OPRC President c. Russell Wood will be the featured speaker at the kickoff meeting of the Ozarks Property Rights Congress Lawrence County Chapter.

For more information contact:
Eric Vimont, Lawrence County Chapter Coordinator 
417-366-0999 
vimontev@gmail.com

Non-Lawrence County residents are welcome to attend, so tell your friends!

FREEDOM = PROPERTY RIGHTS

The erosion of property rights affects all phases of citizens’ lives including land use, raising livestock, growing gardens, the food we buy, right to travel, health care, and educating our children. Are you concerned about the encroachment on our unalienable rights by the government? Wondering where it’s going to end, and what you can do about it? Learn more about what this important group is doing. 

Get involved!

(Come early, if you care to eat, as no food is allowed in the meeting room due to limited restaurant staff)

NAIS is not dead—Just renamed!

*NAIS will now be called  the Federal Animal Disease Traceability System.
*Premise identification  numbers are  now “unique location identifiers
*USDA says it would be fiscally irresponsible scrap all elements of NAIS.
* “As much of the failed NAIS program as possible must be salvaged”
*The “new” program will use the NAIS “840” ear tags.
*Massive public opposition has caused them offer a “new approach”
*USDA will enforce animal identification at the level of interstate commerce.  This would force Missouri producers into their program, as the state has practically no in-state feed lots or major slaughter facilities, causing most of the state’s livestock production to cross state lines. 
*Links to the USDA Question & Answer Fact sheet can be found at www.ozarksprc.com/   or   www.r-calfusa.com/   or  www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability

We will cover other issues that come up by meeting time.

Contact: 417-948-2379 or 417-668-5977
In case of bad weather call by 3:00 p.m. to confirm the meeting.

     Contrary to what you are being told the National Animal Identification System is not dead; just renamed, reworded and still very much alive, This was the message brought to the Ozarks Property Rights Congress meeting in Gainesville Thursday, February 11 by Bob Parker who said he hated to bring that news. “Being one of those who has worked hard over the past four or five years to stop NAIS, nothing would please me and my co-workers more than to be able to report that indeed NAIS has gone away. But sadly it is still here under a new name and coming at us with a reshuffled approach”.  Parker read excerpts from a fact sheet released by USDA Feb, 5th which outlined the new approach.
    The animal identification program will now be called  the Federal Animal Disease Traceability System and premise identification registration numbers are  now “unique location identifiers.”  Parker pointed out that the USDA paper says that since so much tax payer money has been spent on efforts to implement NAIS that as much of the failed program as possible must be salvaged and used in the new program such as use of the NAIS”840″ ear tags. They say it would be fiscally irresponsible to disregard all elements of NAIS.
    USDA acknowledged that massive public opposition to their proposed NAIS program has caused them to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach .
    Parker noted that while USDA says the frame work for the new  approach will emphasize states participation, they are very clear and emphatic on one major point which seems non negotiable in their view. They intend to enforce animal identification at the level of interstate commerce as they said they would do under the original NAIS plan. This would force Missouri producers into their program as the state has practically no in-state feed lots or major slaughter facilities causing nearly all of the states livestock production to cross state lines.
    Addressing the issue of states like Missouri which have passed laws prohibiting forced participation in NAIS, the fact sheet points out that this program is no longer called NAIS and the new framework will spell out what states must do for their animals to be able to move in interstate commerce.
    Parker expressed disdain for those elected officials who quickly put out news releases bragging how they were instrumental in stopping NAIS. “They evidently didn`t read the rest of the story and were quick to make political hay. They do their constituents  a real dis-service by touting a hollow victory.”

OPRC president Russell Wood said links to the the fact sheet Parker was referencing can be found at  www.r-calfusa.com or http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/faq_traceability.pdf  under Questions and Answers: new animal traceability framework.

