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Alabama NAIS
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CANADA
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Mississippi NAIS
Missouri NAIS
Montana NAIS
NEBRASKA NAIS-Voluntary
Nevada NAIS
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North Dakota NAIS- Resolution
Ohio NAIS
Oklahoma NAIS *Bill introduced
Oregon NAIS
Pennsylvania NAIS
South Carolina NAIS
South Dakota NAIS
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Texas NAIS
Utah NAIS-Voluntary
Vermont NAIS-No funding request
Virginia NAIS
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Wisconsin NAIS-Mandatory
Wyoming NAIS-Jt Resolution to Congress against NAIS
NAIS Cooperative Agreements
Traceability Equals COOL
Digital Angel
GIS Mapping
Are we all Mis-Informed?
Boycott
Bruce Knight
Quotes with a Capital V
Quotes
USDA Blunders
Approved Tag Resellers
Is NAIS Voluntary?
Talking Points for NO NAIS
USDA OPT OUT
RFID Chips
RFID pg 2
Digital Angel
What will it Cost?
Articles of Importance to NAIS pg 1
Articles of Importance to NAIS pg2
Senators on NAIS
Hay Growers
USDA DataMining
National Agricultural Statistics Service-NASS
National Farmers Union
4-H & NAIS
FFA & NAIS
Bird Flu
Vets & NAIS
State Government is Watching
Pork Magazine
12 Questions to ASK about NAIS
Reportable Diseases
Depopulation
BSE
SPS Agreements
Sustainable Development and or Agenda 21
Codex Alimentarius
A visit from the USDA
Current Equine Outbreaks
Flyers
Real ID / NAIS Comparison
No NAIS Sites
Dogs going NAIS
The Paradigm Shift: Total Transformation
Eminent Domain
Food Safety
What is the Hegelian Dialectic?
Delphi Technique
Are your pet foods "scientifically" made like you think?
NAIS is Censored by the Media
Guide to Good Farming Practices
http://user.globalvetlink.com/includes/08%20GVL%20June%20Newsletter.pdf
 
On the road to 50 states.... 3 more states have signed agreements with GVL to allow veterinarians in their area to use the online system.  Vermont, Delaware and Alaska are the newest additions to the list bringing the total to 38
 
The other states I found were Arkansas, New Hampshire, Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming,North Dakota, Arizona,Georgia, Alabama, Maine,Pennsylvania, Washington 
 
Added information
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/docs/GlobalVetlLink_passport.pdf
 
 
It states for Horses-Oregon if orginating from another state, a health certificate or 6 month passport
http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/livestock_id/requirements.pdf
 
So far I can't locate that premises id is needed for the Passport for some states, just the southern states that I already wrote about such as Florida: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is now participating in the USDA sponsored National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Anyone requesting a Florida Equine Card will be required to register the location where their horse resides. http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/main/equine_ecard.shtml
For more information on the National Animal Identification System you may log on to www.usda.gov/nais. If you have questions regarding the NAIS please email the Department at animalid@doacs.state.fl.us.
 
 
State by state all 3 phases will be implemented and made mandatory. 
 

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Posted 04-14-09

NAIS~~~and the Equine Owner


by R. M. Thornsberry, D.V.M., M.B.A.

