I am wondering how many of you are aware of the U.S. governments push towards a National Animal Identifcation System (NAIS)? Are you aware that all small farmers (read as anyone but large cooperate farms) will be required to have all their livestock implanted with microchips (cows, horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, turkeys, sheep, trout and so on...excluding only dogs and cats) at their own expense? This includes hobby farmers, families with rabbits or ponies for their children...all of it...no matter if you own one chicken or 200 sows. Not only that but the microchips will be connected to a GPS system so movement can be monitored...whether it be an escaped pig, a horse entered into a local parade to pull a buggy or transported cross country...it all has to be reported. Failure to have each animal registered carries a fine....$500.00 PER ANIMAL! Not reporting movement of livestock is also a fineable offense. Let's go beyond nuts, which this TOTALLY IS and enter into the ridiculous....you even have to register the manure!!~!!! You know, I could understand SOME of this in relation to mass marketing of livestock for consumption of the general population...but the huge farm corporate farms only have to register their facility, not each animal!!!!!   I have lots more information on this, but I am wondering how many here have any kind of awareness of the NAIS? If everything goes smoothly (read no public outcry), things are to be put into effect very soon. "July 2006, that's when the national Animal Identification System is slated to slip past us all and begin to become the most destructive and misguided farm regulation in the entire history of farming."

HOLY CHICKEN SHIT BATMAN...oh wait...that would have to be registered too!~!!!!


Michelle