Unknown to many people, Congress is considering a program that threatens the existence of hundreds of thousands of farms, ranches and livestock owners. The threat is an intrusive and expensive government program called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The public is being told the NAIS would be protection in the event of a terrorist attack or a disease outbreak, but these claims have no real basis in fact or science. The truth is this program was designed by and for large agricultural industry and technology companies. If made mandatory by the federal government, it would require owners of even one horse, chicken, cow, goat or any other livestock, to register their property with a government database and puncture tag each animal so every movement could be tracked.

The government has not, and will not do a cost-benefit analysis. NAIS could cost U.S. livestock producers billions of dollars. NAIS would drive many family farms out of business, and even put individual horse owners (or anyone who owns livestock or animals as pets) under total government surveillance. I urge everyone to contact their Congress representative today. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Ask to speak to your Congress representative and U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. Tell them that you are opposed to NAIS, and you want section 121 of the Farm Bill to be stripped.