Tractor Supply federal tracking!?

[Big C]

Quote:
Up against the wall!!! We went to a Nickelback concert in Chicago in 07 where we had to do this. The guy cops searched the women and vic-versa. They thought it was funny.
Will try and get some more information on Texas laws and regs from our state rep, but he's a cow guy...

 

[fowltemptress]

Quote:
Was he maybe thinking of this? http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/41612627.html
Not that that would warrant weirdness on the part of TS, but the employee could have heard some story about sick chickens and jumped to extreme conclusions.

 

[idealpoultry]

If any of you could you please tell me which town you were in a TSC that is discussing AI it would be very helpful. We are working with TSC corporate to get these rumors stopped.

Teri Adcox
Ideal Poultry

 

[Big C]

I called our Texas State Representatives office to day for more information on AI in Texas.
Had an interesting long talk in political legalese speak. He referred me to this Senate Bill:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB00682I.pdf
For more information and a video link to the debate you can use Live Search or Google: Texas legislature search Bill SB682.
Back to the conversation.
Question: Is there was a current law or state regulation(s) on a consumer or business providing legal/personal information on the purchase of live poultry?
Answer: This office has had numerous numerous calls and emails from concerned constituents. Then went on to give me the schpeil on how our state rep was in our corner, etc, etc, etc... Currently he referred me to the bill in committee above.
Question: So to date this is voluntary?
Answer: Yes, Texas is trying to setup State law(s) and regulations before the US gov updates or mandates AI national tracking that would be voluntary. This way Texas would have laws and regs already implemented and set up as voluntary. If there was no link to money recieved from the feds for this specific ag related purpose then the state laws and regs would remain the same. If monies recieved from the feds included the federal mandates, then SB682 would become mandatory.
Question: Then everyone purchasing poultry would be required to give all information for federal tracking purposes concerning diseases, or anything they deem as required information?
Answer: Yes
Question: So then there would likely be a fee/tax to support this?
Answer: Yes, likely at the state and federal level.
Question: So if this were a small/Mom & Pop business then we could be required to purchase a license, pay the added tax, hypothetical insurance, be required to take continuing ed classes for a fee?
Hypothetical legalese answer: 1, yes 2, yes 3, depending on the required federal mandates and changes to existing or proposed state law, depending on the size/income of the operation this could be a requirement/expense 4, depending on federal mandates this could be added as a requirement to keep your license and insurance.
Question: Seems that raising poultry for most any average person or small business could become regulated with all associated costs you mentioned due to a national or state AI law/reg?
Answer: Yes, unless you, companies that sell online or to businesses, someone who wants to buy a couple of chicks at Easter contact your state or national gov representatives speak out and voice your opininion(s) then there will always be more regulations on more and more evereyday living.

Further conversation: Thank you for taking the time to explain this. I am calling on behalf of myself and a group that I belong to. There seems to be a lot of confusion on AI to the general public.
Answer: Yes we take numerous calls everday about this subject ranging from abusive to people seeking information. You and the group (not by name) you mentioned need to call your gov. reps and voice your opinions. If you need more information please call again.
Answer: Yes I will and thank you for the information, have a nice day.

Teri,
Our TSC store in Vernon Texas did not require this information at purchase. They did have the required 6 chick purchase. I did get the last 4 banties from the weeks shipement so they could prep for the next order. We do a fair amount of business with them in association with our business and farm so we have an ag related account there.

 

[idealpoultry]

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has ‘strongly recommended’ that Tractor Supply Company (TSC) gather personal information from their customers when they purchase baby poultry. This is not in compliance with the current laws. The current law is stated below and I have bolded the portion of the law that applied to this situation.

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Texas Administrative Code
TITLE 4
AGRICULTURE
PART 2
TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION
CHAPTER 54
DOMESTIC AND EXOTIC FOWL REGISTRATION
RULE §54.3 Registration Exemption
________________________________________
(a) The commission may exempt from registration a person participating in a disease surveillance program recognized by the commission.

