NAIS: RFID "Mark of the Beast" being Forced on Amish Community

[Source Article]
by Margaret Schaut on http://www.squidoo.com/

    Mark of the Beast

    RFID Chips, (radio frequency identification) are a very controversial subject for any reason. For the Amish, however, this technological development is extremely alarming. In the normal course of living, they avoid technologies as much as they can. However, numbering themselves, or their animals, to them is the "mark of the beast," something they cannot cooperate with under any circumstances. In two states, Wisconsin and Indiana, the voluntary national program, NAIS, has been made compulsory at the state level. The Amish have opposed cooperating with the states in chipping their animals, feeling that it is only a matter of time before the government chips humans. This lense is about this challenge facing the Amish, and us.

    RFID Chips being Forced on Amish Community
    Indiana Amish resisting government chipping program

    Concerned Amish Farmers Bring this to My Attention.

    The Indiana Amish community has been informed by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health that they are required to participate in a 3 phase process which will, at the second phase, put RFID chips in each of their animals.

    The 3 phases are:

    1. Premise identification.
    2. Animal identification (when chips will be implanted in the animals)
    3. Animal tracking.

    In documents dated June 30, 2006, Jennifer Greiner, DVM, informs the small farmers that effective September 1, 2006, enrollment in the program will be MANDATORY, and all farm animals, defined as cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats, and captive deer or elk, must be entered into the electronic database.

    This is phase one, which informs the government exactly how many animals of each kind are on what properties.

    Phase two is where the RFID chips will be implanted in each animal. While chipping horses, poultry or pets is "voluntary," it is strongly encouraged.

    Phase three is animal tracking, for the purposes of documenting animal movements, origins of birth, point of sale.

    The purposes of this program are for "disease identification" and "will help to reduce trade barriers for greater market access, as demand for source-verified meat increases in the United States and worldwide."

    In the question and answer section:

    "Q. Reports say you're going to charge $1,000 a day for not participating!

    A. Although BOAH (Board of Animal Health) does have the authority to impose non-compliance penalties, that is certainly not the goal. BOAH is encouraging producers to have their premises registered prior to the September 1 deadline: nevertheless, if producers arenot registered in time, BOAH staff will make an effort to identify unregistered users and help them become part of the program."

    The Amish farmers I spoke with said, "if they are going to do this to our animals, its just a matter of time before they put them in people."

    The Amish have historically and consistently resisted certain government impositions that violate their religious convictions. In this case, the principle to be "no part of the world" looks like it may be one of the greatest challenges for the Amish community that they have yet experienced.

    Sept. 15, 06 Margaret Schaut

[Related Items on VoteKansas.org]

Source Article makes VERY interesting reading

I went through and perused the source article on this and it makes VERY interesting reading. I would encourage those to go and look through the whole article at:

HIGHLIGHTS:
In Indiana the State Vet did NOT deny the $1000.00 a day fine. She states:
"Q. Reports say you're going to charge $1,000 a day for not participating!

A. Although BOAH (Board of Animal Health) does have the authority to impose non-compliance penalties, that is certainly not the goal. BOAH is encouraging producers to have their premises registered prior to the September 1 deadline: nevertheless, if producers are not registered in time, BOAH staff will make an effort to identify unregistered users and help them become part of the program."

It says Phase 1 in IN is Mandatory as of Sept 1
Horses, poultry and pets are voluntary
Legislation in IN to stop RFID in humans, Ohio employer is already looking into mandating RFID in employees
In Wisconsin, the article states, animals will be confiscated for non-compliance

and it goes on ............

Barb

NAIS will further discourage buying and raising livestock

Now, this is really going to make people want to buy and raise livestock isn't it, RFID's become mandatory upon threat of punishment.

It is already difficult to deal with the increased prices of feed. Grain has just jumped 50 cents a sack due to corn shortage. I found out that corn is being used for production of ethanol, and thats what is causing the increase. The Oct. 2006 issue of Consumer Reports E85 tests show you'll get cleaner emissions but poorer fuel economy, IF you can find it. E85 is 85% ethanol, and is hard to find outside the Midwest.

