National = Independent Consumers and Farmers Association(NICFA)

NICFA

---PLEASE BROADCAST FAR AND=20 WIDE---
FDA Raids Amish = Farmer Dan=20 Allgyer
Please take action (see ACTION = at end of=20 notice)

Kinzers, PA At 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday = April 20,=20 Amish farmer Dan Allgyer went outside to begin milking his small = herd of=20 dairy cows. On the normally quiet Kinzer Road in front of his = farm, just a=20 few miles from the Nickel Mines Amish massacre of 2006, several = unfamiliar=20 vehicles drove slowly past. Two months prior, on February 4, FDA = agents=20 had trespassed on Allgyer's farm, claiming to be conducting an=20 "investigation." Allgyer had suspected they would be back at some = point,=20 because many other small dairy farms around the country have been=20 similarly treated by the FDA. Following is Dan's account of = Tuesday=20 morning's events:

I became aware of the cars as soon as I = walked=20 out on the sidewalk as part of my morning routine around 4:30 a.m. = and=20 immediately said to myself something is going on, there is too = much=20 traffic on Kinzer Road. I was watching and noticed three cars were = cruising down Kinzer Road right behind each other, and immediately = thought, hey, that looks like trouble. I watched and pretty soon = one car=20 came back and parked on my neighbor's farm, on private property, = just as=20 the FDA agents had when they came on my property in February; it = was=20 exactly the same place.

A couple minutes later, the other = two cars=20 pulled up and joined the first on my neighbor's property, where = the=20 occupants appeared to be in conference with one another. Shortly = after=20 that, they turned their headlights on and drove in my lane - this = would=20 have been at about 5:00.

I stood back in the dark barn to = see what=20 they were going to do. They drove past my two Private Property = signs, up=20 to where my coolers were, with their headlights shining right on = them.=20 They all got out of their vehicles - five men all together - with = big=20 bright flashlights they were shining all around. My wife and = family were=20 still asleep. When they couldn't find anybody, they prepared to = knock on=20 the door of my darkened house. Just before they got to the house I = stepped=20 out of the barn and hollered at them, then they came up to me and=20 introduced themselves. Two were from the FDA, agent Joshua C. = Schafer who=20 had been there in February and another. They showed me = identification, but=20 I was too flustered to ask for their cards. I remember being told = that two=20 were deputy U.S. Marshals and one a state trooper. They started = asking me=20 questions right away. They handed me a paper and I didn't realize = what it=20 was. Agent Joshua C. Schafer told me they were there to do a = "routine=20 inspection." At 5:00 in the morning, I wondered to myself? "Do you = have a=20 warrant?"=20 I asked, and one of them, a marshal or the state policeman, said, = "You've=20 got in your hand buddy." I asked, "What is the warrant=20 about?" Schafer responded, "We have credible evidence that you are = involved in interstate commerce."

They wanted me to answer = some=20 questions, my name, middle initial, last name, wanted to know how = many=20 cows we have on the farm. I answered those questions and some = more.=20 Finally, I got over my initial shock and said I would not be = answering any=20 more questions. They said O.K., we'll get on with the = "inspection."=20

I went to go talk to my wife. As I walked away, they held = a quick=20 excited conversation and I heard one of them say, "I'll take care = of him."=20 At that point, apparently, they had designated one of the marshals = to=20 stick close to me and dog my footsteps. He followed me as I walked = toward=20 the house. I went in the house quickly and told my wife a few = words to let=20 her know the situation, then immediately came back out of the = house before=20 the marshal had time to follow me in. When I came back out, they = were=20 inspecting all the coolers sitting out. They spent about a half = hour=20 digging through the packed coolers filled with milk and other food = - all=20 private property - taking pictures.

At one point during = the cooler=20 inspection the state trooper said to me, "You have a nice farm." I = responded, "We're trying to be sustainable, but they don't want to = let=20 us."

While they inspected the coolers, I read the warrant.=20 Among other things it said that any search was to be conducted "at = reasonable times during ordinary business hours." When I = exclaimed,=20 "Ordinary business hours!" and pointed this out to the marshal who = was=20 dogging me, he said, "Ordinary business hours for agriculture = start at=20 5:00 a.m." I challenged him that the warrant does=20 not say agriculture hours, it said ordinary hours. He replied, = "That's=20 what the government told us."

