The USDA recently announced its new NAIS program, making it mandatory through existing Animal Health programs. This program, which for years the USDA has assured us would remain voluntary, and would incorporate appropriate technology for each species, is being driven through like a locomotive.
The program uses Scrapie, a disease which rarely afflicts sheep, and very occasionally, a goat or two, as a way to make every goat owner eartag every goat with a special USDA ear tag, complete with government seal! What about "pride of ownership?" Heck, who owns the goat, me or the US government? If the government does then they can start paying the feed bill.
I'm hoping that money talks, because obviously reason isn't being heard. If you have Nigerian dwarf goats, or know someone who does, please visit www.smallfarmgoat.com and click on the Economic Impact link in the upper left corner of the screen. I've put together a form that people can fill out, with a little bit of daydreaming and a little thought. How much land do you own? How many goats? How many stores/catalogs/service providers/magazines do you use that relate to your goats or farm? How much money did you make from your goats - not profit, just the income? If there were reasonable regulations for small farms, how much more could you make? How much have you saved because your goats provide your milk? That's more than milk and cheese, what about allergies? digestive problems? therapy?
I'm tabulating this information in a set of charts to show the economic impact of the small goat on the American economy. If it's just a few farms, it's not much. But put all of us together, and it's a lot. Then, maybe we can get our legislators to understand why we matter, beyond our vote.
I'll write later today about NAIS and why it's a bad idea. I've done so much of it already on other sites, I hate to get riled up again, but it's only fair that FarmerCode explain to those who don't have animals why it matters to you. Thanks,
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