It appears that the government is delivering a one two punch to livestock breeders. First, the RFID's and by grabbing up most of the corn for ethanol. What is next? I'm afraid to find out.

Wanda

NAIS and RFID Tags are increasing costs!

We have a senior herd sire that lost more weight during rut than we like to see going into winter so Sue bought a sack of Purina Goat Chow today to give him a little extra special treatment to get his weight back up before it gets too cold. She was charged $10.60 plus sales tax for a 50 lb. bag. I can remember a time not too long ago you could buy two 50-lb. bags of Goat Chow for that price.

Just say NO to RFID ear tags!
Noah G.

What Happened with Bird Flu?!

After all the hype from our Government last winter and spring I was certain that migratory fowl would bring H5N1 bird flu to North America and that many of us would not survive the summer. Come to think of it, aren't we supposed to be dead from West Nile Virus? Or is it that our society will collapse due to the Y2K "problem"?

Does someone like just crying "WOLF", or is the sky really falling?

NAIS is not needed for contagious disease outbreaks

NAIS is needed to provide immediate trace back for contagious animal disease outbreak?

I don't think so! Kansas Statute K.S.A. 47-622 and (K.A.R. 9-27-1) already provides for immediate reporting of contagious disease outbreaks to the Kansas Livestock Commissioner. Avian Influenza and West Nile are two of the many diseases named in the statute here in Kansas. I'm sure that other states have similar laws.

Just say NO to NAIS.

Noah G.

Ask your KS Legislator to vote against any NAIS legislation

The Kansas Legislature will begin their session in early January 2007. Please contact your Kansas Legislators and ask them to vote against any NAIS legislation.

Thanks,
Noah G.

