Just Ruminatin'

Issue 72 is Out!

2011-04-06T14:34:00.002-04:00

The Winter Issue of Ruminations is now in the mail, and along with it, a new version of the website. We're trying to keep the site more up to date, and have included a new PDF outtake from the present issue, so non-subscribers can see what we're talking about.

The Spring Issue is a great opportunity to advertise your farm with a special advertising package. Present subscribers get a free business card ad, or the cost of that ad off a larger advertisement. New subscribers get that same deal, plus 4 issues of the magazine and a classified ad in a future issue, all for $20/ for the first year.

Why are we doing this? Because we know that it can be hard to get noticed on the web, and for those not on the 'net have an even more difficult time. Also, Ruminations is a subscriber based publication, and we need advertisers to keep the magazine going. We try to make every issue helpful to you, and honor the precedents that were set before we bought the magazine. But we need you to send in your photos, articles and advertisements to keep us viable. We hope you'll help us keep Ruminations growing strong! Thanks,

New Issue

2011-03-09T10:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been so bad about updating this blog. I am just juggling so much that I just don't remember to take the time. But this issue is really important - to me, and to the breed.

There is a lot of "hoopla" about the buck height right now, and I'd just like to state personally that to me it's about time the conversation happened. A new breed club is starting up, and that's building some resentment too. But I think it's a good idea to have more than one view on a topic. No one has to believe any particular way, but they should have the knowledge to make a proper decision.

This new group has put together a survey to find out what the Nigerian dwarf breeders around the world really think. We'll publish the results in Ruminations, and a synopsis online. It's not our job to censor information, but we do want to be clear that each person can only vote once. We want to hear from as many people as possible, and if we "max out" on Survey MOnkey, we'll run the survey again another month.

To take the survey visit it here. Please let us know what you think about this important topic. Thanks.

Food Safety Bill

2010-11-30T13:11:00.000-05:00

Well, a victory for us small producers. The Senate Bill 510 was voted on this morning and it passed. While the original bill was supported by Big Ag because it did exclude small farmers, farmer's markets and farm sales from its jurisdiction, the bill that passed does, thanks to Senator's Tester and Hagan. When their Amendment was attached, Big Ag began lobbying heavily to stop the bill, but they did not succeed.
Now we have to make sure that the conference committee which will compromise the HOuse and Senate bills into one law, adopts the Senate bill over the House Bill. The Senate Bill has aspects which limit control over farms and companies with less than $500,000 in sales, which is much more "farm friendly." Keep an eye out for the progress of the conference bill. Senator Reid was hoping to get this through during the lame duck session. Who knows?

Public Meetings Re: Animal Traceability

2010-04-30T07:49:00.000-04:00

The USDA has announced three meetings where citizens can voice their opinions about
the new proposed Animal Traceability Program. The meetings are at:

• Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Holiday Inn Kansas City – SE Waterpark
9103 East 39th Street
Kansas City, MO 64133
• Thursday, May 13, 2010
USDA Center at Riverside
4700 River Road
Riverdale, MD 20737

• Monday, May 17, 2010
Crowne Plaza – Denver International Airport
15500 East 40th Avenue
Denver, CO 80239

The meetings will discuss the impact of the new program, outlined at
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2010/02/0053.xml

The USDA wants to alert people that there will be a $4 parking fee at the Maryland
site, but there is public transportation nearby.

For those of us who aren't near any of these sites, we need to send emails, letters
or phone calls to the USDA office and to our Federal Legislators.

The USDA has stated that there will be additional public sessions in the future. We
will be posting those as we are able to discover them.

There is a page at the USDA Animal Traceability Site that has an FAQ about the program. Please take the time to read that document and make comments with those explanations in mind.

This is the USDA's new NAIS approach. We got it stopped the first time around, so let's use this opportunity to craft an approach that will work.

There is a grassroots group that is offering suggestions in a letter being sent to Secretary Vilsack, which makes helpful suggestions that affect small farmers/ranchers throughout the nation. I am a part of that group so I can assure you that many of our concerns are reflected there.
- Pat Stewart

Food Safety Bill

2010-04-15T13:22:00.001-04:00

There is a new bill on the floor of the Senate that will make it more difficult to maintain freedom of food choice. If you want to know more about it, please visit www.smallholdersalliance.com and see what's afoot. The bill itself is dangerous, but the amendment put forward by Senator Tester is a good one, and needs to be passed. Please check it out and spread the word. Time is of the essence. If this bill goes into affect as is, the FDA could come to the farm and try an interfere with things they don't understand. The USDA may not be perfect, but the FDA is much less informed about farm matters, yet they will have control over practices and potential business that they currently don't have the authority to do anything about.

Please help protect our freedom to grow our own food and sell to those who trust us. Thanks, Pat

NAIS - The New Incarnation

2010-02-22T07:45:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of discussion about the death of the National Animal Identification System. Is it dead? Are we out the woods? Is it just renamed?
I'm hoping to clarify some of the confusion through ongoing comments on this blog.

