Congressional Attention
Congress To Include Livestock ID System In 07 Farm Bill
U.S. lawmakers intend to take on the responsibility of improving how the U.S. will operate a nation-wide livestock identification program - a tool to control outbreaks of animal diseases - when Congress writes the 2007 Farm Bill, even if that means delays, a key U.S. senator said Thursday.
Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., told reporters: "This is an issue we're going to deal with in the Farm Bill," and added it is more important to delay the process and "make sure we do it right."
It's more important than ever to get your voice raised and contact your Congressmen on NAIS issues. Too many of them are having their ears bent by the meat packing industry and they need to hear from producers that NAIS as conceived is not the right way. An option would be a metal tag herd ID system which would be less expensive, less intrusive, and easier for producers to manage. Let you voices be heard. Write, call, make noise now.
An ear tag never stopped a disease, but it is going to make it into the Farm Bill if we don't act now.