Then they started looking = around, as=20 though in search of something in particular. They went up to one = door that=20 had a clear No Trespassing sign on it, specifically including = government=20 agents, and they did not go in the room, though they shone their=20 flashlights around in it. Then they asked me, "What is on the = other side=20 of the door in that [same] room?" Agent Joshua Schafer asked this. = I=20 looked him in the eye and did not answer. When they saw I was not = going to=20 answer, the other FDA agent said, "Okay, come on," to agent = Schafer, and=20 they went into the room and through the closed door on the = opposite side.=20 I had another one of those signs on my walk-in cooler adjacent to = my=20 freezer, so they went through that door also. They spent probably = another=20 half hour rooting around, like a couple of pigs, in the freezer = and cooler=20 area and took many pictures.

When they came out, they = asked me=20 where I keep my containers and jugs for milk, and I refused to = tell them.=20 I figured they could look for themselves. Then they were walking = all over=20 the farm, checking everything out, everything except the house. = Agent=20 Joshua Schafer even opened my dumpster and inspected inside it, as = though=20 he thought I was hiding something in it. At that point I went and = started=20 milking my cows - it was way past milking time.

When I was = just=20 about done milking, Schafer and the other agent came in the barn = and=20 wanted me to answer some more questions. I told them I would not. = The=20 second agent said, "Are you gong to deliver those coolers to = Bethesda and=20 Bowie Maryland?" I just looked at him. Then Schafer made a gesture = and=20 said, "The stickers with those towns names are on the coolers," as = through=20 to say, you might as well tell me.

I replied, "I told you = I won't=20 answer any questions." After that they said, "We are done for = today.=20 You'll be hearing back from headquarters."

Then they got = in their=20 car and left. The state trooper and the marshals had left already. =

They came in the dark, shining bright flashlights while my = family=20 was asleep, keeping me from milking my cows, from my family, from=20 breakfast with my family and from our morning devotions, and = alarming my=20 children enough so that they first question they asked my wife = was, "Is=20 Daddy going to jail?"

THE NEXT MORNING Allgyer = received an=20 overnight, extremely urgent Letter of Warning from the FDA stating that = "Failure to=20 make prompt corrections could result in regulatory action without = further=20 notice. Possible actions include seizure and/or injunction." =

ACTION: Please call and write the number = and=20 address below. Express yourself. Tell them that you support Dan = Allgyer.=20 If you drink fresh, unpastuerized milk tell them that. Tell them = that more=20 people every day are drinking fresh milk and this is going to = increase.=20 It's not going to stop no matter how many farmers they persecute. = Tell=20 them the government has no place between individuals and the = farmers from=20 whom they get their food.

Philadelphia District = Office
Serves=20 Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. = Customhouse
Second and Chestnut Streets, Room = 900
Philadelphia, PA=20 19106
(215) 597-4390 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) =

Yours=20 for food freedom,
Deborah Stockton, Executive = Director
National=20 Independent Consumers and Farmers Association=20 (NICFA)
www.NICFA.org
nicfa@earthlink.net

National Independent Consumers and Farmers = Association
Our=20 purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct = farmer-to-consumer=20 trade
that fosters availability of locally grown or = home-produced food=20 products..
NICFA opposes any government funded or managed = National=20 Animal Identification System.
A Local Foods Feast for=20 Congress
Farm Food Voices DC 2010
NICFA's Fourth=20 Annual
National Small Farm and Ranch Grassroots Lobby Day & = Legislative Reception
Wednesday, March 10, = 2010

Lobbying 10:00 - 3:00 = (Individuals meet with Legislative Aides)
Local Foods=20 Reception 4:00 - 6:30 Room SD-106, Dirksen Senate Office = Building,=20 Washington DC

Lobby Training = Conference Calls

Joel Salatin, Emcee
Congressman = Ron Paul of=20 Texas and Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia will address the = reception=20 along with our fine group of=20 = speakers.

     Speakers:
  &= nbsp;  Doreen Hannes - Truth Farmer Radio & NICFA = Director of=20 Research
     David = Gumpert- The=20 Complete Patient Blog
     Joan Veon - = Women's Media=20 Group
     Spike = Gjerde -=20 Chef/Owner Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore

The Food Safety bills in Congress threaten the = viability=20 of all local food production - the safest food available and our = country's=20 most important economic engine.

