Running Scared

It looks like the Government is fighting back against people like me talking about <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym>. Check out <a href="http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=9439&mode=VIEW"> this grant</a> being offered by the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> and why it's being offered.<br />n<br />n<blockquote> Document Type: Grants Notice<br />n Funding Opportunity Number: <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym>-GRANTS-051106-001<br />n Posted Date: May 11, 2006<br />n Original Closing Date for Applications: Jul 25, 2006 <br />n Current Closing Date for Applications: Jul 25, 2006 <br />n Archive Date: Aug 24, 2006<br />n Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement<br />n Category of Funding Activity: Agriculture<br />n Category Explanation: <br />n Expected Number of Awards: 111<br />n Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,882,000<br />n Award Ceiling: <br />n Award Floor: <br />n CFDA Number: 10.025 — Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care<br />n Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes<br />n<br />n Eligible Applicants<br />n<br />n State governments<br />n Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)<br />n <br />n<br />n Additional Information on Eligibility:<br />n<br />n<br />n Agency Name<br />n<br />n Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service <br />n<br />n Description<br />n<br />n <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> initiated implementation of the <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> in 2004. The Department’s first priority with the initial funding in FY2004 was to have the components of the national premises registration system in place in every State by July 2005. With this accomplished, the next step was to use FY2005 funds to increase the number of registered eligible premises in each State. As of April, 2006, over 245,000 premises have been registered nationwide, or approximately twelve percent of the estimated number that are eligible. Funding for FY2006 will be provided to State and Native American Tribal governments to support the continued implementation and maintenance of the national premises identification system and <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> within their respective areas. We would like to achieve a national target for premises registration of fifteen percent by July, 2006, twenty five percent by January, 2007, and thirty five percent by July, 2007. Since the majority of premises will be registered in a voluntary system, it is critical that we provide all individuals, business, and organizations a correct and consistent message about how they will benefit from <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> and their responsibility to participate. Misinformation and adverse publicity has been somewhat detrimental to the adoption of <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> in many areas of the country. <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> is working with States, organizations, and other stakeholders to develop appropriate educational and outreach materials. Applications for cooperative agreement funding must include an aggressive plan for education and outreach, including effective use of existing outreach resources such as cooperative extension, state AVIC offices, and state industry organizations, to stakeholders at all levels within the state or tribe. This funding opportunity does NOT include funds for conducting pilot projects to develop solutions for animal identification and/or collecting animal movement data. Similarly, funds are not to be used for the purchase of animal identification devices, animal movement data recording hardware or software, or the development of animal tracking databases. Animal movement tracking will be developed, implemented, and funded within the private and/or State/Tribal sector. </blockquote><br />n<br />nOver 10 million dollars being offered to fight "Misinformation and adverse publicity has been somewhat detrimental to the adoption of <acronym title="National Animal Identification System">NAIS</acronym> in many areas of the country. <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> is working with States, organizations, and other stakeholders to develop appropriate educational and outreach materials." My-O-My. They are sure running awful scared from the truth being spoken by people such as me doing this all on their own with a shoestring budget.<br />n<br />nI guess the truth spoken with conviction outweighs legions of money, or so I hope.<br />n<br />n<strong>Whenever you're scared of something, don't let that define you. We all feel it, but step up. Vince Vaughn</strong>