It is important for horse owners to know why NAIS is being forced on the equine industry within the United States. The United States and many other countries signed a World Trade Organization (WTO) treaty in the 1990’s which obligated the first world countries, which had spent literally millions and millions of taxpayer dollars to eradicate contagious animal diseases, to develop a system of individual animal identification. The individual animal identification was demanded by the Organization of International Epizootics (OIE), a WTO world wide governmental agency, tasked with developing trade rules and internationally obligated trade regulations that would force animal and meat trade between countries that had eradicated contagious diseases with those that had not eradicated contagious animal diseases. In other words, the United States, which had eradicated Equine Piroplasmosis in the 1980’s, a tick borne protozoal infection, would, by identifying all equines, be forced to trade with countries that had not eradicated Equine Piroplasmosis. In general, the argument goes something like this: Once you can identify every equine at birth and trace their every movement off the farm from birth to death, a first world country that has spent millions of taxpayer dollars to eradicate Equine Piroplasmosis, can no longer prevent trade with those countries who have refused to spend the necessary resources to eradicate Equine Piroplasmosis.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) no longer seeks to carry out their mandate to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant diseases into the United States. Currently, USDA-APHIS in supporting NAIS, spending millions of tax payer dollars to entice livestock and equine owners into the system by promoting the acquisition of a free Premises Identification Number (PIN)from their respective state departments of agriculture. Producers of cattle, and equine owners, are the two classes of livestock owners who have overwhelmingly refused to receive an internationally sanctioned encumbrance to their private property. The USDA says a PIN is the first step to a painless process of identification of all livestock owners’ physical locations, and that this PIN number is essential for the USDA to find a farm and quickly trace the movement of animals in the face of a contagious animal disease outbreak.

Yet, in any location within the state of Missouri, and I am sure in most states, you can simply punch 911 into your phone, and in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, the police, the fire department, the ambulance, the sheriff, and usually the Conservation Commission Agent will be at your doorstep, but the USDA says they cannot find you? At every Agricultural Services-USDA office in the United States, you may obtain a description of your farm or ranch, including a current aerial photograph. You can go on Google Earth, type in your physical address, and privately obtain a detailed satellite photograph of your farm or ranch, providing such detail, that you can actually count individual cattle or horses in your pasture, and the USDA says it cannot find your farm or ranch in a contagious animal disease outbreak? The reasons the USDA want you to obtain a Premises Identification Number have nothing whatever to do with the USDA’s ability to find your farm or your cattle or your horses. My 10 year old grandson can find my farm, a detailed satellite photograph of my farm, my telephone number, my mailing address, and my physical address on his computer in a matter of seconds. It’s called Google!!!

The USDA-APHIS has testified before the United States Department of Agriculture, House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, March 11, 2009 that the NAIS would have to be electronic in nature to function as envisioned by the WTO. This simply means no visual tags, hot or cold brands, tattoos, ear notches, or individual color markings or descriptions will be allowed for individual animal identification. While this is a problem for other types of livestock, for the equine industry, it becomes a major hurdle to overcome. For equines, dogs, cats, fish, poultry, and many exotic animals, the only acceptable means of electronic individual animal identification is a surgically implanted glass enclosed electronic microchip. This implant is not nearly as simple to surgically implant within an animal as some are led to believe. When I implant a chip into an animal, I clip or shave the area. I scrub the area with surgical preparation soap containing iodine, and I finish by spraying the area with a surgical site disinfection iodine-alcohol solution. Lastly, I inject the area over the site of implantation with lidocaine to render the skin and underlying tissues devoid of sensation. The chips come individually packaged in a sterile container. To maintain this sterility, I must be sterile, which requires a surgical scrubbing of my hands, and the donning of a pair of sterile surgical latex gloves. Only after this extensive preparation, am I ready to actually implant the chip in the nuchal ligament of the mid neck area of my equine patient. Compare this process to the cattle producer who simply places a small eartag in his cattle.

The glass enclosed chips do not always stay put. Like a splinter in your finger, the body often mounts a response to a foreign body, even one as innocuous as a piece of sterile glass. The response may include the formation of a sterile abscess around the chip, or it may simply be painful and generate a negative response from the horse as it turns its neck or tries to graze, or attempts a performance endeavor at a race, show, or event. Chips have been known to migrate quite extensive distances within the body of an animal. Ask any veterinarian that works in this area of interest. Simply finding a chip to make a reading in some animals becomes a major undertaking. Only recently, has another side effect of chipping become known. A small percentage of veterinary patients have developed a cancerous growth at the site of implantation. While the incidence is low in animals whose lives are relatively short, an equine patient, living to the age of 20 to 35 years, has much more time to develop a cancerous growth around the implanted chip, than does a dog or cat, whose lifetime is closer 12 to 15 years. For a very complete summary and analysis of the scientific literature on microchips and cancer, see Katharine Albrecht, Ed.D., “Microchip Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature, 1990 to 2006,” available at www.antichips.com/cancer.

