Representative Wallis introduced HB 119 to stop NAIS in Wyoming. Because 2008 is a short session, bills require a 2/3 vote to be sent to Committee. On February 14, HB 119 failed to get the required votes, so it is dead for this session. The bill will be re-introduced in the 2009 General Session.

Rep. Wallis also introduced HB 011, to allow certain homemade goods to be sold without licensing and inspection. This would allow people to make things such as jams and baked goods and sell them at a farmers market (or elsewhere) without having to go through the extensive licensing requirements for a commercial kitchen. HB 011 passed the House, but was voted down in the Senate.

Take Action

Set the stage for next session! Start educating your Representative and Senator now about NAIS. If you do not know who your Representative is, you can find their information here.

When you call your legislator, ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues. Ask them what they already know about NAIS, explain your objections to it, and respond to the issues they bring up. Stay in touch through email after the phone call, so that they know you really care about this issue.

And educate your community. Download materials from our site and put them out at feed stores, riding stables, auction barns, co-ops, etc. We need everyone to know about NAIS!

Talking Points on NAIS

• NAIS will hurt Wyoming's economy:
• There has been no cost analysis by USDA or Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Costs of the program include the cost of the tags, hardware, software, time and labor
• Many small farmer and ranchers cannot afford these costs
• Service providers (veterinarians, feed stores, auction houses, meat processors, etc.) will be harmed when the farmers and ranchers go out of business.
• Remaining farmers will pass the costs on to consumers, adding to inflation
• Neither the USDA nor the state agency has scientific proof show that NAIS will improve disease control:
• It does not address the cause, treatment, or transmission of disease, in domestic or wild animals.
• It does not significantly improve on current methods for identification and tracking of disease.
• NAIS is not necessary for the market. Age- and source-verification is already available through the USDA's Process Verified Program
• NAIS will not improve food safety:
• USDA itself has stated that this is not a food safety program
• Contamination of food with e. coli and other bacteria occurs at the slaughterhouse or afterwards, while NAIS will stop before that point.
• NAIS will not protect against terrorism:
• The microchips chosen by the state can be cloned, destroyed, or infected with computer viruses, and reprogrammed. Any terrorist or thief can use this.
• The database of information, created by the state agency and available to USDA, will provide a target for hackers.
• NAIS infringes on people's constitutional rights, including due process, privacy, and religious freedom.
• USDA states that NAIS is voluntary at the federal level, so there is no "federal mandate" requiring Wyoming to implement this program.
• Other states are also rejecting or limiting NAIS, so Wyoming will not be disadvantaged by refusing to participate.

Talking Points on HB 011: Wyoming Homemade Products

From Rep. Wallis:

Today there is a welcome emphasis on local food and buying fresh, on direct relationships between producers and consumers, on knowing exactly where your food comes from, and how it has been grown and processed…of shaking the hand that feeds you whenever you can. There is huge growth in Farmers Markets…only a few years ago it was hard to find even one…now they are everywhere. You can see it in the ever increasing interest in Natural and Organic food. You can see it in the wide-spread interest in sustainable agriculture that respects people, future generations, the environment, and the plants and animals we depend on.

Currently it is legal, in Wyoming, for a nonprofit organization to sell safe foods like baked goods and jams and jellies that have been made in home kitchens. But, it is illegal for anyone to prepare these foods and sell them for a profit, unless they do so in a certified and inspected kitchen. This legislation is based on similar statutes in other states that seek to foster and enhance cottage industry, and local economies.

This bill defines a Wyoming Homemade Operation, and allows the Dept. of Agriculture to establish rules and regulations for public safety. It makes it legal for your Aunt Bea to make her famous banana bread, or my Uncle Frank to pick wild chokecherries and make his incredible jelly, and sell it to eager buyers at farmers markets or grocery stores for home consumption.

This bill enhances Wyoming’s local economies, pantries, and taste buds, and is one small step in removing unnecessary, obstructive, and big business protecting over-regulation. Buy fresh. Buy local. Keep your food chain as short as possible. Make the delicious choice, and vote yes for introduction.