Fw: USDA to launch National Small-Scale Livestock Operations Study

[Guest guest]

No matter how tempting they make this, think twice! Read every word under a

microscope and if you still are tempted, it would not be a bad idea to run it

past an Ag attorney first. I will be shocked if there are not major strings

attached to this " voluntary " participation for that is the history with this

agency.

USDA TO LAUNCH NATIONAL SMALL-SCALE LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS STUDY

FORT COLLINS, Colo., JANUARY, 2011— USDA’s National Animal Health

Monitoring System (NAHMS) will launch a national small-scale livestock

operations study in March 2011. Known as Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011,

the study will take an in-depth look at the health, marketing, management, and

biosecurity practices of livestock operations with annual sales of agricultural

products between about $10,000 and $499,999.

The study will include operations throughout the country that have cattle,

horses, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, aquaculture species, and/or other

livestock species. During March 2011, selected small-scale livestock producers

will receive an informational packet from USDA’s National Agricultural

Statistics Service (NASS) which will explain how to participate in the

Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study.

According to Dr. Clifford, Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services,

“small-scale livestock operations in the United States help create prosperous

rural communities and provide safe and nutritious foods for our country and the

world. Today, these operations face many challenges, as well as opportunities.

The NAHMS Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study will describe these

operations and examine their needs. Those who participate in the study will

contribute information that will help direct research, develop educational

programs, and guide policy development.â€

Objectives for the Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study include

a.. Providing a description of animal health, marketing, and management

practices on small-scale operations;

b.. Identifying challenges faced by small-scale operations; and

c.. Describing management and biosecurity practices important for the control

of infectious diseases on small-scale operations.

Participation in the Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study is

voluntary. All information provided during the study is completely

confidential. To safeguard the privacy of respondents, all results will be

published in aggregate form.

For additional information on this topic, contact Lyndsay Cole at

(970) 494-7410 or e-mail: lyndsay.m.cole@....

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