With all that being evaluated, the primary reason the USDA-APHIS desires to force the NAIS system onto the livestock sectors of the United States is simple: Bruce Knight told a large group of bovine practitioners at our annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada in


 

Dr. Thornsberry recently testified to Congress on NAIS in a national broadcast. 
He is a practicing veterinarian, rancher, current President of R-CALF USA
and involved in all types of animal health issues.

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Posted 02-23-09
Every horse owner must read this research article on NAIS with analysis to the penny.  Know what the costs and benefits are with this USDA program.  No government program to control livestock has ever been this costly and this feared by livestock producers.  Take a death grip on your saddle horn and read with courage.  For a printer friendly version use attachment.

Economic Impact of NAIS for Horse Owners click here to download file

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We thought NAIS was going to take a back seat until the elections were over but they are obviously forging ahead anyway as evidenced by their latest document: A Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability Version 1.0
September 2008.
This is NOT good news for trainers, those who board horses and/or those who show. I have highlighted key points for horse owners in red.
From page 14 of the document:
<< Strategy 1: Prioritize NAIS Implementation by Species/Sectors Targeted Species
Animal diseases are not always species-specific; therefore, the traceability plan includes all livestock and poultry species. However, the need to advance tracing capabilities for certain
species is greater than others. To address these differences, while also considering the economic merit (sales and revenues) of each species or sector to U.S. agriculture, each
species/commercial sector has been designated as either Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Tier 1 species/sectors include the primary food animal species/sectors: (1) beef and dairy cattle, (2) swine, (3) poultry (chickens and turkey), and (4) the sheep and goat industries.
Additionally, horses that, when moved, require either a test for equine infectious anemia or a health certificate, are also included in Tier 1. All other livestock and poultry are designated as Tier 2.
>>
pages 24 & 25
<< Equine Industry Size June 2007 estimates indicate that there are approximately 5.8 million horses on 570,000
premises. The horse industry has a significant number of horses that are individually identified. Based on breed registry statistics, it is estimated that this number may be as high
as 50 percent of the 5.8 million horses.

Industry Structure Among livestock, horses are unique in that they live longer, are generally more valuable, are
transported interstate and internationally more often, and are imported and exported on a regular basis. Many horses are routinely identified for breed registries, horse identification
services, or to ensure the integrity of the racing and wagering industry.
The traceability of horses for disease control purposes is considered critical by the horse industry. Existing
identification programs can be utilized to support disease traceability efforts. The sport/competition horses are identified through two major categories, with the following subgroups:
�� Race Horses identified through the breed registry identification programs; Jockey Club, United States Trotting Association and American Quarter Horse Association
�� Show Horses identified through the new mandatory United States Equestrian Federation Horses Identification Program

Tracing Capabilities
Of the 5.8 million horses in the United States, approximately 2.2 million are tested annually for equine infectious anemia (EIA). There are numerous equine breed registries that record
individual animal identification and location-related information. However, availability of registry information for traceback purposes is variable. Because a given equine premises can board many different breeds of registered horses, utilized in a variety of  different disciplines,
a single premises might be registered with multiple organizations, with the resulting address
redundancy complicating premises identification.
This traceability plan focuses on those horses that move to other premises and are commingled with horses from other premises, in particular at races, shows and sales, and
exhibitions where horses move from across a State and/or multiple States.
The Equine Species Working Group recommends that the population of horses that, when moved, require a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or EIA test, be considered a priority in the business plan. The significant revenues to animal agriculture from these horses and the frequent, sometimes continuous, movements of these horses to events, warrant
their designation as a high-priority sector.


