Page 82 - Spring2008

(FOIA) “regarding the disclosure of information lary of this statement is that NAIS is rapidly
submitted by farmers and ranchers who partici- becoming unvoluntary for anyone who is part
pate in” NAIS. The regulations “should address of a disease program. As detailed in multiple
the protection of trade secrets and other propri- places in the Business Plan, USDA intends to
etary and/or confidential business information use existing disease control programs—includ-

that farmers and ranchers disclose in the course ing tuberculosis, brucellosis, scrapie and equine
of participation in” NAIS. infectious anemia testing—to impose NAIS on
People who oppose NAIS have varying animal owners across the country.
views on the issue of the Freedom of Informa- USDA also plans to use breed registries
tion Act. Many animal owners have expressed and industry associations to implement NAIS.
concern that, if NAIS were to happen, they do Contact your breed registry to determine whether
not want animal rights groups or competitors to or not it intends to be a tool for implementing
be able to obtain detailed information on their NAIS and let us know their response! We are
farms through FOIA. Other people have pointed compiling the responses on our website.
out that the public should have the right to get In an attempt to reduce opposition, the
information about the activities of large, indus- Business Plan refers to a “critical mass” of 70
trial agriculture facilities. There is merit in both percent. While at fi rst glance this may seem to
arguments, but they both miss a critical point: be a sign that USDA is backing away from its
this information should not be collected by the unfounded claims that every single animal owner

government in the first place. Addressing the should be part of NAIS, a closer reading shows
confidentiality of information collected under otherwise. The 70 percent critical mass is simply

NAIS is like fixing a broken light fixture in a a way to gauge “the progress being made towards
home that has a cracked foundation and termites obtaining the participation levels necessary to
in the wall. The real problem with both versions achieve the optimum traceability goal” (Business
of Section 10305 is that they imply approval of Plan, p. 11). Based on the USDA’s other docu-
what USDA has been doing and give a green light ments and statement, the optimum traceability
to continuing NAIS. That is a step in the wrong goal remains 100 percent participation.
direction. The USDA continues to ignore the low-
As this issue of Wise Traditions goes to cost, practical alternatives for tracing animals,
print, the conference committee for the Farm and acts as though a huge federal program is the
Bill is expected to be named any day. Most likely, only solution. For example, USDA considers it
by the time you read this article, the decision on a problem that “less than half of adult cattle can
whether to keep Section 10305 in the Farm Bill be associated with any USDA offi cial identifi ca-
or not will already have been made. Watch for tion system” (Business Plan, p. 18). Where is the
We must alerts from the Weston A Price Foundation or data or analysis showing the real-world outcome?

continue to go to www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org to stay Why does identifi cation of animals have to be
informed on what is happening in between issues through an offi cial USDA program in order to
educate of Wise Traditions. address disease? Where are the studies showing
Congress that we need an official federal program to suc-

about the USDA BUSINESS PLAN cessfully address disease? Experience teaches
On December 19, 2007, the USDA fi nally us otherwise, yet USDA is unwilling to listen

fundamental published the Business Plan that it has been or learn. We must continue to educate Congress
flaws with promising since August. While USDA continues about the fundamental fl aws with NAIS and the
NAIS and the to assert that NAIS is “voluntary at the federal USDA’s attitude towards agriculture.
level,” the loopholes are becoming more and
USDA’s more obvious. USDA now states: “NAIS pro- STATE DEVELOPMENTS
attitude vides the opportunity for producers that are not In 2007, fourteen states proposed bills to
towards part of a disease program to freely participate stop or limit NAIS. Only one bill succeeded:
in national animal health safeguarding efforts” Arizona reversed the law it had put into place in
agriculture. (Business Plan, preface i). The logical corol- 2006 and barred a mandatory program. While

82 Wise Traditions SPRING 2008