Why write about this on Free to Farm? This is the kind of farm operation that will suffer the most under NAIS. As the Book family is just starting out and markets their farm products directly to consumers, their farm enterprise is fragile like any other startup business. Increased regulations only serve to raise the bar of entry into business. How do you add the burden of reporting under NAIS to a young family with a new farm? Ethan has to work off the farm to make a go of it now. It is hard to get started, but the Book family seems to be doing well. The people who buy their beef from the Book family know where the beef comes from. Animal ID is not needed! I would also bet that Ethan knows all of his animals well. It’s not hard on a small farm. The government doesn’t need to know what the Book family is doing.

Ethan and Becca: I pray you all of God’s blessing for your family and farm.

This also reminds me of why we celebrate Christmas. It is a holiday for remembering Christ Jesus’ birth.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. – John 1:29 (KJV)

God bless you this Christmas.

Click here to see a list of books by Joel Salatin.

Unfortunately, there is not much time before the zoning commission makes their determination. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 30, 2007 at 7:30 PM. For background information, I have two documents from Gary. The first document is the testimony Gary gave before the Commissioners. The second document is Gary’s proposed testimony for the April 30th meeting.

Gary asks that if you oppose factory farms that you contact the county commissioners at:

Pierce County Commissioners
C/O County Courthouse
240 2nd St. SE
Rugby, ND 58368

From a personal standpoint, this is something that could happen to anyone who owns a farm. The regulations regarding this is the main reason we decided not to move to Missouri. In fact, when looking for a farm, we seriously considered moving to North Dakota and one of our criteria was that no Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations were within 10 miles of any possible farm purchase. Gary is correct when he says that this factory hog farm will most likely make his farm unmarketable.

The best thing that can be done for Gary and Sandy is to pray. Pray that God will intervene on behalf of his people and stop approval for construction of this farm. Also, no matter where you live, contact the Pierce County Commisioners to express your opposition. Click here to go to a web page with contact information for all of the Commissioners.

Just a few months ago, I took up the opportunity to caretake a farm in southern Iowa. This is my family’s first step into farming. It is a grass farm with beef cattle. My goal is to eventually own a farm and raise livestock for sale. This livestock will consist of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens. I believe in raising these animals in the open and feeding them what they would naturally eat. I also believe that the best defense against disease and poor health in livestock is good diet and nutrition. This belief is not based on my limited personal experience, but rather on the experiences of friends and farmers who do this already.

Beyond livestock, our farm plans include raising fruits and vegetables, in a natural and wholesome way. Our customers will be people we know in the region where we farm. This is commonly known as Community Supported Agriculture. I prefer to call it Relationship Farming, where the relationship between the consumer and the farmer is built on trust. My customers trust me to raise food in a natural, humane and healthy manner. I trust the relationship my family has with our customers to provide a modest living. Is this idealistic? Yes, perhaps it is. However, I believe it is a sound formula for prosperity, based on pastoral economics and the increase that God provides. It is a place where people can help each other and the wider community benefits.

This is where the “catch” comes in – NAIS. A soon to be mandatory national animal identification system, which threatens my privacy and my freedom to farm. I do not have a problem if farmers and ranchers participate in this program voluntarily. If it is a benefit to them, then they can choose it. However, I am constrained not to participate, both by my Christian convictions and my love of the principles of freedom that the United States of America was founded on. I will be expanding on this and other issues, such as patents on seeds. It is time for American farmers and ranchers to make their voices heard. It is time for us to stand up for our freedoms. The future of farming and our children’s right to do so is in our hands today.