Opportunities to Advance Traceability
Testing for EIA is a prerequisite for all interstate movement (State requirement), and in some States, for intrastate movement as well. Efforts are underway to develop a USDA
national State-Federal cooperative program for the control of EIA that would establish national EIA testing requirements for (a) interstate movement and (b) change of ownership.
Horses must be identified (description/drawing, digital photograph, electronic implant) on the requisite EIA test-related paperwork. Overall, establishing regulations to require
premises registration in association with EIA testing would substantively increase the number of both premises registered and horses identified. When horses move interstate to
attend shows or exhibitions, registration is required upon entry.
Accordingly, event officials are able to track horses moving intrastate or interstate (via interstate passport) to the farm of
origin. Concurrently, animal health officials are able to track to the premises of origin and destination via interstate CVI for horses moving interstate. Though impossible to quantify
nationally, experience has shown that the number of EIA tests performed annually increased three-fold following implementation of a "change-of-ownership" testing
requirement in Texas.
The NAIS Equine Species Working Group has recommended the use of  ISO-compliant injectable transponders for horse identification.

Recommended Actions
�� Integrate the standardized PIN on EIA test-related paperwork;
�� Implement the recording of PINs for the destination of all imported horses and the last premises of exported horses;
�� Use PINs for both premises of origin and destination on interstate CVIs;
�� Collaborate equine organizations to integrate the utilization of the AIN "840" identification devices;
�� Expand the utilization of electronic interstate CVIs; and
�� Provide communication standards to support industry efforts to integrate automated data capture technologies at equine events and establish necessary interfaces with APHIS-VS information systems.

>>
PINs are Premises ID Number - this means where your horse lives will need a federal ID number as will all show grounds, training facilities, clinics, breeding facilities, vet clinics, etc. When you have a PIN, you are in the USDA Federal Database.
Below is the USDA timeline:

As you can see, by this time next year you will not be able to get coggins testing done without a PIN and NAIS compliant animal ID.
I copied what specifically pertains to horse owners and have attached the entire document for people to read through. I suggest that you read it and share with others.

EIA detection is the leverage being applied to join NAIS. The disease has been reduced significantly, from 5% tested to .01% tested. The two causes of the disease are horsefly/large biting insects bites and reusing needles. Stay-at-home horses are just at likely to contact the disease (and it is not very likely, 120 cases last year out of over 2 million tested) as commingling show horses. By requiring NAIS for EIA, the USDA actually might reverse the decline of the disease since stay-at-home horse owners will probably stop testing. Nothing like shooting oneself in the foot.

Important to read and understand....

EIA testing (equines) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/eia/web-mapping.shtml States "test horses under certain circumstances, for example, moving a horse across a state boundary. State,

university and private labs, all NVSL-approved, are required to report the reactors (positive test results) within 24 hours to the State Veterinarian. Negative test results are also reported". As you can see testing for equines are reported within 24 hours to the appropriate authorities.

Want to see what chipping can do to a horse. Remember this, You the Owner will be responsible for the liability should a chip create problems..

  1. Intrastate Movement: Movement that does not cross a state line and does not meet criteria for entering interstate commerce.
  2. Intrasate Commerce: Movement that involves commingling or change of ownership, but does not cross a state line nor meet criteria for entering interstate commerce.
 

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Posted 10-07-08
Now that all 38 states are up and running with GlobalVet Link, who is one of the Industries stakeholders to help implement the National Animal Identification System, it won't be long before  Premises ID will be required on health certificates. The signing up your private property to the Federal Government all for globalization, all for harmonization, all for the World Trade Agreements, all for the United Nations in the name of Traceability.
 
Search fields: GoPass,equine pass port, passport health certificates  
 
In the southern states the program is call the Equine Passport System, no one can particiapate in the equine passport unless you sign up for the premises id. The bribe is the 6 month health certificate instead of the 30 day certificate.
 
