Great news for us folks who love buying our beef and poultry from local farmers. There may be a lot more of them soon, since the USDA, after an overwhelming outpouring of response against the program, has scrapped the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
From the article:
USDA has stated that it is refocusing its efforts on “a new, flexible framework” that will apply only to animals moved in interstate commerce and encourage the use of “lower-cost” technology. During today’s conference call with USDA, I asked whether the agency would continue using federal funding to pressure states to adopt the program through cooperative agreements. In response, Secretary Vilsack stated that USDA has gotten a “failing grade” on NAIS and that he does NOT intend to try to implement it through the back door.
This is one of those times when Grassroots Activism has had a direct and positive affect on Government Policy. Is our work done? Hell no. I’m sure that those Factory Farm Companies who directly affected the original NAIS policy to favor them will have something to say about whatever new “flexible framework” they’re putting in place. And we’ll have a whole new battle to fight in this war. But for now we can all pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
