Not Mandatory, Yet

<a href="http://www.farmfutures.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=CD26BEDECA4A4946A1283CC7786AEB5A&nm=News&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=2B5B435BBE6A4B9AA6848821D72B364F"><acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> Outlines Plan, Benchmarks for National Animal ID Implementation</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>A new proposal from <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> outlines timelines and benchmarks for the establishment of the National Animal Identification System, along with a plan for the initial integration of private and state animal tracking databases with <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. Over the next two and a half years <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> wants 100% of premises registered and new animals identified and 60% of animals less than a year old to have complete movement data.</blockquote><br />n<br />nThis may look like a story about the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym>'s plan for <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. I don't think it is though. It is more of a threat to those of us opposing this that if the goals of the plan aren't met it will become mandatory.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>Johanns says the benchmarks are important to determine "when or if we need to do a mandatory approach," he explains. "As we hit those benchmarks, we'll see how we're doing."<br />n<br />nThe secretary continued to stress the need for industry support for a national system. If only 50% is participating, it won't get the job done, he says.<br />n<br />nIf <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> finds the voluntary approach isn't working, Johanns explains it has the authority to change the system into a mandatory one without Congress writing new legislation.</blockquote><br />n<br />nWhat are the goals that have to met to make sure it's not mandatory? 100% participation in the plan. Hell, even if you make it mandatory you will not have 100% participation. Take something as simple as a drivers license, people drive without them all the time and take the chance of getting caught. <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> will be the same way even if mandatory. So simply, this is Johanns threatening those of us opposing Mandatory <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. Is the threat going to work? I will still keep making noise against it so it won't stop me, how about you?<br />n<br />n<b>Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. Theodore Roosevelt</b><br />n<br />nCross-posted to <a href="http://www.noanimalid.com/">No Mandatory Animal ID</a>