The states participating in the equine passport system are
Oklahoma, Arizona,Miss,LA,AL,TN,GA,FL,SC,NC,WV,
 
The way I see this, until all states are signed up and legislation is establish the passports and or regular Health certificates will continue to be used. http://www.kansas.gov/kahd/livestock/state_fairs.shtml as an example see Kansas requirments for the state fair.

Kansas HORSE requirement for state fair

Horses originating in Kansas must meet the general requirements.  Evidence of a negative equine infectious anemia test conducted within 12 months of the show must accompany the health certificate.  Test results must be shown on a VS 10 - 11 form (copies will not be accepted unless verified in writing by testing veterinarian).  Foals, six months of age and younger, accompanying their negative dams, are exempt from EIA test requirements.

A valid “Horse Passport” may be used in lieu of a health certificate. If a passport is used, a negative EIA test within 6 months is required.

Here is the new news on the Passport system that is being setup now via GlobalVet link!!
 
New GoPass™ eHealth "Passport" System Cuts Hassle, Valid for Six Months
AMES, IOWA  ̶   GlobalVetLink (GVL™), innovator of the national, standardized method for secure, web-based animal health certification, introduces GoPass™, a new passport system for horses. It features a six-month electronic health certificate that replaces the existing paper-based, 30-day official certificate of veterinary inspection (OCVI) health certificate
 
GoPass is the latest service made possible by the Internet-based animal health management system, developed by GlobalVetLink. Introduction of the service begins in June in the state of Washington, immediately followed by a host of other states as state approvals are received. GoPass allows veterinarians to more efficiently and accurately complete the regulatory requirements for OCVI equine health certificates. For the horse trainer or owner, GoPass eliminates the hassle and expense of replacing health certificates every 30 days.
 
"GoPass has simplified the health certificate process for veterinarians, horse trainers and owners, and has made it more efficient with a six-month service life versus the current, antiquated, 30-day paper-based certificate," says Kevin D. Maher, GVL president and founder. "Our GoPass system contains digital photos, as does other GVL paperless applications, is easy to use, plus facilitates regulatory compliance for interstate and national transportation of animals.
 
"The GVL system is much more cost-effective and accurate than the multi-tiered paper system, which has been used for many years for animal movement in the U.S.," he continues. "Now horse trainers and owners will be able to save time and money, plus be more efficient in meeting the required regulatory processes for intrastate, regional or national movement of horses."
 
Electronic certificates of veterinary inspection contain various forms of animal ID – including digital photos, required tests, vaccinations and other regulatory requirements to allow animal entry into a state or event. The web-based platform provides real-time reporting of animal movements to all 50 state animal health authorities. GVL recently announced USDA approval of a security enhancement for electronic signatures, which allows doctors of veterinary medicine to electronically sign official electronic certificates of inspection and route them to appropriate animal health officials.
 
Other products GVL provides include equine infectious anemia (EIA) reporting of test results (Coggins tests), livestock and pet eHealth certificates, diagnostic laboratory applications, online veterinary prescription services, and state animal health authority reporting.
 
Horse trainers and owners may request more information by visiting the Internet at
www.globalvetlink.com.

Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source, LLC

Lets look at the Equine Horse Passport in the Southern States, Think its "Voluntary"?
10 state program 6 immediate, 4 pending rule change
-OK
-AR
-LA
-MS
-AL
-TN
-GA
-FL
-SC
-NC
-WV
KY- Future
VA-Future
12 month Neg EIA
Good for 6 months
Tattoo, digital photograph, brand, microchip
 
Required to carry a 10-11 with passport
Violations- horse sent home and issuing state notified   (* See number #8 below.  So if you are in violation expect civil penalties or criminal prosecution and the  revocation of passport  ) **** Doesn't this shoot the whole purpose of the NAIS, tracking etc.? ****Which again leads to they only want the premises ID number on your property*******
Immediate revocation with misrepresentation
Three States would charge fees
Itinerary required to accompany horse for entire 6 months*** How does this work for trace back of disease??
 