KS Legislature > House > Current House Roster

Aurand, Clay HD# 109 Rep aurand@house.state.ks.us
Ballard, Barbara HD# 44 Dem ballard@house.state.ks.us
Beamer, Virginia HD# 118 Rep beamer@house.state.ks.us
Bethell, Bob HD# 113 Rep bethell@house.state.ks.us
Brown, Anthony HD# 38 Rep brown@house.state.ks.us
Brunk, Steven HD# 85 Rep brunk@house.state.ks.us
Burgess, Mike HD# 51 Rep burgess@house.state.ks.us
Burroughs, Tom HD# 33 Dem burroughs@house.state.ks.us
Carlin, Sydney HD# 66 Dem carlin@house.state.ks.us
Carlson, Richard HD# 61 Rep carlson@house.state.ks.us
Carter, Eric HD# 48 Rep carter@house.state.ks.us
Colloton, Pat HD# 28 Rep colloton@house.state.ks.us
Cox, Ray HD# 39 Rep cox@house.state.ks.us
Craft, Barbara HD# 65 Rep craft@house.state.ks.us
Crow, Marti HD# 41 Dem crow@house.state.ks.us
Dahl, Donald HD# 70 Rep dahl@house.state.ks.us
Davis, Paul HD# 46 Dem davis@house.state.ks.us
DeCastro, Willa HD# 96 Rep decastro@house.state.ks.us
Decker, Kathe HD# 64 Rep decker@house.state.ks.us
Dillmore, Nile HD# 92 Dem dillmore@house.state.ks.us
Edmonds, John HD# 112 Rep edmonds@house.state.ks.us
Faber, John HD# 120 Rep faber@house.state.ks.us
Faust-Goudeau, Oletha HD# 84 Dem Faust-Goudeau@house.state.ks.us
Feuerborn, Bill HD# 5 Dem feuerborn@house.state.ks.us
Flaharty, Geraldine HD# 98 Dem flaharty@house.state.ks.us
Flora, Vaughn HD# 57 Dem flora@house.state.ks.us
Freeborn, Joann HD# 107 Rep freeborn@house.state.ks.us
Garcia, Delia HD# 103 Dem garcia@house.state.ks.us
Gatewood, Doug HD# 1 Dem gatewood@house.state.ks.us
George, Pat HD# 119 Rep george@house.state.ks.us
Goico, Mario HD# 100 Rep goico@house.state.ks.us
Gordon, Lana HD# 52 Rep gordon@house.state.ks.us
Grange, John HD# 75 Rep grange@house.state.ks.us
Grant, Robert HD# 2 Dem grant@house.state.ks.us
Hawk, Tom HD# 67 Dem hawk@house.state.ks.us
Hayzlett, Gary HD# 122 Rep hayzlett@house.state.ks.us
Henderson, Broderick HD# 35 Dem henderson@house.state.ks.us
Henry, Jerry HD# 63 Dem henry@house.state.ks.us
Hill, Don HD# 60 Rep hill@house.state.ks.us
Holland, Tom HD# 10 Dem holland@house.state.ks.us
Holmes, Carl HD# 125 Rep holmes@house.state.ks.us
Holmes, Mitch HD# 114 Rep holmesm@house.state.ks.us
Horst, Deena HD# 69 Rep horst@house.state.ks.us
Huebert, Steve HD# 90 Rep huebert@house.state.ks.us
Huff, David HD# 30 Rep huff@house.state.ks.us
Humerickhouse, Joe HD# 59 Rep humerickhouse@house.state.ks.us
Huntington, Terrie HD# 25 Rep huntington@house.state.ks.us
Hutchins, Becky HD# 50 Rep hutchins@house.state.ks.us
Huy, Bonnie HD# 87 Rep huy@house.state.ks.us
Johnson, Dan HD# 110 Rep johnson@house.state.ks.us
Johnson, Everett HD# 77 Rep johnsone@house.state.ks.us
Kelley, Kasha HD# 79 Rep kelley@house.state.ks.us
Kelsey, Richard HD# 93 Rep kelsey@house.state.ks.us
Kiegerl, S. HD# 43 Rep kiegerl@house.state.ks.us
Kilpatrick, Patricia HD# 29 Rep kilpatrick@house.state.ks.us
Kinzer, Lance HD# 14 Rep kinzer@house.state.ks.us
Kirk, Nancy HD# 56 Dem kirk@house.state.ks.us
Knox, Forrest HD# 13 Rep knox@house.state.ks.us
Krehbiel, Carl HD# 74 Rep krehbiel@house.state.ks.us
Kuether, Annie HD# 55 Dem kuether@house.state.ks.us
Landwehr, Brenda HD# 91 Rep landwehr@house.state.ks.us