 Despite warnings of a winter storm approaching, the Ozarks Property Rights Congress  convened Thursday night, January 28,  in Mountain Grove to hear of the developing storm being perpetrated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture through local sale barns.
    Doreen Hannes spoke to the group about the practice started at some area sale barns, at the direction of MDOA personnel, of tagging cows with National Animal Identification System tags. She said according to all NAIS documents issued over the past several years, it is very clear that “840″ (NAIS) tags must be connected to a premise number of the producer where the animal was born and the premise number of the buyer of the animal. She said this is a back door attempt to bring unsuspecting sellers and buyers of cows into the NAIS premise registration program.
    Missouri passed a law (SB931) in 2008 which prohibits MDOA from forcing NAIS premise registration on citizens. At a hearing on the use of these tags held before Chairman Senator Chuck Purgason’s Government Oversight Committee recently, at which Hannes testified, state vet Taylor Woods and MDOA director Jon Hagler testified there was no official policy on use of the NAIS tags by these sale barn vets. “Some are using them and others are not . It`s up to the market veterinarian”.
    Hannes and others at the OPRC meeting told of sale barn owners and vets saying they had been told by MDOA personnel to use the NAIS tags in cows coming through the sale beginning Jan. 1   Other barns are saying they are not applying the NAIS tags.
    At the Jefferson City hearing, Senator Purgason instructed Woods and Hagler to submit their policy in writing, making certain that it reflects SB 931 requiring NAIS to be voluntary, and send the policy to  all sale barns as there is currently no policy that can be nailed down as MDOA is operating by word of mouth.
    “The sale barns are caught in the middle of this”, said PRC president Russell Wood. “They feel they have to do what MDOA tells them but at the same time they are going to have some mad customers who end up in the NAIS program just by buying or selling at the sale barn. Producers should ask their sale barn if they are using the 840 NAIS tags before they unload”
    Hagler stated in a letter to Senator Purgason that the NAIS tags being used have nothing to do with premise registrations. Hannes said, “Secretary Hagler is either ignorant about the NAIS program or misrepresenting the facts to the Senator. Tags starting with the number “840″ are official NAIS tags and must be tied to the premise of origin. Other wise there is no point in using them, as the stated purpose is trace back.”
    On another matter, a Douglas county property owner involved with a boundary dispute with the Department of Conservation reported that no headway had been made in resolving their differences.  At the Dec. 3rd OPRC meeting attended by department personnel it was agreed the two sides would meet and try to resolve the conflict. That meeting has not been held it was reported.

On meeting night food is served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

We will be discussing the latest developments in the USDA’s National Animal Identification System. The USDA claims they heard the opposition to the NAIS at the meetings last year and are going to “develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States” Ozarks Property Rights Congress firmly believes that they are definitely not scrapping the program, but will come at us from a different angle.

Also, we are scheduled to have a report from Bob Parker on the hearing in Jefferson City (Jan. 13) on the “840″ NAIS tags being required at some Missouri sale barns.

And, as usual, other topics will be discussed that have come up since last we met.

If the weather is questionable, call before 3 p.m. to see if the meeting will be held. Contact numbers: 417-284-3742 or 417-948-2379.

Voice of the Ozarks is an organization which seeks to protect the rights of people to access, to use, and to be involved in the management of public lands in South Central Missouri.  As you may know, we have most recently been working to protect your rights as they are concerned in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.  There are armchair environmentalist groups which seek to take away our culture, heritage, and livelihood, allowing them to control our beautiful lands.  The general management plan for lands managed by the National Park Service periodically review the plan which gives them guidance for how to manage the resources of which they are placed in-charge.  Presently the General Management Plan for the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers management is being reviewed, revised, and drafted from public comment.

Many people throughout south central Missouri worked very hard to express their opinions that the management of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways should not further limit recreational activities on the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers and that these activities do not harm the water, land, plants and animals in this area.  Here are records from the Park Service for how many comments they have received and tallied and are in the process of understanding. 
Comment Forms–2,896 (57%)
Website–1,048 (20%)
Form Letters–778 (15%)
Individual Letters–359 (8%)
Total–5,117 (100%)

In a recent press-release National Park Service employee Dena Matteson gave the following information on how to access the public comments online:
‘Several documents have been developed that summarize the publiccomments received to date.  To access the PEPC website in order to review these documents visit: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/  Select Ozark NSR from the dropdown menu, then “General Management Plan” from the list of current
projects, and then “Document List”.’

In the opinion of the Voice of the Ozarks organization, we believe the workshop the Park Service plans to have, although other parks have this process, is unfair and is being used to get around the public comment received from southern Missouri.  This workshop on February 24 & 25, 2010 is being held in Rolla where access (roads, trails) and riverway watercrafts (canoes, boats) will be discussed to a further extent for clarification of how to best manage these activities. 

We will have representatives from our organization and representatives from various local organizations, however the Park Service is looking to limit those who attend this meeting in order to keep a fairly balanced number to appease such environmental organizations as the Leo A. Drey Foundation, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the Sierra Club, and the Friends of the Ozark Riverways.  We believe that people representing any organization from this area should be invited for a formal discussion on how to best manage this resource with commentary from the people who best know how to manage the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers:  the locals and those who agree that we should take care of the resource, but also be allowed to use the land. 
Other groups that wish to limit recreation on the riverways are continually seeking to take away your rights to your public lands and waterways, your rights to be involved in public land management, and would eventually seek to limit the economy.  Their propaganda is they try to protect this land because we do not know how to, when in fact, the riverways was established here because we have taken very good care of these resources. 