Participation is strictly Voluntary
permit applications must be submitted through an accredited vet
Recognized forms of animal identification
-unique identifier lip tattoo
-a unique brand
-electronic implant
-digital photo submitted in low resolution "JPEG" format
Premises ID number required for horses location  ***In order to get a Equine Horse Passport you will be forced to sign up
 
valid for 6 months
horse owners can move among participating states without the need for obtaining a new HC every 30 days.
Shows, fairs trail rides
Not sales or breeding facilities
Application -CHI-EIA test
State Exceptions
 
Memorandum of Agreement by and between the state animal health Regulatory agencies of Alabama,Arkansas, Florida,Georgia,Kentucky,Louisiana,Mississippi,North Carolina,Oklahoma,South Carolina,Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia agreement to begin Jan 1 2004
 
State exception: Owner/transporter must Carry a functional microchip scanner when entering Fl, Kentucky,Georgia,North Carolina,Oklahoma and Virginia
 
Digital Photos are not an acceptable form of identification for entry into Louisiana
 
 
A neg EIA test within the previous seven (7) months is required for travel to Arkansas or Oklahoma
 
 
Equine Microchip Availability for horse owners to obtain a $10.00  credit on their Veterinary Service account through participating Tennessee License Vets when the vet implants a radio frequency identification microchip into the animal
Participating vets will credit the account of the horse owner and invoice the Dept of Ag $10.00 per animal microchipped for the first 10,000 animals having this procedure
 
Have you read this...  very interesting. And to confirm what was in the PDF http://www.ncagr.com/vet/equineevent.htm
 
North Carolina Equine Passport
1; Application to be filled out
2: Current  Certificate of Veterinary Care
3: EIA
4; Head to Hooves Pictures
5: Application fee $5.00
6: complete travel itinerary listing all events and transport during passports active status & the Equine permit accompanying the horse.
7: If a microchip is used as means of identification, equine owner must provide regulatory authorities immediate access to a functional scanner if requested.
8: Violators of any requirement of the passport program are subject to the laws of the state where the violation occurs and may range from immediate return of the state of origin to revocation of passport and civil penalties or criminal prosecution.
9: Upon permit expiration, the complete travel itinerary must be forwarded to the office of the State Veterinarian issuing the permit
 
 
Florida Cost:The Division of Animal Industry is charging a fee of $5 per card for the Negative EIA Test Verification Card and the Equine Interstate Passport Card will carry a fee of $15 for the first horse on the application and $5 for each additional animal listed on the same application.

A sneaky deal for horse owners, A while back there was a survey concerning the reluctance of equine owners particpation in NAIS. Now we all know that in order to particpate in NAIS the first thing is to sign up your Property, opps, premises for an "Offical Identification number that will carry with your land forever...New User Guide page 22 Now this comes out, horse passports. : A summary of the proposed regulations can be found on the KY Horse
Council's website at: http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/news_CVI_08-07.shtml

The most interesting change is the establishment of what many
people call an "Equine Passport" where you may use your horse's
Kentucky "passport" to travel to states which participate in a
reciprocal agreement. This eliminates the need to get new Health
Certificates each time you go to a different state. Note that there
is a limited list of reciprocal states. For details, please read the
summary on the KHC website.
 
Now lets take a look at this... Yes it sounds really good, but inorder to get a PASSPORT, you have to Voluntary sign up for a Premises ID...
So how good is this?  Well just what is a premises and just what is property?  Is there a constitutional issue? Are you signing away your rights?
 
Proof Page 4, Premises ID number required for horse's location
More proof: Tennessee Equine Interstate Movement Permit Program Application form. Premises identification number where horse is housed:  Click on download file for proof.
 

click here to download file

Citizens Equine Working Group / A MUST READ !!!!!
Press Release from The Citizens Equine Working Group..

The Equine Species Working Group is critizing the Equine public as spreading mis-information while it can be proven that they are misleading the equine public by stating that "The NAIS is a voluntary program intended to identify premises and livestock"per their press release.

