Farm and Consumer Groups Protest Animal ID Efforts

By CnAgri2012-09-19 19:36:41 Print

Organizations representing family farmers, ranchers, and consumers from across the country are fighting to protect drought-stricken livestock producers from what they call a new costly regulatory program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Disease Traceability system, originally known as the National Animal Identification System, remains a contentious issue between the government and producers. Those who oppose it say the costs will be passed down to consumers, contributing to even higher food costs.

In a letter to the Congressional Office of Management and Budget, 63 organizations have written to urge that the new and costly program be halted in part due to the nation-wide drought and the resulting crisis faced by so many farmers and ranchers.

"This is the worst widespread drought since the 1930's Dustbowl," noted Gilles Stockton, a Montana rancher and member of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. "As our ranchers struggle to keep the herds alive through this disaster, they cannot afford to take on new regulatory burdens."

The letter to the OMB notes that the USDA's fiscal analysis significantly underestimated the cost impacts of its rule to both cattle and poultry producers. The organizations contend, "while the agency claims that the costs are under $100 million annually, independent studies indicate that the costs could be three to five times that high for cattle producers alone."

"The USDA's cost analysis is riddled with flawed assumptions," asserted Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health. "Along with severely underestimating the costs to cattle producers, the agency wholly ignored the costs that will be imposed on tens of thousands of people who own poultry, from small diversified farmers to backyard poultry enthusiasts."

The organizations' letter notes that costs imposed on family farmers and ranchers go beyond monetary burdens.

"Combined with the soaring cost of feed and the drought-induced lack of forage, this new regulation would drive us in the direction of even fewer producers, when what we need to maintain a secure food supply for America is more," argues Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA.

As justification for the costs, the USDA's Regulatory Impact Analysis focused almost entirely on the benefits to the export market that will allegedly occur.

"The new regulations do nothing to improve food safety for consumers," states Patty Lovera of Food & Water Watch. "Instead this proposal would allow large meatpackers easier access to export markets, at the expense of U.S. livestock producers."

The organizations signing the letter include: American Grassfed Association, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Cattle Producers of Louisiana, Cattle Producers of Washington, Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry, Central City Coop (WA), Certified Naturally Grown, Citizens for Private Property Rights (MO), Dakota Rural Action, Davis Mountain Trans Pecos Heritage Association (TX), Family Farm Defenders, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, Food and Water Watch, Food Democracy Now!, GardenShare (NY), Idaho Rural Council, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming, Just Food, Kansas Cattlemen's Association, Local Harvest, Maine Alternative Agriculture Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Michigan Land Trustees, Mississippi Livestock Markets Association, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Montana Farmers Union, National Family Farm Coalition, National Health Freedom Action, National Health Freedom Coalition, Natural Environmental Ecological Management, Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, North Country Sustainability Center (MA), Northeast Organic Farming Association - Connecticut, Northeast Organic Farming Association -- Interstate Council, Northeast Organic Farming Association - Massachusetts, Northeast Organic Farming Association - New Hampshire, Northeast Organic Farming Association - New Jersey, Northern Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association, Northern Plains Resource Council (MT), Oglala Sioux Livestock and Landowners Association, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Oklahoma Composting Council, Oregon Livestock Producers Association, Organic Consumers Association, Organization for Competitive Markets, Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House (OK), Powder River Basin Resource Council, R-CALF USA, Rural Vermont, Slow Food Austin (TX), Slow Food Nebraska, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, Sustainable Food Center (TX), Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, The Cornucopia Institute, Turner Farm, Virginia Land Rights Coalition, Western Colorado Congress, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Weston A Price Foundation, Wintergarden Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (TX).