To show you just how unfairly stacked this invitation list for the workshop is, please review the invite list and notice the organizations represented which seek to limit your rights, culture, heritage, and economy outnumber the list of groups which seek to help preserve your rights to use and access the Ozark National Scenic Riverways(list is in same order as invitation letter from workshop facilitator Mary Orton):
Tom Bedell, park concessioner
Denny Bopp, Wonders of Wildlife
John Mark Brewer, Voice of the Ozarks
Bill Bryan, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State Parks
Carol Chrisco, Eminence Chamber of Commerce
Floyd Clark, Jacks Fork Watershed Committee
Trisha Crabill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Mike Cullen, Camp Zoe
Wanda Cumins, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce
Carolyn Dyer, horse trail riders/operators
Susan Flader, Missouri Parks Association
Kally Higgins, non-motorized river use
R. Scott House or Michael Sutton, Cave Research Foundation
Brett Howell, horse trail riders/operators
Greg Iffrig, L-A-D Foundation, Leo A. Drey Pioneer Forest
Angel Kruzen, The Sierra Club
Jeff Lindsey, Van Buren School
Kathleen “Kat” Logan Smith, Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Steve Mahfood, The Nature Conservancy
Dave Martin, motorboat interests
Troy McAfee, hunting interests
Lynn McClure, National Parks and Conservation Association
Phillip Moss, scenic easement holder
Allison Schottenhaml, Missouri Show Me Backcountry Horsemen
Michael Smith, Missouri Department of Conservation
Stacy Smith, Eminence School
Robert Stout, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Quality
Jerry Sugerman, Friends of Ozark Riverways
Shane Van Steenis, park concessioners
Ray Walden, Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center
Doug Warren, Current River Smallmouth Association (memorandum transmitted via U.S. Mail or facsimile)
Laura Watts, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Mark Twain National ForestPlease contact Reed Detring at 573-323-4236 to express your opinion on this matter.
Please contact workshop host Mary Orton for more information:  702.914-8066.

To get information on contacting your elected officials and to join our organization, please visit: www.votozarks.org.   If you have information on organizations you would like represented at the workshop, please visit the ‘contact us’ page on our website.

 Despite warnings of a winter storm approaching, the Ozarks Property Rights Congress  convened Thursday night, January 28,  in Mountain Grove to hear of the developing storm being perpetrated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture through local sale barns.
    Doreen Hannes spoke to the group about the practice started at some area sale barns, at the direction of MDOA personnel, of tagging cows with National Animal Identification System tags. She said according to all NAIS documents issued over the past several years, it is very clear that “840″ (NAIS) tags must be connected to a premise number of the producer where the animal was born and the premise number of the buyer of the animal. She said this is a back door attempt to bring unsuspecting sellers and buyers of cows into the NAIS premise registration program.
    Missouri passed a law (SB931) in 2008 which prohibits MDOA from forcing NAIS premise registration on citizens. At a hearing on the use of these tags held before Chairman Senator Chuck Purgason’s Government Oversight Committee recently, at which Hannes testified, state vet Taylor Woods and MDOA director Jon Hagler testified there was no official policy on use of the NAIS tags by these sale barn vets. “Some are using them and others are not . It`s up to the market veterinarian”.
    Hannes and others at the OPRC meeting told of sale barn owners and vets saying they had been told by MDOA personnel to use the NAIS tags in cows coming through the sale beginning Jan. 1   Other barns are saying they are not applying the NAIS tags.
    At the Jefferson City hearing, Senator Purgason instructed Woods and Hagler to submit their policy in writing, making certain that it reflects SB 931 requiring NAIS to be voluntary, and send the policy to  all sale barns as there is currently no policy that can be nailed down as MDOA is operating by word of mouth.
    “The sale barns are caught in the middle of this”, said PRC president Russell Wood. “They feel they have to do what MDOA tells them but at the same time they are going to have some mad customers who end up in the NAIS program just by buying or selling at the sale barn. Producers should ask their sale barn if they are using the 840 NAIS tags before they unload”
    Hagler stated in a letter to Senator Purgason that the NAIS tags being used have nothing to do with premise registrations. Hannes said, “Secretary Hagler is either ignorant about the NAIS program or misrepresenting the facts to the Senator. Tags starting with the number “840″ are official NAIS tags and must be tied to the premise of origin. Other wise there is no point in using them, as the stated purpose is trace back.”
    On another matter, a Douglas county property owner involved with a boundary dispute with the Department of Conservation reported that no headway had been made in resolving their differences.  At the Dec. 3rd OPRC meeting attended by department personnel it was agreed the two sides would meet and try to resolve the conflict. That meeting has not been held it was reported.

 We are watching the approaching winter weather system.
We should know by Thursday afternoon if there is a need to call off the meeting. We feel this is an important meeting and want to have it, if possible. If we must call it off, I will send an email tomorrow afternoon.  For more info you can call 417-948-2379 or 417-668-5977 Thurs. p.m.