The USDA stated the NAIS is "Voluntary at Federal Level". Who owns a horse at Federal Level? All 50 states will be implementing NAIS via State Cooperative agreements issued by the USDA and submitted by your State who then received money to implement the NAIS, No state thus far is immune from NAIS. If NAIS is "Voluntary" why is Wisconsin mandatory for ALL livestock including horses and Michigan is mandatory for cattle only so far??

When reading the press release the first question is - who was this released to? We know TheHorse.com picked it up but that magazine is a joint venture between the American Association of Equine Practitioners and BloodHorse Publications (the TB Industry), both of whom have members on the ESWG. Also note as of today 03-15-07 absolutely no media has paid any attention to the NAIS even though the livestock public has informed them. Who is silencing the Media? Isn't the NAIS important, they are saying its to protect against disease and terrorism? Apparently not, but the shaving of a head known in the pop world made news and then the recent Anna Nicole who made headlines day after day, but yet the National Animal Identification System can not make it on front page headlines, a serious law full of regulations that will affect every citizen who owns livestock is not being reported on nation wide?

Jim Morehead, DVM is one of the new co-chairs of the ESWG. He has practiced in the racing industry for over a decade and is a board member of the AAEP. Billy Smith, PhD (the other new co-chair of the ESWG) is the Executive Director of Information Technology for the American Quarter Horse Association. According to the October 2006 article "Equine ID Group Meets, Elects New Chairmen" published in TheHorse.com thehorse.com/ViewArticle....&kw=equine species working group:
He joined AQHA in 1999 after 10 years as a university professor, business consultant, speaker and writer. He graduated from the University of North Texas with degrees in Journalism and Business in 1984. He completed master's degrees in Public Relations and Education from Texas Tech University in 1989 and completed a doctorate of education from Texas Tech in 1999. Smith worked as a journalist for various publications after graduating from college, including freelance assignments in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Both have been members of the ESWG since it's inception. With Billy Smith's background in PR and Education, why has the ESWG done such a poor job of communicating with the horse owning public at large???


Did any of you ever receive any notice, in fact did you even know of the existence of the AHC and/or the Equine Species Working Group? When and how did you find out about NAIS? When reading who is on the committees of the Equine Species Working Group have you ever noticed who was on the groups and who they represent? Take a look and your will see that the Racing Industry represents you in important day to day issues such as NAIS.



On the Horse Council website at www.horsecouncil.org/ahcstats.html this was posted in 2002. If the recreation ownership is the greatest number how come the recreation ownership is not represented with the American Horse Council or the Equine Working Group?

Number of Horses & Participants by Activity

Activity No. of Horses No. of Participants
Racing 725,000 941,400
Showing 1,974,000 3,607,900
Recreation 2,970,000 4,346,100
Other* 1,262,000 1,607,900
Total 6,931,000 7,062,500 **



Jumping forward to year 2005 equine ownership, Racing- 26%, showing - 28%, Recreation -31% and other at 14% . It is clear again that the largest group of horse owners have essentially had no representation. 71 percent of the AHC Board of Directors have direct ties to the racing industry. Please note in the ESWG recommendations they use the word horse industry 49 times and horse owners were listed 17 times.

While reading the new dribble from the Equine Working Group, members that are listed in their recommendation release, the only group who referenced NAIS on their website was the Arabian Club. Information was found under Registration. Is this communicating with the horse population that clearly shows recreation is a much higher number then RACING? So much for letting the "Horse Owners" know about NAIS !!



Once again your State laws will come into play, who will determine Mandatory under the disguise of "Currently Voluntary". One of the key recommendations made by the ESWG is that no equine movements should be reported. The group proposed that horses which move to a premises where a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), Brand Inspection, VS-127 permit or International CVI are required should be officially identified and that the records maintained through those currently existing and utilized movement permits capture the high risk movements that pose the largest threat of spreading disease. Animal health officials would be able to query the state databases in the event of a disease emergency to obtain the necessary records. This sentence right there is stating that those movements then would have to be reported. Please remember Premise Identification is the Heart of the Program. What is so Voluntary about this?



