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From: Jim Hanna, ICON Board of Directors
RE: Premises ID
Date: December 13, 2007

An Open letter to Fellow Nebraskans:


The Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture recently sent out letters to a vast number of producers indicating their desire for us to enroll our farms and ranches in the Premises Identification program. The letters were on official department letterhead, contained official looking but meaningless numbers and carried a tone of urgency.

What you need to know is this:

  • Premises ID and any related animal ID program is strictly voluntary on both a State and National level.
  • You do not need to take any action as a result of that letter.
  • You are not obligated to “sign-up” for any reason.
  • There are currently no large scale marketing programs that are paying premiums for source and age verified cattle and if animal and premise ID become mandatory, there will be no reason for premiums.

Why the half-truths and deceptions? In order to keep the federal money flowing in, to support the wildly unpopular ID programs, the State needs to achieve the next benchmark in the percentage of premises registered. Since they have hit the proverbial wall with genuinely voluntary registrations, they are going to the next level to expand participation.

Other states have already mandated participation (Michigan) or coerced enrollments by taking away the rights of children involved in 4-H (Colorado). In order to keep Nebraska from making ID mandatory, we need your help. The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) along with State Senator Cap Dierks, has sponsored LB632, which is awaiting debate by the full Legislature. This bill would simply prohibit the State from implementing mandatory ID and allow an “opt-out” process for those who have had a change of heart about participating.

We ask you to simply contact your State Senator and ask them to oppose any law that would mandate participation in premise and animal ID and to support LB632.

ICON is also working on the local level to encourage County Commissioners to pass resolutions opposing mandatory ID. If you or your County officials would like more information, contact us at (308) 458-2758 as soon as possible.

Know your rights, don’t be tricked or bullied by anyone into signing up until you are sure of all the ramifications for your operation.

Thank you,


Jim M. Hanna
ICON Director
HC 58 Box 94
Brownlee, NE 69166
(308) 748-2233
jhanna@neb-sandhills.net

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