"While traveling in Virginia, I noticed an article in the June-July Valley Guide entitled "Agriculture Department Imposing New Program to Drive Family Farms Out of Business." The article's title was referring to the U. S. Department of Agriculture's attempt to implement the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This program, according to the article, is "a corporate welfare program for agribusiness and surveillance technology companies that will drive family farms out of business, raise the price of your food, and increase red tape in nightmarish proportions."
Each animal (pets included) that resides on a farm will require a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) number and tag. The owners are responsible for the cost of the RFID tags, ranging from $3 to $20 per animal, and must file a report each time the animal wanders from its registered location. Along with the cost of tags and registration, the threat of significant fines for incorrect reporting looms over the owners. Yes, fines are a necessary means to make sure programs are implemented correctly; however, small farmers have such a narrow profit margin that such costs could cause them to sell out to development, losing farmland forever. Not only are valuable farmland and resources in peril, but according to the writer of this particular Valley Guide article, the nation is more susceptible to terrorists and criminals attacking our food supply via forged NAIS requirements. Plus the domestic costs of the program are projected to be $15 billion a year, forcing higher food prices that add yet another burden for us all.
A mandatory animal identification system has been put into effect in Australia for four years. Ear tags similar to the RFID tags are required for all animals. They now have one-third extra ear tags in their database than they have numbers - essentially 35 percent "phantom" animals. Apparently the "phantom" animals are due to lost ear tags or tags on shelves; however, the real issue is the fact that they have been at it for four years and still don't have it right.
If I take my horse out for a trail ride, passing 10 different farms, I have to make a record of each of those farms and submit that data in a report. I will be required to do this every time I go on a horseback ride outside of my farm. Where and how reports are to be submitted is still undecided.
If a farmer has a sheep operation where all sheep move together in a group, he or she could use one lot number to identify the animals rather than individual tags. This is a more economical idea for herding animals, but how much will that cost the farmer with grazing cattle? Like all technology, it will be cheaper and easier for the big farms - as is growing corn and baling hay - and the stores like Wal-Mart. Until consumers buy goods based on factors other than price, the trend is clear: Our family farms are becoming an endangered species."