THE ESWG is mis-leading, mis-informing and telling half-truths once again. In order to show a horse at State owned facilities such as Fairgrounds, or traveling across state lines or even taking your animal to the Veterinarian which is a Non-Producer and Licensed with the State that would require an EIA, health certificate therefore you would also require a Premises ID and therefore the RFID chip and therefore the reporting of movement. As you can see then all three components of NAIS are then executed.



Let it be known the argument is not getting an EIA to show or a required health certificate to cross a state border, the argument is Registering ones premises, tagging, branding, DNA, or retinal scan should be the FREE choice of the owner and the other argument is the reporting on ones movement not to mention all with the Federal Government. Who said this was "Voluntary" again?



Premise Identification is the Heart of the Program



The only thing that they got right in their press release is to be INFORMED, Read the "Official USDA documents" You may find them at www.naisinfocentral.net , Read the Cooperative agreements and see for yourself the USDA has full intentions of making the NAIS mandatory via these statements right from their own words on the USDA Cooperative Agreements. The USDA Cooperative Agreement requirements are following precisely the Draft Strategic Plan and Draft Program Standards. On the cover of the NAIS User Guide which is the most current NAIS Guide it States, animalid.aphis.usda.gov/n...uide.shtml "The November 2006 Guide is the most current plan for NAIS and replaces all previously published program documents, including the 2005 Draft Strategic Plan and Draft Program Standards and the 2006 Implementation Strategies.


Now the most interesting bit of information they failed to state is that in the 2007 Cooperative Agreement which you can read at the Naisinforcentral site states the most reveling fact which they left out:

On page 11 in the Cooperative Agreement it states: Projects must focus on implementation of premises and animal identification methods according to the standards defined in the NAIS Draft Program Standards. Did they not just state on the user guide that all other documents supercede the Draft Program Standards etc?

On page 16 in the Cooperative Agreement it states: "Provide a brief overview of the work to be performed and how the plan builds upon the 2005 or 2006 cooperative agreement plan. Also, explain how this plan will support the timelines for full implementation of NAIS as outlined in the Draft Strategic plan. Did they not just state on the user guide that all other documents supercede the Draft Strategic Plan etc?

More evidence can be read on the home page on: www.naisinfocentral.net

These statements came out the same day as the USDA New User Guide for NAIS, there is no mis-information, there is no-half truths and there certainly isn't any innuendos as the Equine Species Working Group is touting.. So whatever dribble they say the documents speak for themselves. Maybe they should reread what they wrote so they do not spout the mis-information, the half- truths and innuendos and why are they hiding the facts from the horse community?

Get involved in your State, more information can be found at www.naisinfocentral.net . If further lists your state's involvement under No Nais sites, do your own research!

A very important message from: Mr. Knight , USDA Undersecretary was quoted On September 19, 2006,
Choosing NOT to participate may limit your options when it comes time to sell your herd or your flock or your breeding stock. Choosing NOT to participate may opt you out of the export market. Choosing NOT to participate may mean—at some point—you’ll have to hunt harder and go further to find buyers or slaughterhouses willing to accept undocumented livestock or poultry—especially as NAIS becomes fully operational.

Does that sound "Voluntary" to you?

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Premises Registration will be an "Official" USDA unique seven Character identifier.
 
In the New User Guide it states on Page 22:
The premises identification number (PIN) is assigned permanently to a geophysical location. If an owner or entity sells his/her farm, the next operators of the premises use the original premises identification number that had been
assigned to that location. If the seller buys a new location to build a new operation that never had livestock, he/she would register that location and obtain a new premises identification number (PIN).

Premises Identification = Encumbrance

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                                    of the Read the Bills Act Coalition

Comments on the site are very welcomed.. If you see something that is in error, point it out, if you have a document that needs posting, provide the information and if its state specific post the state.. This site is for all livestock owners..