OT: NAIS Hay Production

I have spent several hours on the internet trying to find information on this...NAIS site, USDA, Homeland Security...and I cannot find any information on the subject. Could someone lay out the facts on this and direct me to where I can find more information.

Thank You
Tim

• FDA Link

It wouldnt be hard for terrorists, espcially home grown ones like Tim McVeigh, to contaminate hay with radioactive waste, let that get into the milk supply, and all of a sudden we have a real problem. Maybe not a health problem but a perception problem. I think thats what irritates me the most about the opposition to tracking stuff. If the American customer gets scared about something (like spinach, look at what that cost the spinach growers, and how much more it would have cost them if they had been unable to track it at all) it is devistating.

I know what its like to be under quarentene. Back in the 80's with brucellosis. If we can track, everything, maybe we wont have people like me who were under lockdown quarentene for 9 months.

As to the taxation argument, I dont believe it. Fed taxes, it would take an enormorous amount of work to cross check sales with reports for a relatiely small amount of money. State taxes, yeah I could see that in places where animals and ag assets are subject to property tax.

The hay thing is a little less of a problem. I'm not sure who is in charge, or what it is called - it isn't part of NAIS.

The hay thing will be a hassle for hay brokers. It might not affect farmers or end customers so much - don't have to record if you grew it & sold it/ don't have to record if you bought it & use it. My understanding anyhow.... If you are hay broker, yea. It'll be a pain.

--->Paul