Be the face and voice of = the local=20 foods movement to Congress. Join NICFA, its state affiliates, and = others=20 from around the country to lobby Congress and serve the LOCAL = FOODS FEAST=20 OF THE YEAR, featuring food from small independent farmers = prepared by=20 local chefs. Let's again show Congress that local food is the best = Safe=20 Food System, highlighting the benefits available only from = community based=20 agriculture -- prosperous local and national economies; health and = nutrition for people, land and animals; and low energy impact from = minimal=20 transportation, processing and distribution.

ACTION:
Please make = an=20 appointment now to meet with your legislators' agricultural aides = on March=20 10.
(If you can't be in DC please still call, your voice = matters!).=20
Steps:
1. Call your Representatives or Senators
2. Ask to speak to = the=20 Agriculture Aide.
3. Tell the Aide you will be in Washington DC = on=20 March 10 for this grassroots lobby day and you would like to = schedule a=20 meeting.
4. Invite the Aide and the legislator to come to the = reception=20 and experience the beauty of local food. Any legislator who = attends is=20 welcome to speak.

New to lobbying? Fret not. We will = provide a=20 lobby training conference call and Talking Points.

Yours = for food=20 freedom,
Deborah Stockton, Executive Director
National = Independent=20 Consumers and Farmers Association (NICFA)
www.NICFA.org
nicfa@earthlink.net

National Independent Consumers and Farmers = Association
Our=20 purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct = farmer-to-consumer=20 trade
that fosters availability of locally grown or = home-produced food=20 products..
NICFA opposes any government funded or managed = National=20 Animal Identification System.
.....
FDA Agents = Invade Amish=20 Farm in PA

Kinzers, PA - At 9:40 a.m. last = Thursday, February=20 4, only a few miles from the scene of the Nickel Mines Amish = massacre of=20 2006, another drama against the Amish began as agents of the U.S. = Food and=20 Drug Administration (FDA) came onto the property of Amish farmer = Dan=20 Allgyer, without permission, claiming to be conducting an = investigation.=20 Agents Joshua Schafer and Deborah Haney, from the Delaware FDA = office,=20 drove past Allgyer's "No Trespassing" signs and up his driveway = almost to=20 his barn, where Allgyer happened to be outside. Allgyer approached = the=20 car, the agents got out and Allgyer asked them why they were = there. They=20 produced a piece of paper, asked Allgyer if he was Dan Allgyer, = which=20 Allgyer confirmed, asked him his middle initial and phone number, = entered=20 the information on the paper, told Allgyer they were there to do = an=20 inspection and started reading the paper to him, saying it gave = them=20 jurisdiction to be there.

The agents - Schafer did most of = the=20 talking - said they had a right to be there because "you produce = food for=20 human consumption." Dan asked why they believed that and they = said, "Well,=20 you have cows. You cannot be consuming all the milk you produce." = They=20 further stated, "If you get a milk truck in to move all this milk = you sell=20 milk to the public, therefore we have jurisdiction."

Dan = said,=20 "This is a private farm, I do not sell anything to the = public."

As=20 they continued to harass him about doing an inspection, Allgyer = said, "You=20 can sit in your car. I will call my lawyer." The agents remained = standing.=20

Allgyer called his attorney who advised him to have the = agents=20 call him. When Allgyer told them to call his attorney Schafer = replied,=20 "You are the owner and you have to speak for = yourself."

They=20 pressed him to talk and Schafer asked, "Are you refusing us an=20 investigation? Allgyer replied, "That's not what I'm saying." They = kept=20 repeating, "Are you refusing an investigation?"

Allgyer = kept=20 saying, "Call this guy" - meaning his attorney.

Allgyer = said they=20 must have asked him six times.

One of them said, "Even if = you do=20 not say so, you are still refusing an = investigation."

Eventually=20 Schafer said, "If you refuse an investigation will you answer some = questions?"

Allgyer said, "I'd rather not."

When the = agents=20 continued to push him Dan said, "Is that a = question?

Sheepishly,=20 they said. 'Yes."

Allgyer said, "What did I say about=20 questions?'

They replied, "Well we're going to write this = up as a=20 refusal to have an investigation and give it to our higher=20 officials."

Dan felt they were threatening him at this=20 point.

After that, they got in their car, drove out the = driveway=20 and parked on the neighbor's property watching Allgyer. A visitor, = Ivan,=20 who had been on the farm, though not part of the conversation, = left in his=20 truck soon after, and the FDA agents proceeded to follow him in = their car,=20 even when he stopped at a convenience store to use the facilities. = After=20 forty or fifty miles, Ivan called 911 and told the police he was = being=20 followed.

