, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, FFA, Missouri Farm
Bureau, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and USDA are all working overtime
to make sure NAIS becomes an expensive part of your life. You say, I don't
raise livestock, how will it affect me? You eat don't you? How much will food
cost when the small livestock producers are all gone?

Link to original article:

http://www.showmefreedom.org/2008/July/NAIS.shtml