Virginia’s Delegate Rob Wittman has introduced a simple one sentence modification (House Bill 1990) which would block the National Animal Identification System in Virginia. Full text below.
If you are in the state of Virginia now is the time to contact your legislative representatives in the House and Senate as well as the House and Senate agricultural committees to let them know that you oppose NAIS and want House Bill 1990 to pass. We are now on a state by state fight to block NAIS. Don’t let them chip your ass!
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 3.1-14.4, relating to the National Animal Identification System.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section
numbered 3.1-14.4 as follows:
§ 3.1-14.4. National Animal Identification System.
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall ensure that the Department does not participate in or provide any assistance to the establishment of the National Animal Identification System or any substantially similar program.
WooHoo!! We don’t live in Virginia but my husbands family has land there. This would be great!
Comment Mia Bagley — January 17, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Glad to see all this action in the various states to fight NAIS! Speaking of legislation there are a couple things I would like to bring up.(from www.brownfieldnetwork.com) First,Sen. Chuck Hagel(Neb) has introduced legislation to give tax breaks to CAFO(confined animal feeding operatons)when they meet EPA pollution requirements,wonderful, now they want us to pay them to not dump “crap in the crick”,he needs to be told how dumb this is,just another perk for industrial ag, no one mentioned paying all of you who DO NOT dump “crap in the crick”,Hmmmmm.Second,but better,Sen.Charles Grassley wants to ban the big packers and such from “vertically” owning and controlling the livestock and feeding operations,they use this method to control the market,when prices are up they use there own animals and when prices fall then they “buy” from farmers thereby controlling commodity prices,or to that effect,any way anything that helps break the monopoly control of these large anti free market companies will hurt them and (should) help the small guys by forcing the big ag boys to pay market prices.Of course Cargill,Smithfield,and the others will sqeal like a pinched piglet and say that if this happens the nations food supply will be endangered and prices will skyrocket and bla , bla, bla,I’m not for govt control of much if anything,but remember these folks are,and they are helping to pass NAIS and regulate you and I off the land,its okay to push an enemy into a hole he dug to trap you in,and I think its about time,so anyway lets support things like this that help us and condemn those who want to give more pork to those who least need it or deserve it. Thanks!
Comment LEE — January 17, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
My parents are getting ready to set up a farm in southwestern VA, so this is so awesome! I’m forwarding it to everyone I know.
Comment Rachael — January 17, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
You know you are doing something right when you get this kind of press:
link
January 18, 2007
Virginia needs seat at animal ID table, says Farm Bureau
RICHMOND—A controversial new bill could risk Virginia’s ability to provide input on a National Animal Identification System.
HB 1990, sponsored by Del. Robert Wittman, R-Montross, would prohibit the state’s commissioner of agriculture and consumer services from participating in the establishment of an animal ID system or similar program.
“This would effectively eliminate the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from playing any role in the critical issue of animal health, and it would have serious marketing implications for livestock and poultry producers,” said Wilmer Stoneman, associate director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “Such a move would put us at a disadvantage with other states that are moving forward with the development of these programs and systems.”
As of Jan. 16, VDACS had registered 3,865 farms in the voluntary premises registration phase of the NAIS. VDACS began enrolling farms, livestock markets and other facilities in December 2004.
State-level premises registration is the first step in implementing the national ID system. When fully implemented, the system should allow animal health officials to trace animals back to their farms of origin within 48 hours of the diagnosis of an animal disease emergency. Livestock owners may develop ways to use the identification to provide source or age verification to help them market their animals to domestic or export customers wanting more detailed history than is ordinarily available.
“Packers want to be able to age- and source-verify cows for both economic and health reasons,” said Bill McKinnon, executive secretary of the Virginia Cattleman’s Association, at a producer forum on the NAIS in 2006.
“The removal of VDACS from these efforts will not diminish the development and implementation of these systems in other states,” Stoneman said. “It will remove a critical public sector voice from a program that is here to stay, albeit in what final form is still to be determined.
“Many producers have legitimate concerns and questions regarding potential NAIS impacts to their farming operations, which is why we must continue to play a critical and involved role in the development of the program.”
Forty-nine other states and two U.S. territories now have voluntary premises registration systems in place.
Contact Stoneman at 804-290-1024.
Comment Henwhisperer — January 18, 2007 @ 12:32 pm