Lane, Harold HD# 58 Dem lane@house.state.ks.us
Light, Bill HD# 124 Rep light@house.state.ks.us
Loganbill, Judith HD# 86 Dem loganbill@house.state.ks.us
Long, Margaret HD# 36 Dem longm@house.state.ks.us
Loyd, Ward HD# 123 Rep loyd@house.state.ks.us
Lukert, Steve HD# 62 Dem lukert@house.state.ks.us
Mah, Ann HD# 53 Dem mah@house.state.ks.us
Mast, Peggy HD# 76 Rep mast@house.state.ks.us
Masterson, Ty HD# 99 Rep masterson@house.state.ks.us
Mays, Doug HD# 54 Rep mays@house.state.ks.us
McCreary, Bill HD# 80 Rep mccreary@house.state.ks.us
McKinney, Dennis HD# 116 Dem mckinney@house.state.ks.us
McLeland, Joe HD# 94 Rep mcleland@house.state.ks.us
Menghini, Julie HD# 3 Dem menghini@house.state.ks.us
Merrick, Ray HD# 27 Rep merrick@house.state.ks.us
Miller, Frank HD# 12 Rep miller@house.state.ks.us
Miller, Melody HD# 89 Dem millerm@house.state.ks.us
Morrison, Jim HD# 121 Rep morrison@house.state.ks.us
Morrison, Judy HD# 23 Rep morrisonj@house.state.ks.us
Myers, Don HD# 82 Rep myers@house.state.ks.us
Neufeld, Melvin HD# 115 Rep neufeld@house.state.ks.us
O'Malley, Edward HD# 24 Rep o'malley@house.state.ks.us
O'Neal, Michael HD# 104 Rep o'neal@house.state.ks.us
Oharah, Lynne HD# 4 Rep oharah@house.state.ks.us
Olson, Robert HD# 26 Rep olson@house.state.ks.us
Otto, Bill HD# 9 Rep otto@house.state.ks.us
Owens, Thomas HD# 19 Rep owens@house.state.ks.us
Pauls, Janice HD# 102 Dem pauls@house.state.ks.us
Peck, Virgil HD# 11 Rep peck@house.state.ks.us
Peterson, Michael HD# 37 Dem peterson@house.state.ks.us
Phelps, Eber HD# 111 Dem phelps@house.state.ks.us
Pilcher-Cook, Mary HD# 18 Rep pilchercook@house.state.ks.us
Pottorff, Jo HD# 83 Rep pottorff@house.state.ks.us
Powell, Larry HD# 117 Rep powellL@house.state.ks.us
Powers, Ted HD# 81 Rep powers@house.state.ks.us
Proehl, Richard HD# 7 Rep Proehl@house.state.ks.us
Roth, Charles HD# 71 Rep roth@house.state.ks.us
Ruff, Candy HD# 40 Dem ruff@house.state.ks.us
Ruiz, Louis HD# 32 Dem ruiz@house.state.ks.us
Sawyer, Tom HD# 95 Dem sawyer@house.state.ks.us
Schwab, Scott HD# 49 Rep schwab@house.state.ks.us
Schwartz, Sharon HD# 106 Rep schwartz@house.state.ks.us
Sharp, Bonnie HD# 31 Dem sharp@house.state.ks.us
Sharp, Stephanie HD# 17 Rep sharps@house.state.ks.us
Shultz, Clark HD# 73 Rep shultz@house.state.ks.us
Siegfreid, Arlen HD# 15 Rep siegfreid@house.state.ks.us
Sloan, Tom HD# 45 Rep sloan@house.state.ks.us
Storm, Sue HD# 22 Dem storm@house.state.ks.us
Svaty, Joshua HD# 108 Dem svaty@house.state.ks.us
Swenson, Dale HD# 97 Rep swenson@house.state.ks.us
Tafanelli, Lee HD# 47 Rep tafanelli@house.state.ks.us
Thull, Tom HD# 72 Dem thull@house.state.ks.us
Treaster, Mark HD# 101 Dem treaster@house.state.ks.us
Trimmer, Ed HD# 78 Dem trimmer@house.state.ks.us
Vickrey, Jene HD# 6 Rep vickrey@house.state.ks.us
Ward, Jim HD# 88 Dem ward@house.state.ks.us
Watkins, Jason HD# 105 Rep watkins@house.state.ks.us
Weber, Shari HD# 68 Rep weber@house.state.ks.us
Wilk, Kenny HD# 42 Rep wilk@house.state.ks.us
Williams, Jerry HD# 8 Dem williamsj@house.state.ks.us
Winn, Valdenia HD# 34 Dem winn@house.state.ks.us
Wolf, Kay HD# 21 Rep wolf@house.state.ks.us
Yoder, Kevin HD# 20 Rep yoder@house.state.ks.us

