Page 81 - Spring2010

States continue to push NAIS-related technol- your state legislators and ask that they take steps to ensure that the agency
ogy? In another call with USDA, the participants does not impose regulations written by and for industrial agriculture.
were asked to come prepared to answer a set of
questions, among them, “USDA is committed to NOT INEVITABLE
utilizing systems and solutions that have been Agribusiness control and government overregulation of agriculture
developed over the past few years . . . to support has developed over the course of several decades, and it will not be turned
the new traceability approach. What are your back overnight. But while we remain vigilant and cautious, let’s take a
thoughts and suggestions on this, including what moment to celebrate this grassroots victory. Back in 2005, many people
can be used and what components need to be left said that it wasn’t worth even fighting because NAIS was inevitable. But
behind?” Comments from representatives of in- because people across the country refused to concede, the train has slowed
dustrial agriculture, such as the American Farm and stopped. Whether it is the USDA’s “new framework” for interstate
Bureau Federation, made it clear that they are regulations, state-level animal ID programs, or issues such as food safety,
eager to use the databases and systems that have GMOs, and food processing, now is the time to renew our efforts to protect
been developed for NAIS, and they urged that and grow the movement for local, nutrient-dense foods.
state veterinarians be informed of the supposed
value of these systems. The companies who had FOOD SAFETY BILL UPDATE
a monetary interest in NAIS—the meatpackers, In the last issue of Wise Traditions, I discussed S. 510, the FDA Food
microchip manufacturers, database managers, Safety Modernization Act. As of mid-March, little has changed on the bill.
and industrial agriculture associations—will It is still awaiting action by the full Senate, having been slowed down by
not simply abandon the potential of hundreds of the general confusion and discord in the Senate. But it could come to a
millions of dollars in profits, and state programs vote at any time.
could provide them with ample opportunity to “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act” (S. 510) purports to ad-
make money at the expense of small farmers. dress concerns over the state of food safety in the U.S. but, as currently
written, would actually make our food less safe. S. 510 would strengthen
NAIS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR the forces that have led to unsafe, nutritionally compromised food by leav-
Along with state programs, there is the is- ing loopholes for large, concentrated food manufacturers and undercutting
sue of the private sector. Given the control that small, local producers of safe, healthy foods.
a few companies have over agriculture, pressure
to use NAIS-type technology could easily be YOUR ACTIVISM URGENTLY NEEDED
imposed through market forces. While many It is extremely important to contact your Senators now to urge them
farmers in the WAPF community are not part of to amend or oppose the bill!
the mainstream agricultural system, the impact Big Ag and Big Food have distributed melamine-contaminated milk
on conventional small farmers could be devastat- from China and salmonella-contaminated peppers from Mexico. Yet Con-
ing and ultimately impact us all. Moreover, even gress hasn’t gotten the message that they need to solve the real problems
farmers who sell directly to consumers often use —the centralized food distribution system and imported foods —and not
the mainstream sales barns and hatcheries to buy regulate our local food sources out of business. Instead, S. 510 is a “one-
and sell live animals, leaving them vulnerable to size-fits-all” approach that would unnecessarily burden both farmers and
market pressure by agribusiness. small-scale food processors, ultimately depriving consumers of the choice
to buy from producers they know and trust. We will need tens of thou-
ETERNAL VIGILANCE sands of calls to every Senator to stop this bill, so please don’t wait. Pick
It is critical that farmers and consumers stay up the phone and make that important contact! For detailed instructions
involved in this issue. Meet with your state vet to and talking points, see page 82.
talk about the concerns of sustainable livestock
producers and request a seat on the state’s animal

identification working group and any working AN APHORISM
groups on animal disease programs that would
have an impact on your farm or ranch. If the Some men much fret their cars perform on special fuels,
agency only involves the industrial agriculture Ignoring swill they eat that makes them sluggish fools.
groups or if the recommendations of the working Richard M. Dell’Orfano
group reflect only those interests, then contact

SPRING 2010 Wise Traditions 81