NAIS, in its original incarnation, is dead. Secretary Vilsack announced on a conference call with many Ag groups that the program was a "failure," and that part of the reason was the overwhelming opposition that was heard at the Listening Sessions. However, the fact that program had essentially no funding, just a couple million dollars in this year's budget, also had a lot to do with it. That's just my opinion, there, but it makes sense.

However, the USDA still has obligations to the UN, and to other treaties, that we have to maintain, so the agenda of NAIS isn't gone. It will be retooled though.
We DO need to watch what diseases we import to this country. The new program is being developed with this in mind. We DO need to know where disease outbreaks happen, and contain them. That is being considered in the new program. But we also NEED to support the growing local ag economy through reasonable rules and regulations, education and support, and rebuild the shattered trust between farmers and the USDA.

This new program will be designed WITH the input of small farmers and local ag supporters. An Advisory Council is being developed which will include Big Ag and Little Ag, as well as other groups. I think it's the best way forward. But part of what has to happen is that the public needs to learn why we do what we do. That keeping livestock isn't like organizing a warehouse, and that "Bigger" isn't necessarily better.

We each need to communicate our concerns to our legislators. We need to develop relationships with the public, the media and the lawmakers that illustrate that we are reasonable, intelligent people with knowledge to share in the area of raising safe food.

I am going to be part of a conference call, which I thought was today, but is actually tomorrow, that will help determine who is the "Little Guy's" representative on the Advisory Council. Rest assured, there are some brilliant, informed people on our side, with the best of intentions in going forward. Some are attorneys, some are farmers, some are advocates and everyone is dedicated to supporting small farms, local food and sustainable agricultural future for the USA.

Ethics Question

2010-01-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

I am hoping we'll get some feedback on the "Right or Wrong" section of the magazine.
Someone did ask me what I meant by "Production vs. Show," as they understood that there was no conflict in these two goals. My belief is that there shouldn't be, but there sometimes is. There are people who show off beautiful mammary systems on their goats, but in reality those goats don't milk very well. Also, there are animals that milk terrifically well, but are either over standard, or are not show material. There is some concern that there is a trend toward "putting it in the bucket," at the expense of proper standards.
Personally I have overheight animals, but they are clearly stated as overheight in the DHI papers and on my publicity. They may be oversized, but by a shade of inch, up to an inch, and not higher. In one case, I clearly overfed the doe during her growth period, and she grew too fast and suffers from joint issues and other problems. In the other case, my doe was the daughter of a foundation animal in the early stages of the breed's development, so predictability was not reliable in many herds.
So what do you all think? That's what this blog is about - conversation. Please chime with your views and let's get the conversation rolling. Thanks, Pat

Events Updated

2010-01-28T10:39:00.002-05:00

The website now has an updated Events listing. If you have a workshop, seminar, course or show you'd like to announce, please let us know. There is no cost to use this service, we just want people to know where they can learn more about goats.

Haiti Relief

2010-01-13T19:06:00.002-05:00

Ruminations is coordinating an effort to provide goats to the people of Haiti following this terrible earthquake. Specifics are still in the works, but I have been working with Heifer International for years, and they are working with us as to how to proceed. It may be just a collection of donations, which we use to purchase goats from their "catalog." Or we might be asking people to donate or sell their animals to Heifer so that the people of Haiti can have fresh milk now, or in the future.

Amid this terrible devastation is an opportunity for the nation to rebuild itself into a stronger country. Goats have always been "Easy keepers," and wonderful companions, as we all know. Goats are a mainstay in the Haitian diet. Our little goats offer possibilities that bigger goats can't. There may not be a place for them, but there may be. I'll let you know when I hear more from Heifer.

Until then, if you are of a mind to, say a prayer for all those affected, and those who are trying to help.

Right or Wrong?

2010-01-13T19:00:00.002-05:00

We started a new program this issue (#67) in Ruminations. It's a conversation about ethics called "Right or Wrong?" It's our goal here to enlighten people about some of the issues we face as goat breeders and owners. It is not our plan, goal or otherwise, intent to defame or denounce anyone. No proper names, herd or farm names are to be used. Conversations should be general and not too specific about incidents. If we can't all abide by this rule, we will stop the program.

Our first topic is "Is breeding for dairy a benefit in the ring? Is breeding for the ring and advantage in the milking parlor?" The exact phrasing is in the magazine, but there is more room to discuss it, so I have enhanced the description of the question.

You do not have to be a subscriber of Ruminations to participate here, though we hope you will be soon, if you're not. You do have to register with the blog to participate. Select, representative replies will be placed in the next issue of the magazine, and a new question will be posed at that time.

Do you have a question you'd like to discuss? Let me know at Editor@smallfarmgoat.com and we'll look at how best to phrase it. We realize this can be a touchy subject, but we feel that it's important to do. I hope you'll agree and participate. Thank you,

Pat Stewart

Sad News

2009-12-22T20:40:00.003-05:00

I've been a member of the WSU Goat List for many years, primarily because of Dr. Michelle Konnersman. A vet specialing in goats, and a goatkeeper herself, Dr. Konnersman was wonderfully generous with her expertise and experience, offering guidance for people who didn't have a mentor, and sometimes the only vet opinion that people could get.

