TAHC Denies Petition to Change Rule
Dairy Cows Must Be Tagged With An "Official Identification Device"

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) denied FARFA's petition for a rule change at its quarterly meeting last week.  The rule requiring that all "dairy cattle" be identified with an "official identification device" remains unchanged, although the agency is delaying implementation until March 30, 2008.  This rule leaves the decision as to what type of tag to require entirely within the agency's discretion, and they can change their minds anytime they want to.
 
We can petition and comment to the agency, but the agency is under no legal duty to do anything different than what they have planned.  The bottom line is that we need the Texas Legislature to rein in the agency's legal authority through legislation.  The next legislative session is 14 months away, but the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture will hold hearings during 2008 on a variety of issues.  So it's a good time to tell your elected officials that you want them to take action to deal with TAHC.
 
Take Action #1:  Write your state Representative and Senator.  You can find out who they are at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
 
Follow up with a phone call.  Ask to speak to the staffperson who handles agricultural issues, and engage them in a discussion about NAIS.  Explain the problems with NAIS - the cost, the intrusion, the infeasibility of the whole system - and what it will do to you and your community.
 
Tell your Representative and Senator that you want the legislature to take a hard look at TAHC, including its lack of responsiveness to the average animal owners of this state.  TAHC received 30 comments opposing the dairy tagging rule, and it made absolutely no modifications to address people's legitimate concerns!  Tell your legislators that you want them to pass legislation next session limiting the agency's authority.
 
If your Representative voted "yes" on HB 461 last session, please tell him or her "thank you."  You can see how your Representative voted at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/Legislators-votes
 
 
Take Action #2:  Contact Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst.  The LG decides the topics for the Senate Committee hearings.  Tell him that you want hearings about the TAHC's implementation of NAIS and mandatory tagging programs.  The Lieutenant Governor's phone number is 512-463-0001, or you can email through his website at http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/Contact .
 
While you're talking with Dewhurst's agricultural staffer, you should also mention that you are very disappointed that he did not recognize HB 461 for a vote in the Senate.  Ask for a commitment that he will allow a bill to stop NAIS to be voted on next session.
 
 
Take Action #3:  Educate more people.  We need many more Texans to know about NAIS and what it will mean to them!  Download a flyer or the Top 10 Myths from our website, www.farmandranchfreedom.org, and put them out at your local feed store, auction barn, farmers market, or food co-op.  NAIS is not just about animal owners - it's about our food supply, and it will affect everyone.  The more people you educate, the more people will call and write the legislators, and the better our ability to get legislation through next session.
 
As always, if you have any questions, contact us at info@farmandranchfreedom.org, 512-243-9404, or 866-687-6452.

More Information 

"What's the downside?"  That's the question I put to the Commissioners at the meeting. If the agency is telling the truth, and it has no intention of using the regulation to require electronic tagging and premises registration in the future, then why not make the language of the regulation reflect the stated intention?  It would be a step in the right direction in regaining the trust of Texas animal owners, and would do the agency no harm.  Yet not one Commissioner spoke up in favor of considering a change to limit the agency's authority to impose electronic tagging.  It's clear that the agency's agenda has not really changed since they tried to impose mandatory NAIS in February 2006 - they've simply decided to do it piecemeal and in disguise.
 
Thank you to Stayton Weldon, Regional Director for R-CALF USA!  He made a long drive to Austin to testify to the Commissioners that cow/calf owners oppose NAIS, and that R-CALF supported FARFA's petition to change the dairy cow rule 100%.  Even though the Commissioners disregarded both our testimony, this type of unity is what we need to succeed in the long run.
 
Unfortunately, only one dairyman showed up to testify.  He was not there to support the petition to limit the agency's authority.  Instead, he put forward a proposal for a tag to be issued by the agency with a code on it that only the agency would be able to link to the original owner. 
 
If you are a dairy cow owner, and you are not happy with the outcome of this hearing, then next time you need to show up and testify.  FARFA will always stand up for your rights, but we can have a much greater impact if concerned individuals also come to hearings and tell the Commissioners and legislators that this is an important issue to them. 
 
Regardless of who you are, please take a few minutes now to tell your legislators that you are against NAIS, including this back-door method of implementing it incrementally species-by-species.

Please Support Our Work

We depend on your support to keep fighting to protect independent agriculture.  If you are not yet a member of FARFA, please consider joining us! Membership starts as low as $10. Your membership dues and donations fund FARFA's work. Just as importantly, more members means more impact on the legislators.
 
Please help us to continue this important work by joining today, or giving an additional donation if you are already a member. Visit our membership page: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/join-farfa

Working together, we can make our voices heard.
 
Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.farmandranchfreedom.org
866-687-6452