* If you own farm animals of ANY type - even just chickens etc - please educate yourself on the animal ID issues - www.NoNAIS.com is a great site but google for yourself and LEARN, Please. Happy farming!

Liberty Ark Action Alert: USDA Anounces Two More Public Meetings on Animal Identification

Date: June 10, 2010

USDA has announced two more public meeting on its animal traceability framework:

Thursday, June 24

Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel

150 West 500 South

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Thursday, July 1

Holiday Inn DFW Airport South

14320 Center Station Drive

Ft. Worth, TX 76155

The meetings will take place between 8 am and 4 pm, and the meeting agenda is posted at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/public_meeting_agenda.pdf

The meeting agenda appears to be the same as the previous public meetings. The morning will consist of presentations by government officials, followed by breakout sessions at tables based on species groups. After the small groups have reported back to the full audience, a USDA official will respond to written questions, and there may be an opportunity at the very end for oral questions or comments.

If youÂre within traveling distance, please come and make your voice heard!

1) After the initial presentations, the participants will break out into tables based on species groups. Be prepared to be an advocate for your views and to politely disagree with the facilitator(s). If they claim that a "consensus" has been reached with an answer that you donÂt agree with, say so! At the end, when the table reports back to the whole group, speak up if the person doing the report doesnÂt cover all of the issues that were raised.

2) Plan a few written questions ahead of time. When the USDA official goes through the questions in the afternoon, if he doesnÂt actually answer your question, stand up and politely insist on an answer.