01/08/ 07 NAIS

For small farmers the new year could have an Orwellian aura. If you farm in Michigan for example, Big Brother will now be watching in the form of the National Animal Identification system or NAIS, and starting March 1st will require that livestock, chicken, goats, pigs and horses be tagged with a radio frequency device. The government's intentions are admirable using the id system to insure a more stable global market by implement a tracking system that follows the animal from the farm to the consumer's table. Yet small farmers in particular are rebelling against what could soon lead to an inclusive mandatory tagging system . Farmers are calling the new animal ID system an invasion of privacy and plus a load of extra work and record keeping and irrelevant for the farmer who sells his lamb or chicken to a local customer base through farmers market. Other states are not taking NAIS In stride, independent Texans are balking at any attempt to tag their animals and their fever has Texas officials shelving the ID system for now.