Unfortunately Dr. Konnersman died today, following a stroke. A quick post was given to the list to notify us that she would not be taking any more questions. List members who had known Dr. Konnersman for years sent emails and phone calls to find out what had happened. Finally, the announcement came from an old friend of hers from the list, and "the real world."

Dr. Konnersman will be sorely missed. Finding people with such a love for goats who have gone on to be vets is very difficult. She was a great resource and help for so many of us. Details will be posted as we learn them.

Our hearts go out to her husband and son, and to all those who knew and loved her personally. Thank you Dr. Konnersman. Your work will carry on in each of us who benefitted from your warmth and guidance.

Apologies to Blog Followers

2009-10-05T06:42:00.000-04:00

I just realized that my blog dashboard has been giving me incorrect information. For those who asked for EZ pellets information, I'm sorry I never got back to you. I finally got asked for a moderated comment, the first time since this blog started. In looking at my dashboard, it was showing no followers, and no comments. Now, in looking through old posts, I find there were comments that I was never being shown. I'm terribly sorry, and will look into why this has happened.

Meanwhile someone has commented on your request and given you the correct information. I hope that this happens more often, and that I can trust my blog board to tell me the right thing.

I hope everyone's having "easy" breeding seasons and that the milk is still flowing if you want it. This year seems a lot different than last year for breedings. Don't know if it's the weather, or our management, but at least this year we know when the does are in heat.

Happy "goating"

New Issue Coming

2009-09-18T07:47:00.001-04:00

I know it's been a busy season here, but we've finally gotten through it. Issue #66 is on its way from the printer to our subscribers as we speak. We're shifting our publication schedule to make it more appropriate to the season, ie. Fall gets to you in the Fall, etc. However, that means the Winter issue is going to be shipping during the holiday season, so please, get us your photos, ads, announcements etc early so we can get the issue to the Post OFfice before all the Holiday cards hit.

A lot has been happening on the legal end concerning small farms. NAIS is still gasping for air, but it may be revived by some of the new legislation coming up. House Bill 2749 and Senate Bill 510 both address "traceability" programs and are written with concern and ignorance about our food suppy. Of course we all want safe food, but treating all farms the same doesn't reach that objective. Using some common sense, along with actual knowledge of the topic, will go along way in making better laws regarding our food supply.

It's breeding season across the nation now, and many of us are trying to figure out how much food we need to make it through, and how many animals we can carry over. I know in the Northeast hay is at a premium, and sales are somewhat down. Part of that is due to competition and some of it is due to people not realizing how healthy goat keeping is, for their bodies and their souls. If you can open your "farm gates," to let people see your operation, you may find a buyer waiting right outside.

Well, does are calling me. Please contribute to Ruminations and help keep the magazine vibrant and relevant. Thanks,

Pat

New Feature - One More Week!

2009-07-31T14:28:00.001-04:00

Attention Ruminations Subscribers!

We’re launching a new feature in this and future issues of Ruminations.
“What I Love About…” is a photo feature with quick caption, available only to our subscribers. Each item will feature one of your photos, and a quick description about what you love about that goat. It might be something intangible, and that’s fun. But we’d like to see comments about conformational or production features, such as depth of brisket or butterfat content, or she passes on her beautiful face.

Each of us our favorite goats, or our favorite traits that we’re breeding for. We thought this would be a great way to celebrate the genetics each of us has to work with in our herds, and recognize the traits we each value in our animals.

Explanations can be up to 50 words, and include words or numbers, but should also include the animal’s name. There is no cost associated with this feature. It’s our way of thanking our subscribers for their support of the magazine.

The Fall issue will close on August 9, so send us your photos and captions by that date. Send them to Editor@smallfarmgoat.com and make sure to include your herd name, if it’s not in the animal’s name.

Want to join in on this growing community? Ruminations is available to new subscribers for $20 the first year, and $25/for each renewal. Two year subscriptions are available for $40. Each subscription includes one free classified ad in the issue of your choice.

Ruminations will also be launching their new Milking Program for those who can’t or choose not to be on DHI. For more details, email me at the above address. Other features coming up include “It Works!” a comment and/or illustration of a farm tool, program or other subject that readers have found helpful on their farms. Feel free to send in your ideas.

Also, our Winter issue will focus on tips for those who are new Nigerian dwarf or miniature dairy goats. Beginner’s tips, resources, workshops, etc, are all included in this special issue. Please contribute your wisdom, so we can continue to help people keep their herds in this economy and benefit from the joys and the milk that comes from goatkeeping.

New Issue Out - New Problem To Work On

2009-06-16T09:37:00.002-04:00

By now you should have all gotten your latest issue of Ruminations, #65. Hope you enjoy it. We'd really like to help promote your herdsires in #66, so please check out the Stud Spot program in the advertising section, or the inset in the magazine.