Is NAIS Partisan?

Noah - do you have any idea if this is a party (Rep or Dem) thing? It would be nice to know who is in favor and who is not............Cindy

We Must Organize to Stop NAIS

Cindy,
Actually, I do not know the answer to that question. I monitor 58 lists Nation-wide, about half of which I have created including Kansans_AGAINST_Nais@yahoogroups.com I try to post to these lists as often as I have useful information. But to be effective in stopping this hideous disease called NAIS we need to be organized. Groups in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas have sprung up and seem to be organized and doing a pretty good job of resisting the creeping NAIS. But here in Kansas I have seen very little resistance to NAIS and not many list members ever post anything to the Kansas list. Its almost like everyone is waiting for someone else to take the lead or maybe they just think it won't happen or maybe they just don't mind spending $30.00 a head to put RFID tags in the ears of their animals.

Our dairy goat herd is on standard milk test. We use a computer software program called PC-DART on the farm. This program is an on-line system tied to the Heart of America DHIA lab in Manhattan that processes our monthly milk samples. It is a total dairy management program but primarily gives us almost instant access to our monthly milk test results. Recently we attended a workshop in Lawrence to get updates on this software program and learn more about how to use it to it's fullest potential. During this workshop there was a pretty good discussion on NAIS. The presenter was from the Dairy Records Processing Center [DRPC] in Ames, Iowa, which is also tied to the PC-DART program. The presenter used a power point to demonstrate how cattle dairies could benefit from the NAIS. It showed a dairy farmer going along in front of the milk stanchions in his milk barn waving a wand over the ears of his cows as they were being milked. This wand/transponder/readers [much like the one you see the UPS driver use when he delivers packages to you, only much bigger and longer] gathered information and sent the information wireless to a small pocket computer being carried by the farmer. Then after each animal's Radio Frequency Identification Tag [RFID] had been scanned, the small pocket computer was taken to the office and connected to the larger computer and downloaded into it. The information is then sent on-line to the Dairy Records Processing Center [DRPC] in Ames. Iowa. Ostensibly, this information is sued by the DRPC for things like removing a cow from their production list/records/system when she is sold or dies, etc. so the DRPC won't be carrying her in the system as a dry cow. In other words, its a kind of on-going way to keep records instantly and accurately updated.

Now that all sounds pretty good until they put the forms on the screen and show you that they have added a box for NAIS notification. It is not yet a requirement in Kansas but in Pennsylvania you cannot sell an animal with out "premise identification" number. You also have to notify the state veterinarians office of the animal movement, regardless of the reason for the movement. It was explained that the DRPC has the information and it is "just a push of the button to send it on to the Penn. State Vet's office"
who is responsible for maintaining the data base. It was explained that it is not expensive because they are already collecting the information for individual farm management purposes and again, "it is just a push of the button to send it on to Pennsylvania."
In answer to the question about how do they get information from those farms that are not on the PC-DART program and not no dairy test? The answer, well its just voluntary for now and but when it becomes mandatory in Kansas the farmer/animal owners will be individually responsible for their own reporting which, obviously, will be expensive and time consuming, an din violation of your privacy rights.

The other thing we learned at the DHIA workshop is that the wand/transponder/readers and pocket PC, both needed to make the RFID tag system work, cost a total of about $1,100 or more. It was mentioned that just think they are universal so they can be used at goat shows, slaughter houses, etc. Then they passed around two samples of RFID ear tags. Some concern was expressed that the size of the part that punctured the ear could cause excessive bleeding and infection. We were told to move it around and try to avoid the big blood veins. The tags were huge, way too big for a goat's ear.

In addition to the extra work involved and the expense of about $3.50 per heard for the RFID tags, the data seems to be collected and sent on to the data base without the knowledge or consent of the animal owner or notifying him that his individual privacy rights might be violated in the process.
[Blog Post on this information]

If any of the dairy farmers in the workshop group objected they sure never said anything. If the lack of activity on our Kansans_AGAINST_NAIS@yahoogorups.com discussion list is any indication, NAIS will be implemented in Kansas without a whimper when they decide to do it.

Personally, the only way I see to stop NAIS is if fellow animal owners in Kansas rise up as a group and resist it but that doesn't seem to be happening. I might also add that the USDA is funneling money through the Kansas Department of Agriculture, our own tax dollars at work, to pay the salaries of persons to attend state and local fairs and other functions and gatherings of animal owners to promote the NAIS system as an immediate trace back system in case of emergency disease outbreak. Well we already have such a statute in Kansas and I have posted that information to this list on previous occasions. The real reason for the NAIS is to help the mega meat producers sell more meat and to totally control the market system. Squeeze out the little guy and the hobby farmers.

I hope this information has been useful.
Noah

We Must Get the Word Out to the Public about NAIS

Noah -

Please do not be discouraged by the lack of activity on this board. I have written letters to Roberts, Brownback and Tiahrt telling them that I disapprove of the idea of NAIS. Right now, we have to get the word out to the public, they think that NAIS is good because it is linked with Mad Cow and Avian Flu. They don't see the long term ramifications from loss of privacy to the cost to the small rancher / farmer.