(b) The commission recognizes the following disease surveillance programs:

(1) National Poultry Improvement Plan ("NPIP") with the "U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean'' ("PT") and "U.S. Avian Influenza Clean" ("LPAI") programs

(2) The Texas Poultry Federation Avian Influenza Monitoring Program

(3) sellers, distributor or transporter of only fowl classified as baby poultry, at the time of receipt, from NPIP hatchery and accompanied by NPIP Form 9-3, or APHIS Form 17-6.

(c) A disease surveillance program not identified in subsection (b) of this section may request approval for recognition provided it contains the following minimum elements:

(1) Verifiable disease testing protocol
(2) Includes PT and LPAI requirements
(3) Specified risk based sample size

(d) In order to recognize a disease surveillance program not identified in subsection (b) of this section, a person shall submit a detailed explanation of the surveillance program to the Executive Director for consideration. A decision to recognize a disease surveillance program will be provided to the requestor within 30 days of receipt by the Executive Director.

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We believe that the TAHC has overstepped their authority in the case of ‘highly recommending’ to TSC that they obtain personal information from their customers that purchase baby poultry. We are asking that you contact Andy Schwartz DVM at the TAHC [email protected] and that you also file a complaint with the TAHC at [email protected]. Ideal Poultry is strongly against the position taken by the TAHC on this issue and would appreciate you contacting your local State Representative and Senator, National Representative and Senator and the TAHC. Your actions can and will help the poultry industry in the State of Texas as well as future Federal legislation.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Quote:
They said earlier in this same thread that even TSC's in OK and other states are doing the same things.

 

[JessaLynn]

Our TSC here in Ohio said they are not requiring people to purchase min. of 6 chicks nor do they need any info of mine to purchase them.It's all a voluntary policy each store is doing.That's what I was told yesterday by our TSC.

 

[cluesmom2]

I also believe it is something related to the NAIS. Last year I had to fill out papers on my poultry purchases at Runnings.( similar to TSC)

I hear there is a push to quietly bring back and push through NAIS since it went under radar last year.

This government has realized how easy it is to push through bills when everyone is paying lots of attention to AIG bonuses, etc.
I absolutely refused to fill out the paperwork for the NAIS when they sent it out quite a while ago. It is none of their business what I raise on this farm.

 

[DiVon80]

I believe this is the beginning stages of the NAIS. They are trying to Identify people who have food animals. Go to the APA web sight..... I also found this sight that is very interesting: (Realmilk.com/why.html) the gov. is using this info to go to farms ect... People who were listed,expecially states where it is illegal to get raw milk(like mine-Louisiana) from farms, were being harrassed by govt. officals. You might keep in mind that this forum could also be watched. I'm getting my animals now. The national animal identification system will be using satalite to find your microchipped animals. Before long it will be required for all animals... Remember pay for your chickies with cash....The hatcheries are a head of the game they have all our info?????? I do not want microchipped animals....Just remember anything could happen between the post office and your home.....the neXt step iS to micro chip your babies before they leave the hatChery. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!?!?!?

 

[goosedragon]

The 6 bird limit was passed in a lot of states (not Fed) by animal rights groups. Too many people were buying peeps as disposable pets for their kids at Easter (can you think of anything cuter) then when they got to that 6 or so week size they aren't cute anymore and nobody wants to tend them so they were being dumped at pounds or just taken to the country and dumped. I am neutral on that but if you have a releationship with a feed store and they know you are farm people they often forget about that rule. Some states are adopting the NAIS federal proposed rules about resistering all food animals it is supposed to make it easier to trace back on diseased animals. No Law has been passed yet but they have the rules all laid out ready to go. not only will buying be recorded but you are supposed to register every new birth and death, every time the animal is off your property for any reason, and of course if they are sold. It will be a nightmare of paperwork to abide by these rules. The huge producers like the ideal since they will be dealing with herds and whole truckloads of chickens. About the best us backyard people can hope for is some type of small number exemption unless you want to sell your birds to the public. There is very little organized resistance so if you want to fight for your rights look up one of the anti-NAIS sites and join up.