In England a farmer is being prosecuted and sent to prison for a cow that lost an ear tag. NEWS-FLASH #1: Animals lose their ear tags a lot. NEWS-FLASH #2: Ear tags do not stop disease.
Texas wants $1,000 per incident per day fines to enforce compliance. NEWS-FLASH #3: It could only take weeks for this to add up to more than the value of a small farm or homestead.
In Vermont our Agriculture Department plans to enforce mandatory Premise ID, and probably eventually NAIS, “right down to the backyard level” in the words of our state vet Dr. Rood. When asked why he said “We are making the rules because we can.” NEWS-FLASH #4: The only way to enforce a mandatory program is with fines, confiscation and jail so I guess we’ll be seeing absurd confiscatory fines that effectively give away our farms and homes to the Vermont Department of Agriculture. And you thought this was a democracy.
Why is the government making criminals of innocent farmers? These fines are nothing to big corporations - they just pay them and keep right on with business as usual These fines are enormous for small producers and individual home owners. Are they trying to drive us not only out of business but also take our houses by tithing and fining us out of existence? Is this a new form of taxation? Is the government trying to make up for overspending and deficits by raising money on the backs of small farmers, homesteaders and pet owners?
The fees and fines of NAIS act like a hidden tax on agriculture that will destroy those who are least able comply with comples regulations and least afford the expenses. NAIS has the potential to destroy small farms and kill of a long tradition of rural food independence amoung homesteaders.
NAIS is for the benefit of the very large producers and meat exporters but the burden is being laid upon the shoulders of small farmers and homesteaders. Ultimately the consumer will pay the price in a loss of selection and higher food costs as our national food supply becomes concentrated into the hands of fewer and fewer large corporations.
Wow … excuse me but what the HELL happened to “for the people BY the people” ???????????????
Making rules cause “they can” ? That is OUTRAGEOUS! We, the American People, are being BULLIED! WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE!?!?!?!
Comment Gwenyth — March 9, 2006 @ 7:11 am
I guess I’ll make my own rules now….. Does anyone know whats happening in Pa?
Comment george — March 9, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
Gee…and here I thought the ‘rules’ were created by we, the people. Talk about using the Constitution for toilette paper!!! Or in this case, bedding.
Comment b_heart11 — March 10, 2006 @ 4:35 am
George,look at pa senate bill 865 check out paragraph 4 section c
Comment LEE — May 10, 2006 @ 1:09 pm
When we really think about it, does this really surprise us? The NAIS is about power, and who has the power? The large corporations have the money to buy government policy -a sad, but true, fact.
I am looking for stats for a research paper I am doing on the NAIS. I am also looking for volunteers to be interviewed for this paper. I hope to speak to numerous people from across the U.S. about the NAIS, so if interested and willing, please contact me at owlserpentandcrow@yahoo.com. Thanks to all!
Elizabeth
Comment Elizabeth Harman — September 13, 2006 @ 12:57 pm