NAIS - The New Incarnation

There has been a lot of discussion about the death of the National Animal Identification System. Is it dead? Are we out the woods? Is it just renamed?
I'm hoping to clarify some of the confusion through ongoing comments on this blog.

NAIS, in its original incarnation, is dead. Secretary Vilsack announced on a conference call with many Ag groups that the program was a "failure," and that part of the reason was the overwhelming opposition that was heard at the Listening Sessions. However, the fact that program had essentially no funding, just a couple million dollars in this year's budget, also had a lot to do with it. That's just my opinion, there, but it makes sense.

However, the USDA still has obligations to the UN, and to other treaties, that we have to maintain, so the agenda of NAIS isn't gone. It will be retooled though.
We DO need to watch what diseases we import to this country. The new program is being developed with this in mind. We DO need to know where disease outbreaks happen, and contain them. That is being considered in the new program. But we also NEED to support the growing local ag economy through reasonable rules and regulations, education and support, and rebuild the shattered trust between farmers and the USDA.

This new program will be designed WITH the input of small farmers and local ag supporters. An Advisory Council is being developed which will include Big Ag and Little Ag, as well as other groups. I think it's the best way forward. But part of what has to happen is that the public needs to learn why we do what we do. That keeping livestock isn't like organizing a warehouse, and that "Bigger" isn't necessarily better.

We each need to communicate our concerns to our legislators. We need to develop relationships with the public, the media and the lawmakers that illustrate that we are reasonable, intelligent people with knowledge to share in the area of raising safe food.

I am going to be part of a conference call, which I thought was today, but is actually tomorrow, that will help determine who is the "Little Guy's" representative on the Advisory Council. Rest assured, there are some brilliant, informed people on our side, with the best of intentions in going forward. Some are attorneys, some are farmers, some are advocates and everyone is dedicated to supporting small farms, local food and sustainable agricultural future for the USA.