Take NAIS Out and Protect Competition! 

The House and the Senate passed different versions of the Farm Bill last year, and the differences must be worked out in conference committee.  The members of the conference committee still have yet to be officially named.  Yet meetings to negotiate compromises have already begun.  It appears that, by the time the conference committee members are actually named, the outcome of the Farm Bill may already be determined.
 
So now is the time to make your voice heard on the Farm Bill.
 
Our main focus is on Section 10305 and NAIS.  As passed by the Senate, Section 10305 directs the USDA to issue regulations to address "protection of trade secrets and other proprietary and/or confidential business information that farmers and ranchers disclose in the course of participation in" NAIS.  The House did not have any provision for NAIS in its version of the Farm Bill.
 
Be prepared: It is going to be very difficult to get Section 10305 taken out of the Farm Bill.  The legislators are negotiating provisions for billions of dollars of subsidies and programs.  Because Section 10305 addresses confidentiality, and does not directly mandate NAIS, many organizations and legislators simply don't see it as a priority.
 
Regardless of our chances of winning this specific battle, though, it is critical that the key legislators hear from the thousands of people who are opposed to NAIS.  There are going to be many battles over NAIS in the coming year, and they need to realize the depth and breadth of the opposition.  Please, take a few minutes and call today!
 
The other issue that FARFA has tracked in the Farm Bill has been the competition provisions.  The Senate's Livestock Title contains many important provisions that have been fought for by a broad coalition of producer and consumer groups, to increase competition in the livestock industry.  Unfortunately, Section 10305 was also placed within the Livestock Title.
 
It's important to be clear when you speak to the staffers: there are a lot of good provisions in the Senate's Livestock Title, but there is also a bad apple in the barrel -  NAIS. 

Take Action 

Below is a list of the probable members of the conference committee.  Call or fax any member who comes from your state.
 
Ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues.  Start with a clear, basic message:

I want Senator (or Representative) _____  to work to take NAIS and Section 10305 out of the Farm Bill because it implies approval of USDA's implementation of NAIS.   Section 10305 also provides false reassurance that the information in the databases will be confidential, when experience has shown that information in databases is vulnerable to both hackers and marketing misuse.  NAIS should not be in the Farm Bill.  Except for the NAIS provision, I support the competition provisions in the Livestock Title.

Then have a conversation with the staffer.  Ask them the Congressperson's position on NAIS, and try to address the reasons they may support NAIS or why they're on the fence.  Give them personal stories about how NAIS will impact you and your community, along with solid facts about the flaws with NAIS.  We can provide follow-up information to address these issues - just email info@FarmAndRanchFreedom.org or call 866-687-6452
 
Some reasons NAIS needs to be stopped, not encouraged:

    * There is no evidence that it will improve animal disease control
    * It will not increase food safety, because food contamination happens at the slaughterhouses and processing plants
    * It will cost billions of dollars that individual farmers and our economy cannot afford
    * USDA's implementation of the program, through funding of state programs, has resulted in fraudulent and coercive methods being used to increase registrations.
    * Regardless of whatever regulations are adopted, having the government or private entities compile this information leaves us open to harassment or worse by people who hack into that database or use the information for purposes other than what is intended.

For information and talking points on the competition provisions, go to http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/fb08conf.php

Probable Committee Members

All phone and fax numbers are in the (202) area code.  Please take a few minutes and call or fax any member who is from your state, as well as the Chairs and the Ranking Members.
 
Chair, House Ag Committee: Collin Peterson, MN, (p) 225-2171, (f) 225-8510
Ranking Member, House Ag Committee, Bob Goodlatte, VA, (p) 225-0029, (f) 225-0917
Jo Bonner, AL, (p) 225-4931, (f) 225-0562
Joe Baca, CA, (p) 225-6161, (f) 225-8671
Dennis Cardoza, CA, (p) 225-6131, (f) 225-0819
Marilyn Musgrave, CO, (p) 225-4676, (f) 225-5870
Leonard Boswell, IA, (p) 225-3806, (f) 225-5608
Jim Moran, KS, (p) 225-2715, (f) 225-5124
Mike McIntyre, NC, (p) 225-2731, (f) 225-5773
Bob Etheridge, NC, (p) 225-4531, (f) 225-5662
Robin Hayes, NC, (p) 225-3715, (f) 225-4036
Frank Lucas, OK, (p) 225-5565, (f) 225-8695
Tim Holden, PA, (p) 225-5546, (f) 226-0996
Randy Neugebauer, TX, (p) 225-4005, (f) 225-9615
 
Chair, Senate Ag Committee: Tom Harkin, IA, (p) 224-2035, (f) 224-1725
Ranking Member, Senate Ag Committee: Saxby Chambliss, GA, (p) 224-3521, (f) 224-0103
Blanche Lincoln, AR, (p) 224-4843, (f) 228-1371
Pat Roberts, KS, (p) 224-4774, (f) 224-3514
Norm Coleman, MN, (p) 224-5641, (f) 224-1152
Max Baucus, MT, (p) 224-2651, (f) 224-0515
Kent Conrad, ND, (p) 224-2043, (f) 224-7776
Lindsay Graham, SC, (p) 224-5972, (f) 224-3808
John Thune, SD, (p) 224-2321, (f) 228-5429
Patrick Leahy, VT, (p) 224-4242, (f) 224-3479

Helpful Hints for Contacting Legislators

If you are calling, and don't have unlimited long-distance, here are some toll-free numbers for the Capitol Switchboard:
866-340-9281
800-417-7666
877-851-6437
866-220-0044
 
Remember to ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues.  If he or she is not available, leave a detailed voice mail message, including the fact that you are a constituent and your phone number.
 
If you prefer to write a letter, it is best to FAX the letter to your Senator or Representative.  Because of security measures, letters mailed to DC take weeks or months to get there.  If you can't fax, then either mail a letter to the local district office or use email.  With email, we recommend that you follow up with a call, to make sure the email does not simply get overlooked.  (Or just use the talking points above and call.)
 
Sample Letter:
 
Dear _________:
 
I oppose Section 10305 of the Farm Bill because it implies approval of the USDA's National Animal Identification System (NAIS).  NAIS has never been approved or even debated by either branch of Congress and few members of the Senate or House know the details of the program.  The USDA has not provided any scientific basis for this "feel good" program that will cost farmers and taxpayers billions of dollars, resulting in irreparable harm to independent agriculture in this country.  Although USDA claims the program is voluntary, it has funded coercive and misleading methods used by both states and private entities to force people to participate. 
 
I urge you to remove section 10305 from the Farm Bill and to hold hearings into how the USDA has been implementing NAIS despite the objections of thousands of animal owners.

Sincerely,
Name
Address
City, State Zip

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Working together, we can make our voices heard.
 
Sincerely,
 

Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.farmandranchfreedom.org
866-687-6452