edward
06-11-2009, 11:39 PM
MISSOURI LISTENING SESSION ON NAIS THE BIGGEST YET
More than 200 farmers and ranchers were in Jefferson City today, not only from Missouri but from Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois to speak their minds about the USDA’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Throughout the day, only a few people testified in favor of a mandatory animal ID system – one of them was booed away from the podium. Most who spoke on the record either want NAIS kept voluntary or they don’t want it at all
Glen Cope, who raises cattle south of Aurora along the Barry-Lawrence county line, submitted written testimony to USDA on behalf of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. Because of time restraints and a lottery system for speaking, he was unable to speak.
Cope, who chairs the Missouri Farm Bureau's Beef Advisory Committee, said the organization supports making NAIS voluntary, but not mandatory.
"In order for the program to be successful, producers must be assured their proprietary information will be protected from public disclosure" under federal open records laws, Cope wrote.
Cope went on to add: "We understand the importance of animal identification for disease control and eradication, but remain concerned that enhanced traceability may expose farmers and ranchers to liability issues arising from food safety incidents occurring at the other end of the supply chain."
Springfield News Leader <http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090610/NEWS01/906100425/1007/Producers+oppose+animal-tracking+plan>
Brownfield Network <http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=C6F03D1F-5056-B82A-D07FF5C93B3D056C>
Chicago Tribune <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mo-animalidentificat,0,2218143.story>
http://domesticfuel.com/
More than 200 farmers and ranchers were in Jefferson City today, not only from Missouri but from Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois to speak their minds about the USDA’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Throughout the day, only a few people testified in favor of a mandatory animal ID system – one of them was booed away from the podium. Most who spoke on the record either want NAIS kept voluntary or they don’t want it at all
Glen Cope, who raises cattle south of Aurora along the Barry-Lawrence county line, submitted written testimony to USDA on behalf of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. Because of time restraints and a lottery system for speaking, he was unable to speak.
Cope, who chairs the Missouri Farm Bureau's Beef Advisory Committee, said the organization supports making NAIS voluntary, but not mandatory.
"In order for the program to be successful, producers must be assured their proprietary information will be protected from public disclosure" under federal open records laws, Cope wrote.
Cope went on to add: "We understand the importance of animal identification for disease control and eradication, but remain concerned that enhanced traceability may expose farmers and ranchers to liability issues arising from food safety incidents occurring at the other end of the supply chain."
Springfield News Leader <http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090610/NEWS01/906100425/1007/Producers+oppose+animal-tracking+plan>
Brownfield Network <http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=C6F03D1F-5056-B82A-D07FF5C93B3D056C>
Chicago Tribune <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mo-animalidentificat,0,2218143.story>
http://domesticfuel.com/