May 1st, 2007 was the supposed implementation deadline for premises registration for dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Under the 2003 Wisconsin Premises Registration Law all WI residents with livestock (fish, poultry, llamas, horses, goats, cows, emus, sheep, pigs, etc. etc. etc. ) were required by Jan. 2006 to apply for a unique ID number to identify their farm. Dairy farmers in particular have been warned by the state on multiple occasions that if they are not in the system they could lose their license to sell milk. Rather than deploying agriculture inspectors or state troopers to impose this measure, the Doyle administration has opted to “draft’ dairy plants and milk haulers as its enforcement agents. Worse yet, the state is forging ahead even though it is not federally required to do so.
Many Wisconsin farmers are planning to resist this government harassment. For the Amish (which now constitute 5% of Wisconsin’s 15,000 dairy farmers) being assigned a number is a blatant violation of religious freedom. For others, this undermines their constitutional right to privacy. Ironically enough, in a time of domestic milk shortage (the U.S. has been a dairy deficit nation for years), the Doyle administration would rather criminalize the fastest growing, most productive, and highest value dairy sector - namely smallscale organic and grazing operations.
Wisconsin's premises registration is but the first step towards implementing a National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which would require all farmers to eventually RFID chip their animals and report all livestock movements to the authorities. Taking a horse for a leisurely ride off your property or a prize chicken to show in the county fair? Well, you better let the USDA and Homeland Security know first or you might meet a SWAT team on the way! Ostensibly, NAIS is meant to stem the spread of animal disease and food borne illness, but few dare mention the more obvious and effective steps towards such a goal that would prove “unfriendly” to corporate agribusiness - such as Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), banning cannibalistic livestock feeding practices, cleaning up factory farms and slaughter houses, etc. To get a sense of where NAIS could eventually lead, pick up a copy of Linda Faillace’s shocking book, Mad Sheep – the True Story Behind the USDA’s War on a Family Farm, from your public library or local bookstore.
Why is Gov. Doyle so eager to impose this measure? Some might argue it is the millions of porkbarrel dollars in federal and state taxpayer money to implement Real ID and NAIS that has state technocrats working overtime. Others might say it is a simple case of the corrupting influence of state power.
You can find out for yourself by calling Gov. Doyle #608-266-1212, the Dept. of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) or by talking to your State Representative or State Senator #608-266-2211 and letting them know you are opposed to premises registration and NAIS altogether.
You can also join the resistance by not cooperating with these absurd policies. If you have a farm or animals, don’t register or fill out any other forms or surveys from DATCP and USDA. If you’re a consumer, support direct marketing efforts and buy food from farmers that have chosen to not register their premises. Get informed and share relevant information with others.
Family Farm Defenders is in the process of seeking legal counsel in hopes of taking legal action if any farmers are punished by the state after May 1st for refusing to register their premises. If you are willing to serve as a farmer plaintiff or provide other support for this effort, please let us know.
Family Farm Defenders
1019 Williamson St., Madison, WI 53703
tel./fax 608-260-0900
familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com