We're very pleased to announce the Ruminations Unofficial Milking Program, detailed in the latest issue, as well. If you are a Ruminations Subscriber, of Nigerians or of a Mini-Dairy Goat Breed, and want to participate in the Ruminations program, please contact me at Editor@smallfarmgoat.com. Our coordinator will tell you what's involved.
Another great way to present how much our little girls contribute to our families.

Unfortunately, while the USDA is getting an earful about how small/medium farmers/ranchers object to NAIS, the House of Representatives is barging on ahead with ill-informed programs. Check out the following announcement from Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund -

A new food safety bill is on the fast track in Congress-HR 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. The bill needs to be stopped.

HR 2749 gives FDA tremendous power while significantly diminishing existing judicial restraints on actions taken by the agency. The bill would impose a one-size-fits-all regulatory scheme on small farms and local artisanal producers; and it would disproportionately impact their operations for the worse.

HR 2749 does not address underlying causes of food safety problems such as industrial agriculture practices and the consolidation of our food supply. The industrial food system and food imports are badly in need of effective regulation, but the bill does not specifically direct regulation or resources to these areas.

To read a detailed account of the bill, go to: http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-15june2009.htm

Alarming Provisions:
Some of the more alarming provisions in the bill are:

* HR 2749 would impose an annual registration fee of $500 on any "facility" that holds, processes, or manufactures food. Although "farms" are exempt, the agency has defined "farm" narrowly. And people making foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, cheeses, or breads would be required to register and pay the fee, which could drive beginning and small producers out of business during difficult economic times.

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to regulate how crops are raised and harvested. It puts the federal government right on the farm, dictating to our farmers.

* HR 2749 would give FDA the power to order a quarantine of a geographic area, including "prohibiting or restricting the movement of food or of any vehicle being used or that has been used to transport or hold such food within the geographic area." Under this provision, farmers markets and local food sources could be shut down, even if they are not the source of the contamination. The agency can halt all movement of all food in a geographic area.

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to make random warrantless searches of the business records of small farmers and local food producers, without any evidence whatsoever that there has been a violation. Even farmers selling direct to consumers would have to provide the federal government with records on where they buy supplies, how they raise their crops, and a list of customers.

* HR 2749 charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services with establishing a tracing system for food. Each "person who produces, manufactures, processes, packs, transports, or holds such food" would have to "maintain the full pedigree of the origin and previous distribution history of the food," and "establish and maintain a system for tracing the food that is interoperable with the systems established and maintained by other such persons." The bill does not explain how far the traceback will extend or how it will be done for multi-ingredient foods. With all these ambiguities, it's far from clear how much it will cost either the farmers or the taxpayers.

* HR 2749 creates severe criminal and civil penalties, including prison terms of up to 10 years and/or fines of up to $100,000 for each violation for individuals.

Action to Take:
Contact your Representative now! Ask to speak with the staffer who handles food issues. Tell them you are opposed to the bill. Some points to make in telling your Representative why you oppose HR 2749 include:

1. The bill imposes burdensome requirements while not specifically targeting the industrial food system and food imports, where the real food safety problems lie.

2. Small farms and local food processors are part of the solution to food safety; lessening the regulatory burden on them will improve food safety.

3. The bill gives FDA much more power than it has had in the past while making the agency less accountable for its actions.

HR 2749 needs to be defeated!! Please take action NOW.

To contact your Representative, use the finder tool at www.Congress.org or send a message through the petition system (the petition will be on our website this evening) at http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions_new.htm. Or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

To check the status of HR 2749, go to www.Thomas.gov and type "HR 2749" in the bill search field.

Updates on HR 2749 will be provided as events warrant.

Issue Out

2009-06-11T16:33:00.001-04:00

By now hopefully all the subscribers have gotten their new issues of Ruminations. We've received lots of good feedback on this issue, and are already collecting information for the next one.

Have a picture? article? poem? idea that you'd like to include in Issue #66? Send it to us at Editor@smallfarmgoat.com and we'll try to get it in. This next issue is dedicated to Buck Care and Reproductive Issues. In my mind, that includes Genetics. We'd like to highlight your Bucks, so check out the Stud Spot advertising rate. There are so many great herds out there, we want to help promote them.

I'll try to check in here regularly, but this is a crazy time on our farm. Forgive my absence, but chime in and start the conversations yourself!
Thanks,
Pat

Mineral Adventures

2009-04-26T07:19:00.002-04:00

Because of the way I feed my herd, it's hard to give an individual "dose" per animal, but when I first started using the EZ Pelz I substituted about 1/8 of the ration for one feeding, with the EZ pelz. So in essence, 1/16th of the ration for that time was EZ Pelz. I did that for about a week, and then I went back to the normal ration, putting a top dress of EZ Pelz on the regular feed and then mixing that in. I continue to do that once a day, though sometimes I forget. I don't double up the next day though.