The state police - in two cruisers - pulled the = agents=20 over. Ivan pulled over as well.

Ivan said the police told = him that=20 the agents explained they were FDA agents and they had the right = to follow=20 him because they were conducting an investigation on the farm he = left.=20 They thought he had product and they wanted samples of the=20 product.

Ivan responded by opening the back of the truck = and=20 revealing it was empty. The agents photographed the inside of the = empty=20 truck and gave Ivan a paper, claiming they had a right to inspect = his=20 truck. He told them they were harassing him. The state trooper = said they=20 had a right to follow and pull him over but they were in an = unmarked car=20 so Ivan would not have had to pull over.

As with Allgyer, = the=20 agents asked Ivan some information which they wrote on the paper = they=20 produced, then handed it to him.

Ivan asked them, "Why are = you=20 writing up a paper on me when you have no cause?"

They = said, "We=20 have a cause, because you left the farm."

They claimed he = had a=20 load off the farm and they wanted samples.

Ivan said, "I = didn't=20 know who you were."

An agent replied, "You saw us at the=20 farm."

Ivan said. "That doesn't make any difference, I = didn't know=20 who you were."

Ivan pointed out that he was at the farm = but did=20 not hear what they said. He was twenty feet or more away from them = and was=20 not involved in their conversation.

Ivan said the police = told him=20 they would record that the agents had been following him.

A = spokeswoman for the FDA (reached at the phone number on the paper = the FDA=20 agents gave to Allgyer) said the FDA has no comment at this time = because=20 it is an ongoing investigation.

Dan Allgyer will meet with = his=20 county sheriff in the near future to apprise him of this=20 incident.

We will update this story as needed.

Yours = for=20 food freedom,
Deborah Stockton, Executive Director
National=20 Independent Consumers and Farmers Association=20 (NICFA)
www.NICFA.org
nicfa@earthlink.net

National Independent Consumers and Farmers = Association
Our=20 purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct = farmer-to-consumer=20 trade
that fosters availability of locally grown or = home-produced food=20 products..
NICFA opposes any government funded or managed = National=20 Animal Identification System.
=

NICFA's Doreen Hannes on The Knowledge = Congress: =20 Food Bills Seminar Webcast - November 18

Press passes available = for=20 credentialed media representatives.

WHAT: Webcast Seminar on the = Food=20 Bills
WHEN: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. = (ET)
WHERE:=20 KnowledgeCongress.org, by registration only
WHY: To provide = information on=20 the food bills from a variety of perspectives

Doreen Hannes, = NICFA's=20 Director of Research, will represent NICFA on a panel of experts about = the food=20 bills in a webcast seminar, held by The Knowledge Congress. This = "webinar"=20 provides CLE/CPE hours (continuing education) for attendees. Please = encourage=20 your state officials, a representative of your group, and other industry = and=20 business leaders to register and attend so they can learn the enormous = impact=20 these bills will have on American farmers and agriculture, food security = and=20 sovereignty.

Register and learn more about this event and the panel members: = http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2009_Food.html= =20

Panelists include:

DLA Piper
Kimberly K.=20 Egan
Partner

SuperValu, Inc.
John Hanlin
Vice = President, Food=20 Safety & Quality Assurance

Crowell & Moring = LLP
Steven M.=20 Niedelman
Senior Consultant

National Independent Consumers = and=20 Farmers Association(NICFA)
Doreen Hannes
Director of = Research

USDA,=20 Agricultural Marketing Service
Kathleen A. Staley
Food Safety = Officer=20 Fruit and Vegetable Programs

NOTE: Though there is a registration = fee for=20 this seminar, Doreen Hannes and NICFA will not receive monetary = compensation for=20 participating.

"The Knowledge Congress was established in = November 2005=20 with the mission to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live = webinars=20 that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of = different=20 perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an=20 important issue affecting business in a highly focused format." [from=20 http://www.KnowledgeCongress.org]

For more information, please=20 contact:
Deborah Stockton, Executive Director
National Independent = Consumers and Farmers Association (NICFA)
nicfa@earthlink.net =

Pasco Washington Listening Report -=20 http://www.heraldnet.com - Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Peeved = ranchers lambaste federal effort to ID herd animals By Shannon = Dininny -=20 Associated Press
PASCO -- Five years after the federal government = started a=20 program to trace livestock in the event of a disease outbreak, just 36 = percent=20 of ranchers are taking part.

