Farmers Won't Identify Livestock

"BARRE- A Massachusetts farmers group has asked the state Department of Agricultural Resources not to turn over data to the federal government identifying the location of poultry and livestock in the state.

The request is reflective of a division among farmers, some of whom, such as Richard W. Kimball, a veteran Spencer dairyman, believe the National Animal Identification System is a safeguard that protects their livelihood and investment.

The group opposing the system, the Northeast Organic Farming Association, has petitioned agricultural commissioner Douglas W. Petersen asking that he not provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture with data on the state's poultry and livestock."

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Here's a simple solution: go vegetarian and never worry about meat again :)

Edit: I know a lot of people don't bother clicking into the comment page, but Hen Whisperer filled me in on what this all even means:
"NAIS is a three pronged mandate, not a law, a mandate, but USDA that would have every piece of property that houses even one livestock animal, and that includes horses, potbellied pig pets, a grammy with a couple of laying hens, register their property and receive a number that takes away their full ownership rights. Secondly, every animal would have to receive an animal id number, for horses it would be an implanted rfid chip in the nucheal ligament. Third step is the reporting of every animal movement off the property. Again, if you think of horses and trail rides, you'd have 48 hours to tell the Feds or face a fine, a substantial fine. Who else has to register and report movements? No one, not even pedophiles.

Homesteaders, small/private farmers, hobbyists, none of them want this unconstitutional intrusion. In some places, even though NAIS is supposed to be voluntary, NAIS is mandatory and people have stopped keeping small flocks, herds, dumped their horses, got rid of their milking cows. Some people, myself included, take religious umbrage with having to Mark the Beast."

Visit Hen Whisperer's blog or No NAIS for more information.