01/21/09 Factory Farm Regulations

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Not necessarily, and in this instance, it would be a "cow and bull" story. While small producers had accused mega farms of wrongful interpretation and application of federal organic law and sought changes, the recent USDA proposed regulations to clamp down on large factory farms has several smaller organic dairies now feeling that the "blanket regulations" will leave them out in the cold. As written, the USDA proposals do not take into account different farming regions or state and federal regulations for water, soil and animal welfare already in place. It becomes very obvious upon reviewing the proposed regulations that a thorough amount of research and consideration did not go into their creation. The number of proposed changes that come into debate are too numerous to list here, but simply put reflect on animal husbandry. As they stand now the USDA proposed regulations would violate good and careful management of livestock and resources.