I have seen my bucks get much stronger colors in their coats. Rut was extended by a couple of weeks, though with the warmer weather they are much calmer now. Does that had trouble conceiving, seem to have settled, though again, it may just be the end of breeding season. We'll see in a couple of months if that's true or not.

The strongest evidence that we have an improvement is that I have two does that now look very similar. Before, Timpatience was as white as a Saanen. Her past brothers had often been white, and she, at two years old, had never shown any sign of any other color. Now she's a heavily roaned white with red guard hairs. Her half-sister, Mithral, is very much the same color, and since both are now bred, it can be very hard to tell them apart.

We still find that the herd wants kelp, as there is still a race to the bucket when we fill it up, so obviously the EZ pels isn't the complete solution here. But those are organic minerals, so they are naturally chelated. We still have one doe with a problem, but we're working on finding that solution. Hers is not as simple as a lack of access. It's more one of personality. Hopefully we'll find the answer to her problem soon.

But in this herd, EZ Pels has made a big difference. As with anything else, I don't think there's ever any Easy Solution to every problem, but it's a big step toward a solid baseline. Hope that helps.

We're Making Waves

2009-04-16T16:22:00.001-04:00

The USDA announced today that it will be holding "listening sessions" throughout the nation for the next six month. What are they listening for? Ways to make NAIS more acceptable. Congress is getting frustrated with the lack of movement on this program, which many of us see as unnecessary and intrusive. Sec. Vilsack has stated that he wants to hear as many voices as possible about how to make NAIS more palatable. I think we need show him how many different ways it's unacceptable.

The USDA has also announced that it will be reopening the Federal Registry for comments in coming weeks. They will be posting the question and the "listening session" schedule pretty soon. You can read more about this announcement at

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0108.xml

A Question of Why

2009-04-15T08:47:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the directions goatkeeping are taking, and what my plans are for my own farm. It has gotten me into some very interesting conversations, though safe ones because I often speak with people who have the same philosophy I have. But a talk with my son this morning (car rides are great for real conversations, I'll miss them when he graduates), and we were discussing the value of hearing different opinions.

With the loss of so many newspapers and the rise of the Internet as a source I worry that the ability to read multiple sides to an issue will be lost. It's only natural to want to be with people who agree with you, but I do'nt think it's actually the wisest way to live. So, I'm asking here, understanding that there are a variety of answers to these questions: Why do you keep goats? What is the herdsize you think is ideal? What are your goals in goatkeeping?

Personally, I can say that my goal has always been to create a line of goats that prosper on average feed, without heavy duty supplementation and survive in the New England hills without a lot of pampering. To me, that specifically means that the animals coming from this herd should be identifiable as "Hames & Axle goats." To that end we have purposefully chosen select stock with certain traits, not necessarily from the most "popular," herds. That doesn't mean that they aren't great herds, just that they don't necessarily have the means to show often, or perhaps their farmers are shy and don't socialize well. It is well documented that we "goat folks," are a unique lot, and don't always "play well with others."

My herd, of about 50, including kids, bucks and does, is a little bigger than I'd like, but I've decided that if we're going to make it as a real farm, and not a petting zoo, we have to be able to make enough product (ie soap, etc.) to meet the year round demand. If we are going to expand our knowledge of cheesemaking, kefir and yogurt, we need extra milk around beyond the soap and drinking needs. That means the herd had to grow. However, I know my land's limits and that we are reaching that level quickly, and choices will have to be made.

I see so many herds explode into the "goat scene," buying more than a few bred does, collecting bucks, and growing really quickly, I worry. I'm glad that we took the time to learn about goatkeeping before we entered the world of "goat selling." It was even longer before we entered that scary domain of "goat showing." While I was more worried about my behavior in the ring, I've since learned that it is the behavior out of the ring that is of more concern.

So, I'm wondering, why do you keep goats? How do you feel about small or large herds? Are you more interested in raising competitive show goats, or productive contributors to your farm? There are very few wrong answers, (I can't say there aren't any, that's a matter of opinion.) But I hope that this is a conversation that we can build on. I'll probably bring this to the next issue of Ruminations, with people being invited to post here or in writing to me at home. I hope you'll share your ideas.

By the Way, just a word of clarification for those who might think that Ruminations is a big operation. We have lately gotten some very confused phone calls. Ruminations is run from my house, with contributors all over the country. When you call us, I don't answer Ruminations, I just say Hi. Why? Because I'd have to answer "Stewart Family, Hames & Axle Farm, Surfing Goat Soaps, Small Holders Alliance and Ruminations, How can I help you?" I don't have the patience for that, so "hi" will have to do. Call when you have to, it's fine if it's late at night. But don't be surprised if you hear a groggy answer if it's after 8:00 p.m. on the west coast. We'll answer, but we don't guarantee we're totally awake yet. Take care,

Next Issue Closing Soon

2009-04-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Issue #65 of Ruminations will be coming out next month. Do you have a Quad Corner picture to share? a story? an event to announce? Let us know. This issue is supposed to be based around the "Business of Goats," so if you have a goat based sideline, or full time job, let us know about it.

Thanks,

A New “Dust Bowl” from Washington?

