Page 95 - Summer 2017 Journal

again—in other words, a NAIS-type system. See aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animal- health/traceability/adt-meeting-information (see pages 9 and 10 of the handout).
Reports coming from the first meeting in Oklahoma City confirmed these fears. Reading the attendees’ accounts was like a flashback to the NAIS debates—all the same arguments about the export market, agency failures in tracing animals, and scare tactics about disease (but with no explanation as to how electronic ID solves disease problems). And, yet again, the proponents of animal ID dismissed the concerns of small-scale producers, going so far as to say that if they couldn’t comply with such a system, they should get out of the business.
WAPF and other groups have quickly gone to work to oppose this attempt to revive NAIS. Even USDA officials acknowledge that the feedback it has received so far at the meetings has been strongly against any expansion of the ADT program.
Why are we so concerned? The idea of a comprehensive animal ID program may sound good. But consider the following:
• It’s too expensive. The profit margins for most livestock producers are tiny. A NAIS- type program means not only buying RFID tags (which are more expensive than the traditional metal or plastic ones), but having the infrastructure to place the tags properly, read them and manage the data.
• The program doesn’t address animal disease. Traceability is part of the program to control and limit the spread of disease—but it does nothing that actually addresses disease. The real focus needs to be on prevention. If the government and industry spent even a fraction of the time that they have spent on NAIS addressing overcrowding in feedlots, poor nutrition and the overuse of drugs, and preventing imports from countries with outbreaks, we would have far healthier animals and less risk of disease in this country. But those things cost the industry money and limit their international markets, so they’d rather focus on tagging and tracking animals.
• It’s about money. The real reason the industry players want electronic ID and tracking is to boost their own profits. The first time around, it was about exports to South Korea and Japan—because with a 100 percent traceability program exporters have greater leverage to claim that countries must open their borders to our products. This time, they’re talking about exporting to China. Not to mention the profits to be had from selling tens of millions of electronic tags, or from managing the massive databases that would be part of the system. Multiple companies and trade organizations stand to make a lot of money from the program—at the expense of the vast majority of farmers and ranchers.
We don’t need every animal to have an electronic tag in its ear and its information entered in a database. What we need are programs that support independent producers, a vibrant competitive market and healthy animal management to prevent disease. Unfortunately, it appears that we will have to fight this battle all over again. Fortunately, this time we have been tracking this issue vigilantly and are on top of it from the beginning.
MEMBERSHIP POSTER
Membership is the main source of financial support for the many projects of the Weston A. Price Foundation. We appreciate your help to increase membership. We are happy to send a free copy of our membership poster to those who will display it.
The poster is 8.5“ x 11” with a cardboard flap that allows it to stand. It goes well with our Dietary Guidelines booklet. It can be displayed at an exhibit, a doctor’s office, a library, a farmers market, etc.
If you will display it, please write for a free copy: info@westonaprice.org.
SUMMER 2017
Wise Traditions 95