Ag Observatory published two somewhat contradictory stories from the newswires on March 15th that both relate to the discovery of the third case of mad cow disase. The first deals with legistlators who are capitalizing on this discovery to make the National Agricultural Identification System (NAIS) for tracing cattle mandatory. Right now it's voluntary, and as this article states,

About 10 percent of the 2 million premises nationwide have been registered.

They fail to mention, however, that these are mostly the largest feedlots and slaughterhouses.

Meanwhile, the other article outlines the USDA's plans to reduce the amount of testing of cattle at the time of slaughter.

To what degree are food security and profit, the two goals of animal identification, amenable? The USDA just released their implementation plan (PDF) for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a "a cooperative State-Federal-industry partnership to standardize and expand animal identification programs and practices to all livestock species and poultry", and USDA secretary Mike Johanns just held a press conference about it. Straight from the horse's mouth...:

As many are aware, [NAIS] will also help the U.S. livestock industry to remain competitive. Traceability is being used as a marketing tool by several countries. For example, Australia is aggressively marketing animal traceability to gain a competitive advantage over us. We know how important the export market is to livestock producers, and we want to retain our competitiveness in the international arena.

BTW, don't you love use of cowboy graphics to market this stuff?

Contact Your Senators TODAY to defend local control over food safety!

Congressional Switchboard:  #202-224-3121

Tell them to oppose the “National Uniformity for Food Act,” when it comes before the Senate.

On March 2nd the House passed H.R. 4167, the “National Uniformity for Food Act,” which would basically overturn any state or local food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law.  Hundreds of laws and regulations that are tougher than federal rules are now at risk, including those governing the safety of milk and shellfish. With massive federal budget cutbacks, local and state officials are now responsible for 80% of the nation's food safety enforcement. These officials regularly improve training, sanitation and labeling standards to address new food borne diseases and other dangers to our food supply whether natural or man made. This preemption legislation, if it passes the Senate and is signed by Pres. Bush. would put a straitjacket on local food safety efforts and severely compromise the principle of food sovereignty in the U.S.

One of the premises of this site is that the development and enforcement of grades and standards in agriculture are increasingly important nodes of power in the neoliberal economy. Which makes a story like this one, about government certifiers refusing to cross the picket line at the UFCW strike of the Tyson-owned Lakeside Packers meatpacking plant in Brooks, Alberta, all the more exciting.Here#039s the story. (Tuesday October 25, CBC).

The strike is now over, after 55% of workers voted to accept a contract. Check out the UFCW.ca page about the strike.