2009-03-10T15:20:00.000-04:00

A new Dust Bowl faces America’s farms, only this one isn’t coming on the Jet Stream, like the Great One of the 1930’s. It’s coming from our government, threatening to bury our small farms under storms of paperwork, expenses and intervention.
In the 1930’s, the expansion of American agriculture, coupled with years of drought and shifting weather patterns, buried millions of acres of American farmland under blowing clouds and settling layers of dust. The result was the loss of thousands of small farms, and with that loss, thousands of families drifted west, seeking new homes, employment and a new start. All of this happened in the heart of the Great Depression, when more than 80% of Americans lived on small farms, growing their own food.
But today, though the atmospheric climate may portend a new Dust Bowl, there is a more imminent risk, our own United States Government. In the 1930’s, the government created the Civilian Conservation Corps, Youth Conservation Corps and the Soil Conservation Service, to try and anchor our nation’s soil to the ground, and give hope and guidance to those wishing to remain on the land. Other government authorities were created to assist these small farmers to continue farming, such as the Farm Credit Service. Why? Because there was a need to feed the people, to create housing, and to empower people at a time when many were disparaged because of the worsening economy.
Today, while the government assists large farms to continue the very practices that damaged our environment in the first place, it has also created the National Animal Identification System, or NAIS. This program, if fully realized, will financially punish the farmer who keeps a diversified, small farm. Not only will their land be branded by a Premises Identification Number, but the value of that land may be lowered because of that very brand. Potential buyers may decide they don’t want to be under the “watchful eye,” of the government, and resist paying “the real price.” The growing numbers of sustainable farmers, who are answering the call of America to grow local, naturally raised food, will be ordered to permanently mark each individual livestock animal, regardless of why they are kept, or what the farmer intends to do with them. These tags may in fact cause illness to the animals that the farmer is trying to so hard to raise humanely. How? By implanting ear tags that will be ripped out, leaving injuries, scars and infections in their wake. How can a program be about “Animal Health,” when it’s very requirements are detrimental to the animal’s health?
In this time when people are fearful of food safety, this “Food Safety Program,” will endanger the healthiest protein supplies, and cost the farmer and his/her animals in both money and health.
The last component of NAIS is the reporting or tracking aspect. Every time an animal leaves its home “premises,” such as going to the fair, a show, the vet, a classroom, or even meets an animal from a different farm, such as for breeding to keep genetic diversity strong, the farmer has to report that movement with 24 hours. If they fail to do so, they can be fined up to a $1,000 or be incarcerated. There is no concession for not having a computer, having religious convictions that conflict with the program, or even having a mechanical breakdown making it impossible to return home in time to report.
While this “dust cloud” looms on the horizon for the nation’s small farms, the industrial giants, who are practicing the same techniques that caused the original Dust Bowl, are exempt from individual tagging and tracking. Their confinement systems pollute their neighborhoods and their watersheds, abuse their animals through denying them proper exercise and housing conditions, and promote the very diseases that many people fear. Yet, they are given incentives to continue those practices, by allowing them tag and track their “inventory,” by “lot numbers,” as opposed to small farmers who identify their animals by name, and don’t need a computer system to know how each one is doing.
So why invent a NAIS? It has been explained as being an answer to Terrorism, to Mad Cow, to Bird Flu and to Food Safety. It is none of these things. Centralizing our food supply makes it easier for terrorists to harm us. Mad Cow and Bird Flu are diseases of industrial agriculture, spread by confinement and bad practices. Food safety is an issue that is solved in the processing facility, with proper inspection, and consumer education. Sick animals are not allowed in slaughter channels now, and proper enforcement will keep that from happening. The vast majority of food contamination happens inside the processing facility, not on the farm. The USDA says it needs a 48 hour traceback to be able to protect the animals, but we have existing programs, such as tattooing, branding, and existing programs, that have already proven they are successful at doing that, without a NAIS.
Sustainable farms are part of the solution to healing the climate shift problem. Such farmers are attuned to the impact they have on their land, as they share the water supply, the air and often consume the produce of the farm themselves. They feed their neighbors, providing a sense of community and educating the next generation about how to feed themselves, nourish the planet and grow a local economy.
When the Great Dust Bowl left, farms and towns were buried in layers of dirt. Families were uprooted and scattered to the winds, and entire communities were lost. If this New Dust Bowl of government intervention is allowed to blow in, the growing population of small farms, preserving our rural landscapes, and traditions, will be lost to the expense of compliance. All that will be left behind are the industrial farms who do not factor humane practices into their bottom line, and who have proven that it is their finances that matter, not their neighbors, their livestock of the land on which they operate. We will have lost the highest quality food available, and will be forced to pay higher prices for our food as it will be concentrated in the hands of the agri-giants who authored this program in the first place.
Can we afford to lose our artisan cheeses? Our rural tourism? Our open space? Can we afford to have our children growing up continuing to believe that milk comes from cartons and that they are powerless to provide for themselves? Small farms create “empowerment zones,” as the farmers, their neighbors and their customers have freedom of choice, availability of high quality food and a chance to make a living in small town America? Even urban planners are seeing the value of urban gardens, homesteads and community supported agriculture. Why can’t the United States Dept. of Agriculture?
There is a hearing on March 11 that will discuss the animal identification system issue. There is a regulation pending in the Federal Registry, that would make NAIS mandatory for many farms, through existing animal health programs. That comment period closes on March 16, 2009. If NAIS goes through the sustainable farmer will either become an endangered species or a “pirate on the land,” all in search of the freedom to raise animals in a humane, diversified, sustainable way. Please tell your elected officials that you want the tradition of the small farm to continue in America and that NAIS must not be enacted. We already face climate challenges greater than the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. We don’t need a Government Dust Bowl on top of it.

