OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: Chasing a cow over 5 states.

From: grassfedbeef@yahoogroups.com [mailto:grassfedbeef@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Alberto Machado
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 7:19 AM
To: Alberto Machado
Subject: [grassfedbeef] A REAL RASTREABILIDADE ANIMAL - National Animal
Identification (NAIS) - USDA Extreme Enforcement - THIS IS TRUE -

USDA Extreme Enforcement

I'm not sure which Ohio newspaper this letter to the editor was sent to (besides Senator Harkin) but this gives you a good idea of what life will be like under NAIS. Darol Dickinson has written a number of excellent articles against NAIS for quite some time.
Karen

Letter to the editor:

OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK: Chasing a cow over 5 states.

The government keeps repeating that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is necessary to provide 48-hour tracking to improve animal health. To some people, this sounds plausible. But even a little scratching under the surface reveals that these claims have holes a mile wide.

My personal experience with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and animal tracking makes it clear that this will be just another program to increase the size of government and place individuals at the mercy of bureaucratic whims, while doing absolutely nothing to actually address animal health.

On January 22, 2007, an Investigator for the USDA, Carl H. LaLonde, Jr., of Raleigh, N.C. came to our ranch. He showed me his gold and silver badge and laid a health paper on my desk. He asked, "Do you notice anything wrong with that?"

I looked it over, noticing it was a cow we sold a year ago. I remembered the cow. After a careful viewing test, I said, "No, I am sorry I do not know what is wrong." Reply, "You have exported cattle all over the world and you can't see the cow doesn't have an ID number - it says there is supposed to be a number on the cow!"

Actually, the box on the form said, "Eartag no. or other official identification, name or description." When I pointed out that the cow's registered name was clearly typed, meeting that requirement, LaLonde interrupted and insisted that only a "number" would do.

So here's the story: In June 2005, we purchased a herd of 472 registered Texas Longhorn cattle in Oklahoma. Each animal received a health certificate from P. L. Edmonds, DVM, of Morris, Oklahoma.

In January 2006, we sold one cow, named Rosey Barb, to an Ohio producer. Her health paper was prepared to ship her from Oklahoma to Dundee, Ohio.

In August 2006, LaLonde arrived, unannounced, at Dundee, Ohio and quizzed the owner about the shipment of Rosey Barb. Being a first time exporter from Oklahoma, he was shocked. He was innocent of any wrongdoing.

LaLonde did not ask to see the cow, health records, or if she was dead or alive - the issue was entirely about paperwork, not inspecting the animal or protecting animal health.

In our conversation, LaLonde asked me who was driving the truck when Rosey crossed the state lines. He assured us the driver who had crossed into Ohio without legal paper work was in violation. I assured him I had authorized the shipment and no matter who the driver was, I was fully responsible.

LaLonde then said that the Oklahoma vet was at fault for omitting the number. Since the vet was licensed by the USDA, the government would punish him. We had physically transported the cow to Ohio without proper documentation and would equally be in violation. A citation would be in order and the case would be recorded on our ranch records.

I was required to fill out numerous forms admitting guilt and detailing each fact for further prosecution. Although I have never had a USDA violation in Ohio, ever, the next time something happens I will be treated as a "second time offender."

That will be considered, in USDA legal terms, "wanton, habitual disregard of the law." And all because a veterinarian wrote the cow's name on the form instead of a number.

I asked what would be done to Dr. Edmonds?. LaLonde said Edmonds had no excuse. He knows this number is required and understands the penalties if he does not fill out a health paper exactly correct. Dr. Edmonds would have a hearing, and he might even lose his license. I said it would be depressing to think a professional with a major large animal health practice
could lose his license over one number. Investigator LaLonde smiled. His job was investigation and prosecution, not fairness or animal health.

Dr. Edmonds prepared health papers for over 400 cattle for Dickinson Cattle Co. and left one number off of one certificate and he will pay the price.

This was not an issue of BSE, TB, Bangs, a stolen cow or forgery. It was one number. As of today, LaLonde has driven several hundred miles about this one single number. It could have been handled by phone.

This is USDA. This is what it can be like to have NAIS enforcers at the door. NAIS will penalize vets, livestock owners, buyers, haulers and numerous livestock workers. One wrong number. What will it cost your family if we have a fully functional NAIS?

It is the serious job of every USA livestock owner to oppose the total USDA program of NAIS. Do this for your family and children.

NAIS is cold and ruthless. It is not about disease---it is about control.

Call your state, federal and all elected officials who have authority to stop NAIS.

Each farm/ranch has a few months left to fight for your freedom against wanton, unremorseful, full time enforcement of the most feared USDA proposal in history-----NAIS.

As Investigator LaLonde left the office,he smiled, shook my hand and said, "I love my job."

This is exact to the letter. Happened January 22, 2007, at Dickinson Cattle Co. Barnesville, Ohio. Submitted by Darol Dickinson

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Comments

[Joni Solis]

Please take the time to tell the law makers we don't want or need more useless and heartless laws that spend our tax money.