STOP sending your hard earned money to any group that is not working for you, for your freedoms and liberties.

 

Anyone who shows animals and your animals are registered needs to write letters to there breed clubs and demand a stance on NAIS. If they refuse stop sending your money to them. They are suppose to work for you and the club membership. Without you they are nothing. One by one, dollar by dollar they will wake up. And when you stop your membership tell them why and then spread the word. Should NAIS become reality along with fees and  penalties, you will  get to the point that one cant afford animals anymore. The clubs will be extinct.

 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/speeches/content/2007/06/FFA-NAIS_6_04_07.shtml

Remarks by Bruce I. Knight, Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
FFA Cooperative Agreement Signing
Washington, DC
June 4, 2007

Good afternoon.  I’m delighted you could join us today as we sign a cooperative agreement between USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National FFA Organization to promote the National Animal Identification System.

I especially want to welcome

• Our FFA representatives—state officers from Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia
• Dr. Troy Justesen, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Adult Education at the Department of Education
• Dr. Larry Case, National FFA Organization CEO,
• Kent Schescke, National FFA Organization Partnership Director,
• Dr. Ron DeHaven, APHIS Administrator, and
• Dr. John Clifford, our Chief Veterinary Officer.

FFA has a long history with USDA—more than 30 years working with the Farm Service Agency as well as 10 years or more cooperating with the Risk Management Agency and two years with NRCS.  In addition, the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service works with FFA through Rural Youth Grants and Rural Development supports an FFA Ag Entrepreneurship program. 

I also want to recognize the important contributions to this agreement from Dr. David Morris and Neil Hammerschmidt of APHIS.  I understand Doug Loudenslager, FFA’s Chief Operating Officer, was also instrumental in finalizing the agreement.

Animal Disease Risks

Today, FFA is once again in the vanguard for U.S. agriculture.  As you know, one of Secretary Johanns’ top priorities is to implement a voluntary national animal identification program to speed response time when there are outbreaks of highly contagious animal diseases.  The ultimate goal is a 48-hour traceback capability. 

Unfortunately, in the 21st Century, we also need to be prepared for possible acts of agroterrorism.  That’s a possibility we can’t afford to ignore.  But even without terrorist acts, we face the risk of serious harm from an outbreak of a major animal disease. 

For example, in 2003, there was an outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease in California that began in two backyard poultry flocks.(Brought in by illegally-Mexico)  It took 7 months to eradicate END at a cost of nearly $130 million in federal funds alone.  There were 22 commercial premises affected along with 2,400 backyard flocks.  Nearly 3.2 million birds had to be euthanized, and more than 1,600 federal and state personnel were involved in the disease-fighting task force.  In addition, sanctions from other countries prohibiting imports of U.S. poultry cost up to $1 million per week during the outbreak.

We could talk about other examples—the 80% loss in beef trade in 2004 following the discovery of BSE in one U.S. cow in December 2003.  (BSE brought in from Canada and that was not the only one borders are now reopened for TRADE) That cost us more than $2 billion—just in 2004.  

What about bovine tuberculosis?  (It appears the TB in Cattle is on the rise again due to open borders) Since 2002, USDA has spent about $90 million on indemnities alone for diseased or suspect cattle.  More than 28,000 cows have been destroyed over the past five years to prevent the spread of bovine TB.

Just these few examples make it very clear how costly highly contagious diseases can be and how important it is to quickly identify the animals affected so we can cut losses, reduce delays and retain markets.   Traceability is critical.

Voluntary NAIS

The voluntary National Animal Identification System will reduce the time it takes to trace affected animals.  To make NAIS effective, we need animal owners to take the first step and register their premises so that we can contact them should the need arise.  This is good stewardship for producers—protecting their own investment as well as helping safeguard their neighbors.

As of today, we have nearly 400,000 premises registered out of an estimated 1.4 million.  That’s good progress—it’s more than one-quarter of premises in the U.S. and more than double the 170,000 or so premises registered in Australia.  And it’s more than the premises registered in Canada as well.  So, we’ve made a good start getting premises registered with a voluntary program while our trading partners have implemented mandatory systems.

A number of states have worked particularly hard this year, and their registrations are surging.  The top three states so far in 2007 are Iowa, Texas and North Carolina.  During the first five months of this year, these states together have averaged about 5,500 premises each. 

What if every state with 10,000 premises or more signed up an additional 5,500 premises—over the next 7 months?  Well, if 35 states—including those three—could meet that top producer benchmark, we’d have an additional 175,000 premises on the rolls by the end of the year.

FFA Agreement

One of the ways we’re looking to spread the word about the importance of premises registration is through a variety of partners.  FFA is one of those partners.    

With the agreement we’re signing today, FFA has pledged to help us encourage farmers and ranchers to take that first step and register their premises.  The FFA National Organization will be developing instructional materials, conducting outreach and signing producers up. 

The youth involved in the National FFA Organization are the future of agriculture in the United States.  As this Nation’s next farmers, it’s fitting that they are at the forefront of NAIS, and we are excited about their involvement in the program.

Their goal is to obtain 50,000 registrations over the one-year agreement.  We welcome their energy and enthusiasm, and we’re delighted to have nearly 500,000 FFA members on our team.

We also have a cooperative agreement with the National Pork Board.  Their objective is to bring 100 percent of the commercial producers into NAIS—that’s 36,000 pork producers. 

We’ll soon be signing additional agreements with other organizations.  In fact, because we think these partnership efforts will be effective in reaching producers and encouraging them to participate in NAIS, we have set aside up to $6 million to fund similar agreements.

We all understand that the goal for NAIS first and foremost is to protect animal health.  It’s designed to help producers safeguard their flocks and herds, to protect their neighbors and to preserve their profits. 

NAIS also builds confidence in the health and wholesomeness of U.S. livestock. 
Further, the animal ID program enables us to meet the international obligations we face in the world market.  Having the system in place will smooth the way for livestock exports.

OIE Designation

As you know, there’s been significant concern about BSE around the world.  But we’re making progress in reassuring our trading partners that we have the safeguards in place to ensure that the products we sell are safe and healthful to eat.

Just two weeks ago, the OIE—the World Organization for Animal Health—awarded the U.S. a formal classification of “controlled risk” for BSE.  As Secretary Johanns put it, “That classification confirms what we have always contended—that U.S. regulatory controls are effective and that U.S. fresh beef and beef products from cattle of all ages can be safely traded due to our interlocking safeguards.”

The controlled risk classification is essentially an international clean bill of health for our national cattle herd.  It’s a determination based on a scientific assessment of risk using internationally agreed upon standards. 

Any nation that recognizes the OIE standards now has no scientific reason to block imports of U.S. beef—of any age.  Eventually, it should put an end to the need for export verification programs.

The key is for our trading partners to adopt the OIE standards as their own standards for safe trade.  And we must do the same.

Conclusion

We are moving forward to expand markets and to ensure the health of U.S. herds and flocks with the voluntary NAIS.  Today, we welcome FFA as they join with us as partners to encourage farmers and ranchers to take the first step and register their premises.

Introduction

Signing for FFA this afternoon is Dr. Larry Case.  In addition to serving as FFA’s CEO, Dr. Case is also senior program leader of Agricultural Education and Rural Education for the U.S. Department of Education.  Dr. Case, we appreciate your partnership, and we’re delighted to welcome you and the FFA members with you.

 

In order to show at any state fair via 4-H or FFA you will be required to have a Premises ID So what is Voluntary about this???  State by state this will be implemented..What can you do?  I guess Mr Knight has said it, You have a right to choose! Choose to say NO!