Hearing Notice - Important!

2009-02-28T21:05:00.002-05:00

Liberty Ark Coalition Alert
February 28, 2009

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry will hold a hearing on “animal identification programs” on Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The agenda has not been released, so nothing is certain at this time. Staffers have informed us that the Subcommittee will hear testimony from organizations about NAIS implementation generally, and that this is not a hearing to pass any bills. This is the first time in several years that any Congressional Committee will hear testimony about NAIS! We are working with other groups to try to ensure that the voices of people who are against NAIS will also be heard at the hearing.

Below is information on how you can take action, including a list of the Subcommittee members. After that is an update on NAIS in the Appropriations bill, so please read all the way through!

TAKE ACTION:

If one of the Subcommittee members is from your state, call that member. Or you can contact your own Representative and ask him or her to approach the Subcommittee member to urge them to oppose NAIS. If you’re not sure who represents you, click here.

When you call, ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues, and talk with them about your concerns about NAIS. Emphasize that you want them to ask hard questions of both the industry and USDA representatives, and to make sure that people representing those who oppose NAIS are also heard at the hearing.

Once the agenda for the hearing is released, we will send out another alert with more specific action points. And, after the hearing, it will be very important to follow up with the Subcommittee members to make sure they hear all of the facts that are likely to not be raised at the hearing! So stay tuned!

SUBCOMMITTE MEMBERS:

Below are the Subcommittee members, their party and state, and phone numbers. You can also send an email by using this format: firstname.lastname@mail.house.gov

We strongly recommend that you make at least your initial contact with the Ag staffer with a telephone conversation.

Name: Phone: Fax:
Mike Rogers (R-AL) 202-225-3261 202-226-8485
Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) 202-225-6131 202-225-0819
Jim Costa (D-CA) 202-225-3341 202-225-9308
Joe Baca (D-CA) 202-225-6161 202-225-8671
Betsy Markey (D-CO) 202-225-4676 202-225-5870
David Scott (Chair), (D-GA) 202-225-2939 202-225-4628
Leonard Boswell (D-IA) 202-225-3806 202-225-5608
Steve King (R-IA) 202-225-4426 202-225-3193
Walt Minnick (D-ID) 202-225-6611 202-225-3029
Frank Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD) 202-225-5311 202-225-0254
Adrian Smith (R-NE) 202-225-6435 202-225-0207
Tim Holden (D-PA) 202-225-5546 202-226-0996
David P. Roe (R-TN) 202-225-6356 202-225-5714
K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) 202-225-3605 or 866-882-381 202-225-1783
Randy Neugebauer, Ranking Minority Member (R-TX) 202-225-4005 or 888-763-1611 202-225-9615
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) 202-225-5431 202-225-9681
Steve Kagen (D-WI) 202-225-5665 202-225-5729

APPROPRIATIONS NEWS

The 2009 omnibus Appropriations bill, HR 1105, passed the House on Thursday. The bill includes $14.5 million of funding for NAIS, which is significantly less than the amount requested by the USDA for FY 2009. Representative Obey (D-WI) included a statement in the record about the intended uses of the appropriations for USDA, including timelines and performance goals for NAIS. This statement does not mandate NAIS, but it implies approval of the USDA’s Business Plan, which includes using existing disease control programs to implement NAIS and achieve those performance goals.

Call your Senators and ask that they support an amendment to strip the NAIS funding out of the bill! You can find your Senators’ contact information here.

The good news is that it appears that the provision that would have required the School Lunch Program to buy meats only from NAIS-registered farms did NOT make it into the omnibus Appropriations bill! THANK YOU to everyone who called and wrote their Congressmen last summer and fall to oppose that provision!

To read the Omnibus Appropriations bill, go to thomas.gov and enter “HR 1105” in the search box. Click the option for “Bill Number” and then hit “search.” Rep. Obey’s explanatory statement can be read by clicking on the link for “H1653-H2088” under “Note” (towards the top of the page of the search result).

For more information, visit and support LibertyArk.net

A Good Viral

2009-02-27T14:23:00.001-05:00

For those who wonder why farmers weep
‘Cause kids and chicks their tags don’t keep
It’s not just the pain and cost so deep,
It’s that “Government Help,” we saw in “Mad Sheep.”

