FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Missouri Farmers Union to Voice Opposition to NAIS JEFFERSON CITY, MO (June 4, 2009) – Missouri farmers and ranchers will have the chance to voice their opinions on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) during a USDA hosted listening session, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Truman Hotel and Conference Center in Jefferson City. “We commend Secretary Vilsack for bringing a listening session to Missouri to gather input directly from those who will be impacted by NAIS,” said Kremer. “We encourage producers to take full advantage of the listening session to express their concerns and common sense solutions.” Missouri Farmers Union (MFU) will have representatives on hand at the USDA listening session to express opposition to the financial burdens the NAIS will put on family farmers and ranchers. MFU encourages grassroots participation in the session and calls on USDA to look for real, workable solutions to animal health and food safety concerns. "This onerous system is a hit many Missouri livestock producers simply cannot bear," said MFU President Russ Kremer. "The system will be a step backward in animal disease traceability and places an unfair burden and costs on producers. A mandatory NAIS program will destroy what little profit there is in many operations." The USDA is moving to make NAIS mandatory. In April they released a cost-benefit analysis produced by Kansas State University which clearly indicates small producers will bear the brunt of the costs. The public meetings will be held at the Truman Hotel and Conference Center, 1510 Jefferson Street, Jefferson, MO 65109, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. ### For more information on NAIS, click here. |
