- it clearly includes requirements for tagging poultry, including keeping records for 2 years. When asked, the agency testified that the bill would give it authority for animal ID for all of the species within its jurisdiction, which includes poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, bison, and horses.
We have proposed that the bill be limited to cattle only. After all, if the agency has no intention of adopting new regulations on poultry or other species, why not put that into the bill? The industry groups have rejected this compromise.
CLAIM 4: We need this bill so the agency can deal with dangerous diseases like avian flu.
TRUTH: The agency has ample authority to address animal diseases. There are seven chapters in the Texas Agriculture Code that give TAHC authority to address animal disease through testing, vaccination, quarantines, and more. The agency can even include animal ID as part of those disease control measures.
This bill is about requiring identification solely for the purpose of tracking, unrelated to any disease control program.
CLAIM 5: Small farmers were consulted in developing this bill.
TRUTH: Small farm advocates have been cut out of the process. While we knew about the original version of the bill - which had both pro's and con's - we were never told about the Committee Substitute version, which is significantly worse than the original, until it was unveiled at the Senate Committee hearing. At no time did the bill sponsors or any of the industry groups writing the Committee Substitute version of the bill even tell us that they were working on amendments.
On the agency side, the Texas Animal Health Commission has never included FARFA or the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in any working group or informal meeting.
look what found its way to my porch....