Mad Sheep, written by Linda Faillace, explains her farm family’s experience with the
USDA and its early stages of the National Animal Identification System.
Published by Chelsea Green, read it and see why farmers are fighting so hard
to protect their land, their rights, their livelihoods and their animals. Read, Pass it on, and ask the President to read it. In order to protect our small farms and safest food, we all need to stop NAIS before all our food is raised by Industrial Agriculture. If you value your choice of sustainably raised local meat, dairy and eggs, voice your opposition to NAIS by contacting your elected officials, the USDA and your friends.

Please circulate this through the Internet. For those who don't understand why we're so afraid of NAIS, this book can illustrate it better than any other I know of.
Thanks,

Biding Time 'Til Spring

2009-02-23T12:37:00.002-05:00

It seems that some folks weren't able to access this blog from my post. I hope that's been fixed now. I don't quite know what happened, as the link worked for me, but none the less, it appears people are finding us here.

Now that we're digging out from another snow event here in MA, I know that some states like NH and ME are still recovering from their bigger storm. For the whole country, I think we'll all be glad to see Spring 09 coming, in various stages of "soon." What are you doing this year that's different from the past. Down sizing, Upsizing, Changing Focus? Moving to more organic feed? browse only? Let us know what you're doing to prepare.

I just started planting our herbs for the Farmer's Markets this summer, and will be making a lot more soap. Cheese will have to wait and the milk supply is still very short, and the does that just kidded need all that they have.

Let us know what's up with you, and what you'd like to see in Ruminations. We'll be watching :)

Pat

Birth of a Blog

2009-02-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Ruminations is one way of reaching out to our community, but this blog is another way. Between issues we often find things we want you to know, and recently a couple of ideas have come forward that lend themselves to this kind of exchange. So I decided to start "Just Ruminatin'" as a way to keep the conversation going between issues.

Send us your photos, articles, hints, etc. to the magazine. We've been very pleased with the participation we've been getting. Thanks ever so much to our contributing editors. But we'd like to grow Ruminations into more of a community, so here goes:

1) Have any of you had the same problems I've been having with late heats, does not settling, and throwing off your breeding programs? After struggling for six months I finally had a really helpful conversation with Blue Seal Feeds nutritionist, and she suggested that we try using a chelated mineral, rather than a regular mineral salt.
Our farm well is very heavy with iron, which we've known was causing our bucks especially to suffer from copper deficiency. I have one line in particular that is "Cu Needy." We have been upping the amounts of copper, using cattle blocks, copper rods, on top of using SweetLix minerals. Our hay has been better than average, and consistently from the same sources, but still I was seeing late puberty in junior does, older does not settling after repeated breedings using different bucks, and few of my show line ready to show or be appraised this year.
We have switched to a new mineral program here, using Blue Seal EZ Pels, and taking out the mineral salts completely. We will use copper rods if we see the faded coats and bowing legs that we were seeing, but the only minerals they will be getting are in kelp and a top dress with EZ Pels. Already I'm seeing a change for the better in my buck behavior, and my top milker is acting more herself when she's in heat (Translation: loud and pushy, rather than whiny and meek like she has been.)
In my conversations around the nation this past few months, I've found many people having similar conception rate problems. Is this "one of those years," or have we been pushing copper so hard that we've thrown off the zinc, selenium, cobalt, manganese and copper balances?
Could people post their experiences and comments here?

2) The new issue of the Ruminations is currently at the printer. We are launching a new program called "Working Girls," paying respect to those hard working milking folks who are using their goats' milk and dealing with milking every day. So many herds are cutting back on their herdsize, we want to highlight how productive and useful these little "mini milkers," are. So, watch for the "Working Girls," section and for a new milking program to be launched in the upcoming year.

3) Ruminations is also publishing a "Buyer's Guide to Nigerian Dwarf Goats." Sorry, Mini dairy goat folks, but this is targeted especially at the potential ND buyer. Much of it is transferrable to your situation, but the ND buyer is often a "different creature," than the conventional goat purchaser. The guide will be available for $5, including shipping and handling, and will decipher the alphabet soup and abbreviations seen on pedigrees, discuss different types of breeding operations ie. large/small, milking/show. It invites the reader to ask questions of themselves as to what they can be comfortable with as they venture into the world of Nigerian dwarfs.
Our hope is that we can encourage more people to bring ND's into their families, providing milk and smiles rather than confusion and sometimes disappointment. It is a result of several conversations I've heard over the years with people who try to figure out which animal to buy, from what farm, and what is meant by some of the terminology.

So, 2009 is off to a running start with Ruminations. We hope that your kidding seasons are easy and "full of does." Let us know.

Also, send us pictures for the website of how you survived this past winter, and 2008 in general. Many of you faced drought, fire, floods, snow and ice, more than any of us is used to expecting. We'll start a gallery on SmallFarmGoat.com to show off your photos and stories.

Thanks, I hope you'll participate in "Just Ruminatin'" and spread the word about it, and the Ruminations.

Pat