GROUP CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF NAIS  TAGS AT SALE BARNS

Weather permitting, the Ozarks Property Rights Congress will be meeting at the Hayloft Restaurant in Mountain Grove on Thursday night to hear the latest developments on the use of NAIS tags at sale barns.  Some sale barn veterinarians are using National Animal Identification System tags in cows ears that are run through sale barns. This practice could lead to unwanted NAIS premise registration of the seller and the buyer. A recent hearing held by Senator Chuck Purgason`s government oversight committee pointed out this practice violates Missouri law which prohibits forced premise registration. Doreen Hannes and Bob Parker attended that hearing and a report is anticipated from them. (see previous article on website “Nais Tags At Sale Barns”).

There will also be an update on progress toward an agreement between the department of conservation and neighbors concerning a property boundary dispute in Douglas county. Deanna Hewett is expected to report on where negotiations stand regarding resolving a dispute over boundaries with adjoining property given to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The meeting will be held at the Hayloft Restaurant in Mountain Grove beginning at 7 p.m. and  is open to the public.

 There are still a lot of questions I would like the Department of Ag to answer, but we had no invitation to cross examine on behalf of the committee, so it was what it was.

 Thanks, and God bless!

Doreen

Listen to my radio show, Truth Farmer, every Saturday from 5-6pm Central time on libertynewsradio.com

Also check out www.newswithviews.com for my articles and many other excellent researchers on topics affecting your freedom…also my blog, www.truth-farmer.blogspot.com

Hearing on Use of NAIS Tags at Sale Barns

© Doreen Hannes

On Thursday, January 13th, 2010 there was a Senate Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee hearing at the Capitol on the usage of National Animal Identification System “840″ tags by the veterinarians at sale barns across Missouri.

 The hearing was to allay the confusion amongst sale barns and determine whether or not the Department of Agriculture was following the voluntary parameters set for NAIS in Missouri by the usage of these “840″ tags.

 The NAIS  (National Animal Identification System) is a 3 part program. The first prong is Premises registration with a seven character number permanently assigned to a particular location housing or holding animals. The second prong is the use of these “840″ tags which necessitate a premise id number to be used. The third component is the reporting of movements from the ascribed premises and various other things such as vaccinations and tag replacements and “sightings”. 
 Near the beginning of December it came to light that many sale barn markets in the state of Missouri were using the 840 tags on cows going through chutes who had no official identification. It was reported that as of January 1st, 2010, all cows, with or without official identification, would receive the 840 tags when they went through chutes for health tests or pregnancy checks Different markets reported different criteria for this NAIS “840″ identification of cows. Some producers reported they were told they “had to” use the 840 tags in order to sell cattle at some sale barns.

 In 2008, the Missouri General Assembly passed SB931, prohibiting the Department of Agriculture from mandating or otherwise forcing participation in NAIS, and allowing for the immediate removal from the program of anyone who was assigned a premises id unless they were part of a disease control program or an ongoing disease investigation.

 This hearing was to clear up confusion on the law as it applies to both the state of Missouri and the veterinarians licensed by the state. Chairman, Senator Chuck Purgason, stated, “We want to clear up confusion, and to make sure veterinarians are not violating people’s rights regarding this program.”

 Missouri State Veterinarian, Dr. Taylor Woods and Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler, did not appear at the beginning of the hearing. A representative from the Department of Ag and a veterinarian with the State Vet’s office, Dr. Linda Hickle, appeared, but knew little of policy and stated that the Secretary and State Vet were not aware that they were to be present at this hearing.

 Three other individuals testified at the hearing and during the last testimony, the State veterinarian and Secretary of Agriculture came into the hearing room.

 They testified that they had no official written policy on the usage of the “840″ tags and had communicated with the market veterinarians by face to face contact regarding the allocation of the 100,000 “840″ tags the Department has received from the USDA. They stated they had no particular agreement as to the distribution and application of the NAIS tags, but that the application of the tags was to be at the discretion of the market veterinarian.

 The Department was instructed by the Committee to write and distribute to all market veterinarians instructions on the usage of these “840″ tags and to inform the market veterinarians that the application of “840″ tags was to be done solely at the request of the producer in compliance with the law of the State of Missouri.

 No instructions or inquiries were made into how any redress is to be achieved by those who may already have been put into the NAIS program without their knowledge or consent by buying or selling cattle through a market that was applying the tags to all cows from January 1st through the time of the distribution of the letter requiring compliance with the state law.

The January meeting in Gainesville, Missouri has been cancelled.

The revised plan is to meet at Vaught’s Family Restaurant on February 11, 2010, weather permitting. Details will be announced later this month.

As of this writing, the January 28 meeting in Mountain Grove at the Hayloft Restaurant will be held (Weather Permitting, of couse).

Wishing all of you a successful, happy, and healthy 2010 from all of us at Ozarks Property Rights Congress.

Thanks to all for all of your efforts in the past year. We are looking forward to a  “go-get-’em” year in 2010.