U.S. Department of Agriculture = officials=20 found out why Monday, when 75 Western livestock producers gave them an = earful=20 during a meeting. The "listening session" was one of seven scheduled = around the=20 country in May and June to hear ranchers' concerns, with the goal of = increasing=20 participation in the program.

Those concerns haven't changed = much in=20 five years: The cost is too high for small farmers. The regulations = amount to=20 bureaucratic suffocation. The program neither prevents nor controls = disease. And=20 what's in a farmer's pasture is nobody's business. Read entire article and comments

NICFA Secretary Liz Reitzig Testimony before U.S. Secretary = of=20 Agriculture - April 15, 2009
"The United States Department of = Agriculture=20 claims that the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 authorizes it to = implement=20 a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). However, nowhere in the = AHPA is=20 the USDA authorized to assign a federal, permanent 7-character number to = private=20 land. Neither is it authorized to require application to any animal of = an '840'=20 prefix tag indicating the animal is US born, and it is not authorized to = require=20 RFID devices, like implantable microchips, or RFID tags, on a privately = owned=20 animal. Further, the AHPA does not authorize the USDA to require = reporting=20 movements, vet visits, or any of the 23 'reportable' events listed in = NAIS=20 documents. The AHPA authorizes the USDA to track shipments of animals = that have=20 been imported. Any assertion beyond that is an extrapolation by the = USDA". Read the=20 entire testimony.

NICFA NAIS Report:
The United = States=20 Department of Agriculture (USDA) has spent considerable taxpayer money = and=20 physical resources on the "National Animal Identification System" = (NAIS), acting=20 without Congressional mandate and creating widespread opposition from = farmers,=20 ranchers, livestock owners, homesteaders, consumers and agriculture = supply=20 businesses' a massive grassroots response that NAIS is a bad idea, = unwanted, and=20 not grounded in the reality of farm life, animal husbandry or healthy = food. Read = more....=20

California Raw Milk Hearing: Four ICFA Members Testify on = Panel
Read=20 Testimonies

Read Joel Salatin's = Testimony before the United States Congress; April 17, 2008; House = Committee=20 on Oversight and Government Reform. Subject: After the Beef Recall: = Exploring=20 Greater Transparency in the Meat Industry.

The USDA's New = Strategy for=20 NAIS and a New Texas Program of Cattle "Tuberculosis ID Requirements" Click here for the = full=20 article.

WE WILL NOT COMPLY Click here for updates and = more=20 information on Greg Niewendorp and Mark Nolt, two NAIS resistors who are = leading=20 the way.

Click=20 here for more information on Richard Bean's and Jean Rinaldi's = arrest.=20

Read Anti-NAIS Talking = Points=20 document for your use and to distribute.

Read = Additional=20 Anti-NAIS Talking Points document for your use and to distribute. =

Read the = Cooperative=20 Agreement between Virginia Department of Agriculture and the USDA on=20 implementaion strategies for NAIS for your use and to distribute. =

Read the Virginia Tech RFID = research=20 agreement for your use and to distribute.

Read the = rebuttal to=20 Booby Orrocks letter on NAIS legislation in Virginia for your use and to = distribute.

Mary Zanoni = Articles on=20 NAIS.

See movies from Farm Food Voices DC 2007 and read the = reports.=20

HR2749 = - The Food=20 Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - Read the Bill
To amend the Federal Food, = Drug, and=20 Cosmetic Act to improve the safety
of food in the global=20 market, and for other purposes. [emphasis added]
The End of = Small=20 Farms and Local Food
This bill passed the House, 283-142, on July 30. = It now=20 goes to the Senate.
Let's stop it=20 there.

ACTION: =
Please=20 work with your Senator to STOP this bill. Call and speak with the = Agriculture=20 Aide. Explain the problems to the Ag Aide and refer them to the NICFA = website=20 for more information. The Senate is on State Work Period from August 10 = -=20 September 7. The most effective action is to meet in person with your = Senator or=20 Senator's aide during this period. A face to face meeting has more = effect than=20 you can imagine. It is worth the time and energy to do it. Senate = contact info:=20 http://www.Senate.gov.

