Incoming House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson told farm broadcasters at their national convention again on Friday he backs mandatory national animal identification, because USDA is "screwing up" in implementing a voluntary system. Just two days earlier, U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns said he thought mandatory national animal ID would result in "open revolt" among cattle producers.
But that clearly wouldn't be the case among pork producers. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Joy Philippi told Brownfield Thursday the pork industry has always thought mandatory animal ID is the best approach, and still does.
The Large pork producers are ready to sacrifice themselves on the alter of big government. I feel sorry for them. Benjamin Franklin said "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." The Pork Producers fall into this saying and they will be the big losers in the end.
Then there is the cattle producers. Johanns says there will "open revolt" if mandatory NAIS is foisted on them. Hey, Johanns has finally got the hint, cattle producers don't want this.
The problem is Collin Peterson. He wants Mandatory NAIS at all costs. With him being chairman on the House Ag Committee we that are fighting NAIS are going to have to double our efforts to stop this from happening. Write, call your congressmen. Let them know our opposition to this program. working together, hopefully we can stop this even if the pork industry wants it. They will thank us in the long run when we stop it.
An ear tag never stopped a disease, but it sure fooled the pork producers into thinking it can.