Another thing that we have against us, is that the Dog and Cat people have totally bought into microchipping. So, the average Joe Public thinks that if he can microchip his dog, why can't we microchip our cows, goats, rabbits, chickens, etc. They are still thinking in the small picture rather than the big picture.

Dawn C
Andover, Kansas
Hobby Rabbit Breeder

Ask your KS Senator to vote against any NAIS legislation

The Kansas Senate begins their 2007 session in early January. Please contact your Senators and ask them to vote against any NAIS legislation.

Thanks,
Noah G.

KS Legislature > Senate > Current Senate Roster

Allen, Barbara SD# 8 Rep allen@senate.state.ks.us
Apple, Pat SD# 12 Rep apple@senate.state.ks.us
Barnett, Jim SD# 17 Rep barnett@senate.state.ks.us
Barone, Jim SD# 13 Dem barone@senate.state.ks.us
Betts, Donald SD# 29 Dem betts@senate.state.ks.us
Brownlee, Karin SD# 23 Rep brownlee@senate.state.ks.us
Bruce, Terry SD# 34 Rep bruce@senate.state.ks.us
Brungardt, Pete SD# 24 Rep brungardt@senate.state.ks.us
Donovan, Leslie SD# 27 Rep donovan@senate.state.ks.us
Emler, Jay SD# 35 Rep emler@senate.state.ks.us
Francisco, Marci SD# 2 Dem francisco@senate.state.ks.us
Gilstrap, Mark SD# 5 Dem gilstrap@senate.state.ks.us
Goodwin, Greta SD# 32 Dem goodwin@senate.state.ks.us
Haley, David SD# 4 Dem haley@senate.state.ks.us
Hensley, Anthony SD# 19 Dem hensley@senate.state.ks.us
Huelskamp, Tim SD# 38 Rep huelskamp@senate.state.ks.us
Jordan, Nick SD# 10 Rep jordan@senate.state.ks.us
Journey, Phillip SD# 26 Rep journey@senate.state.ks.us
Kelly, Laura SD# 18 Dem kelly@senate.state.ks.us
Lee, Janis SD# 36 Dem lee@senate.state.ks.us
McGinn, Carolyn SD# 31 Rep mcginn@senate.state.ks.us
Morris, Stephen SD# 39 Rep morris@senate.state.ks.us
O'Connor, Kay SD# 9 Rep o'connor@senate.state.ks.us
Ostmeyer, Ralph SD# 40 Rep ostmeyer@senate.state.ks.us
Palmer, Peggy SD# 16 Rep palmer@senate.state.ks.us
Petersen, Mike SD# 28 Rep petersen@senate.state.ks.us
Pine, Roger SD# 3 Rep pine@senate.state.ks.us
Pyle, Dennis SD# 1 Rep pyle@senate.state.ks.us
Reitz, Roger SD# 22 Rep reitz@senate.state.ks.us
Schmidt, Derek SD# 15 Rep schmidt@senate.state.ks.us
Schmidt, Vicki SD# 20 Rep schmidtv@senate.state.ks.us
Schodorf, Jean SD# 25 Rep schodorf@senate.state.ks.us
Steineger, Chris SD# 6 Dem steineger@senate.state.ks.us
Taddiken, Mark SD# 21 Rep taddiken@senate.state.ks.us
Teichman, Ruth SD# 33 Rep teichman@senate.state.ks.us
Umbarger, Dwayne SD# 14 Rep umbarger@senate.state.ks.us
Vratil, John SD# 11 Rep vratil@senate.state.ks.us
Wagle, Susan SD# 30 Rep wagle@senate.state.ks.us

Response in e-mail: It has been going on over a year in Kansas

You do know that we are all going to have to implant our animals soon. It is going on here in Kansas now and they have been talking about this for over a year or so. It won't be long and they will be all implanted with tags or you won't be able to put them to market.