BACKGROUND:

By treating all = food=20 produced in this country as exports to be under international = regulations, this=20 bill will:
* Authorize NAIS-style traceability on food
* Drive = small farms=20 into regulatory nightmares
* End local food by regulating growers out = of=20 existence
* Require many farms, no matter how small, to pay annual = fees of=20 $500 or more to exist
* Concentrate livestock and food production = into fewer,=20 larger industrial farms

TALKING POINTS

1. Farms = and=20 producers that only sell locally and domestically will be regulated like = exporters, yet the United States is a net importer of food. Americans = import=20 more beef, for instance, than we export.

2. Restaurants and = stores that=20 buy from any but the largest industrial distributors could lose their = sources.=20 Organic farms will not be immune to the effects of this bill.

3.=20 Exceptions for small farms and local sales listed in the bill are = superceded by=20 language that requires even the smallest farms to have the kind of=20 record-keeping and inspections that could put them under the same = regulations as=20 huge industrial, exporting businesses.

4. The term "harmonize = with=20 international standards" used throughout the bill, means that = international=20 standards will be imposed by regulation. The USDA will coordinate with = the FDA=20 on this Act. These requirements are so burdensome and costly with = penalties at=20 $20,000 to $1,000.000 per infraction and up to 10 years in prison that a = farmer=20 could lose everything for a simple mistake.

5. NAIS is not = mentioned by=20 name, but "harmonizing" with "traceability" requirements in the = international=20 guidelines and standards authorizes the components of NAIS, so it = authorizes the=20 program without using the name.

6. The biggest threats to food = safety,=20 and the USDA agrees, are centralized production, centralized processing, = and=20 long distance transportation. This bill will make those problems worse = by=20 eliminating smaller farms and local production and concentrating food = production=20 further into large industrial farms.

7. The "Administrator" = created by=20 this bill is given authority for unwarranted search and seizure; = quarantining=20 and stopping movement of food if they think there is cause, they do not = have to=20 prove it; authority to require any farming and management practices they = choose=20 on any farm; and more, all without accountability or judicial review.=20

Further information: See "Welcome to the=20 Global Plantation," for more information and page number references = in the=20 bill for all the facts stated above.

U.S. MARSHALLS TO SEIZE FARMER'S HOME FRIDAY - June 26,=20 2009
Farmer Herman Schumacher disputed big packers, loses=20 home
NEWS CONFERENCE FRIDAY, JUNE 26 1 p.m. Central=20 Time
WHERE: Herman Schumacher's front lawn: 102 6th Ave. NW, = Herreid,=20 S.D.
WHAT: R-CALF USA news conference to stop U.S. Marshals = seizure of=20 Herman Schumacher's home after Schumacher sued Tyson.
BRIEF: A = federal=20 jury unanimously sided with Schumacher, but then a three-judge panel for = the 8th=20 U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the jury's decision. The judge = did not=20 dispute the jury's findings that the Tyson et al had violated the = Packers and=20 Stockyards Act, but instead decided it wasn't enough for Schumacher to = prove=20 that the packers had violated the law, the plaintiff must show that a = packer=20 intentionally committed unlawful conduct. Read = more

National Animal Identification System A Report by the = National=20 Independent Consumers and Farmers Association ... Read=20 More

BeefMagazine.Com ran a poll on NAIS in early = June.=20 Final results below. Thank you everyone who voted! -- Total Votes: = 30737
Should USDA=C3=AF=C2=BF=C2=BDs National Animal Identification = System (as=20 currently proposed) be:
* Mandatory: 19%
* Voluntary: 4%
* = Scrapped :=20 76%

Harrisburg NAIS Listening Session - Darol = Dickinson
Harrisburg, Pa---the first of a series of NAIS = Listening=20 Sessions was held today at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo = Center,=20 Harrisburg, Pa. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stated, "I = encourage=20 individuals and organizations to voice their concerns, ideas and = potential=20 solutions about animal identification." And---voice concerns they did!=20

The Pennsylvania location was a choice spot for this first = national=20 effort by USDA. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture has been mellowed = by USDA=20 with $2,127,411 of cooperative agreements directly for the purpose of = NAIS=20 property enrollments. The state's generous grants were successful in = energizing=20 one of the highest percentages of farm enrollments of any state, not = counting=20 Massachusetts, who according to USDA records have a 227.1% enrollment.=20

Pennsylvania should have a very high percentage of favorable = NAIS=20 listening session enrollees, but it didn't happen.

Those = responding to=20 the invitation to "voice their concerns" requested formal speaking time = up to 2=20 weeks in advance and signed up a second time this morning on arrival. = Each=20 hopeful speaker got to speak up to 3 minutes if their name was drawn. A = total of=20 187 people requested to speak and 36 actually were successful. =

The=20 beginning agenda allowed for senior USDA staff to cajole the perceived = merits of=20 NAIS for a scheduled one hour period. Staff members Jere Dick, Neil=20 Hammerschmidt, and John Weimer defined the goals and theory of the = troubled=20 program.

Crowd control was a consideration. Due to the "touchy" = nature=20 of this USDA effort up to eight law enforcement officers were positioned = on=20 perimeters of the Expo meeting room. Farmers and ranchers are normally = law=20 abiding country folk, so fortunately no arrests or altercations took = place. USDA=20 staff member and blue group leader, Larry Miller, requested speakers = have a=20 "respectful attitude" at all times during the process.

As = approved=20 presenters rapidly verbalized their three minute allotment, USDA staff = were true=20 listeners with seldom if any comment. Their reaction was somber = regardless of=20 the charged efforts of livestock producers, with many far from polite, = and=20 seasoned with colorful barn yard vernacular in many cases.

A = large Amish=20 delegation were represented offering passionate pleadings against = mandatory=20 NAIS. Others of faith expressed major concerns. Two livestock producers = from=20 Ohio attended, one lady from Oregon and most from within a five hour = drive of=20 the eastern Pennsylvania area.

Of the successful speakers, 27 = were=20 clearly opposed to NAIS and 4 spoke in favor. Three indicated they were = enrolled=20 in NAIS without their knowledge and one indicated they had enrolled by = mistake=20 and wish they had not. One lady said her husband enrolled against her = will and=20 now he understands.

Afternoon attendees were divided into three=20 break-out groups with the assignment from Secretary Tom Vilsack (not = present)=20 "discussions will be less about concerns and more about ideas and = solutions to=20 create a NAIS that we can all live with." Each group was to study seven=20 questions and focus to identify workable solutions. The seven questions = centered=20 around, cost, impact on small farms, privacy and confidentiality, = liability,=20 premises registration, animal ID, and animal tracing. These are = considered the=20 most concerning objections to NAIS.

The three break-out groups = recorded=20 the following concerns:
* "There is no problem that NAIS will = fix."
*=20 "Drop the program."
* "Don't use the word premises. I own property, = not a=20 premise."
* "Trace only international imported and export = animals."
* "It=20 is obvious enforcement is big with USDA by the looks of the police = guards=20 present here today. We are scared of your enforcements of NAIS mandatory = on our=20 farms."
* "Leave us alone! I am just here to say, NO!"
* "We don't = trust=20 USDA."
* "USDA has a tarnished reputation of raiding family farms = without=20 cause. NAIS is designed to make farm raids more prevalent."
* "If a=20 government program isn't worth doing, it is not worth doing right."
* = Statement to the break-out moderator, "Thank you for listening. The = longer you=20 listen---NAIS won't be mandatory."
* "NAIS is OK with me except for = just one=20 part-----MANDATORY."
* "You have not been honest with us about the = enrollment=20 numbers for NAIS."
* "USDA are amateur liars. I like to be lied to=20 professionally."
* "NAIS has a trust issue. We don't trust = NAIS."
* An=20 R-CALF USA eight point proposal for an alternative animal health program = was=20 recommended six times during the break-out session. (It was the only = alternative=20 solution offered.)
* "The country is in serious economical trouble. = It is not=20 the time to add more costs to farm production."
* "Over 90% of = farmers are=20 opposed to NAIS. Will you still demand mandatory NAIS regardless of = listening=20 session results?
* "The USDA animal health program currently is = effective,=20 NAIS is not needed."
* "Don't call me a stakeholder. I am a land and = horse=20 owner. I am insulted by calling me a stakeholder. I am not holding the = stakes=20 for others."
* "USDA should be working on vaccines to prevent disease = instead=20 of NAIS trace back."

USDA's John Weimer was asked about the = results of=20 the letter writing effort to USDA with a designated comment period about = NAIS=20 several months ago. Where were the results published? He did not recall = the=20 comment effort and did not know what happened to the hundreds of = communications=20 USDA received.

In the blue break-out group all speaking = participants (43=20 total) were clearly opposed to NAIS. USDA's group leader Larry Miller = continued=20 to redirect the emphasis from NAIS concerns, over to solution issues to = make=20 mandatory NAIS a palatable program. One dairy farmer said, "We have = answered=20 your questions. You are not listening. There is no way NAIS will work. = No part=20 of it will work. All seven questions are not solvable. Any people who = want to do=20 NAIS should be able to volunteer, but mandatory NAIS will cause = bloodshed in the=20 streets. We will refuse to surrender."

Future USDA listening = meetings on=20 NAIS will be held at Pasco, WA, Austin, TX, Birmingham, AL, Louisville, = KY,=20 Storrs, CT, and Loveland, CO. Comments for those who may not be able to = attend=20 should be sent to the Federal eRulemaking Portal.

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm in Swoope appears in this episode = of=20 Nightline.
Swine Flu Outbreak: The Facts.

The EPA is considering regulations to tax = farmers for=20 owning livestock, $20.00 per hog; $87.50 per beef cow, and $175.00 = per=20 dairy cow. This would, of course, drive most small to medium = farmers out=20 of business.

Listen to Tim Young of Georgia Independent = Consumers and=20 Farmers Asso. address this on a Fox televison interview =

Contact Tim Young at tim@naturesharmonyfarm.com
See = Tim's farm=20 at: http://www.naturesharmonyfarm.com/

National Independent Consumers and Farmers = Association=20 (NICFA)
P.O. Box 915
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

Letter to Bruce Knight, USDA Under Secretary for = Marketing and=20 Regulatory Programs 5 March, 2008

Dear Mr. Knight,

Thank = you for=20 meeting with us today to discuss issues of importance to the small = farmers of=20 America and the consumers, communities and economies dependent on them.=20

Earlier today, we hosted a reception for our federal legislators = where=20 we joyfully served food produced by independent unsubsidized farmers, = from=20 animals without Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, raised on = open=20 pastures on grass--not subsidized GMO grain, on private properties = without=20 Premises Registration numbers, with soils enriched by ecologically = harmonious=20 amendments like sea salt, compost, and natural mineral sources. =

In=20 short, we are not part of the industrial agriculture system.

We = are the=20 rich tradition of heritage farming. We are your local community family = farm. We=20 are your neighbors. Some of us are organically certified, some of us are = beyond=20 organic.

The USDA's proposed National Animal Identification = System=20 (NAIS), and its concomitant Premises Registration, is in direct conflict = with=20 our way of life and our ability to maintain responsible, safe farming = methods.=20 The people of America demand the food we produce. The Real food, Local = food, or=20 Heritage food movement, is growing every day. Beyond organic, the real = food=20 movement is farmers, and other artisan producers, selling directly to = customers,=20 neighbor to neighbor, generally without interference from local, state, = national=20 or international regulation.

As the industrial food system = continues to=20 generate incidents like the recent recall of 143 million pounds of = ground beef,=20 more and more people will turn to the food we produce, food made by = their=20 neighbors, food they trust. We will continue to meet this growing = demand.=20

You, as an administrator of the USDA, have already encountered = this=20 movement in the form of farmers who will not comply with behavior not = fit for a=20 free people.

We are the face of this movement. We are the = National=20 Independent Consumers and Farmers Association and all state affiliates. = All=20 efforts to push NAIS will only strengthen our movement.

We will = not=20 participate in a program designed by and for international agencies and=20 globalist industrial agriculture that persecutes independent traditional = farms.=20 We will not comply with the NAIS.

Yours respectfully, =

Deborah=20 Stockton, Executive Director
National Independent Consumers and = Farmers=20 Association,
on behalf of all people, farmers and consumers, who = oppose the=20 NAIS and support unrestricted domestic trade.

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Pro-Consumer

"All individuals have the God-given, inalienable right to procure the = food of=20 their choice, from the source of their choice."

Pro Farmer

A farmer's livelihood depends on his/her ability to cater to = consumer's=20 demands without unfair government restrictions.

Pro Freedom

"... Governments are instituted among Men, deriving = their=20 just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of=20 Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the = People to=20 alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its = foundation=20 on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them = shall seem=20 most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." ~Declaration of=20 Independence=20

Anti-NAIS

NAIS imposes on all livestock and animal owners a = high-tech,=20 high-cost livestock backtrack system requiring:=20

Registration of any premises where even one animal, a chicken, pet = donkey,=20 etc� is kept, in a database accessible to many agencies and = foreign=20 governments.
Radio Frequency ID (RFID) microchipping or tagging of every = animal.
Reporting and recording each animal�s movements within 24 = hours, under=20 threat of severe penalty, including confiscation of animals and fines = of $1000=20 per day, per infraction.

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