Kansas HB2099 please read

The Tin Mom · #21 02/03/11, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bfly Farmer

Thanks for posting this. We run our KS farm remotely and it can be hard to keep up with everything.

If you read the bill, dairy will have representation, but it may or may not be even. Out of the seven positions - 2 meat, 1 dairy, 1 feeder, 1 purebred breeder, 2 at large. Dairy people would qualify for at least 4 of the seven positions and if you can get people with mixed herds, that would help. Also, it doesn't say you need to be a member of the KS Meat Goat Ass, but just that elections will be held there. Also, how are they qualifying what is a meat goat vs. dairy? We run San Clementes. They are a dual purpose (meat/dairy). We run one herd for meat and a separate herd for milking. Where would we fall?

But do note that in their mission, there is nothing about promoting goat milk or dairy products, just meat. Isn't that the job of the Ks Meat Goat Ass?

As for the $0.50, that is crazy. There is no way to truly keep track of that and the admin costs would be ridiculous. I would hate to even harzard a guess as to the number of farmers that sell only a handful of goats a year. Are they really going to keep paperwork on someone who is sending in $5 and under a year. It screams big government at work!

Hopefully this will go down in flames!

All excellent points!

DownHome · #22 02/03/11, 06:03 PM

Did it say anywhere in there who wrote or proposed this bill? That is who we need to know. Whoever is in their district is going to pull the most weight. If your job is at stake you are much more likely to listen to the people.

downhome

Kshobbit · #23 02/03/11, 08:11 PM

Kansas Goat Producers,
I have been made aware of the attached copy of a bill that has started through the Kansas legislature to establish a Kansas Goat Council and a $0.50 per head checkoff. I would like to make sure you are aware of the content. This bill has been introduced and has been referred to the Ag Committee where it is up to the Chairman to give the bill a hearing which would provide the best opportunity for individuals and organizations to propose amendments or changes. The Kansas Meat Goat Association (KMGA) has taken the lead on this piece of legislation. If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Miller ()(jerry-miller@emypeople.net), KMGA President, or Representative Joe Seiwert (joe.seiwert@house.ks.gov), the primary bill sponsor.
I just received this email and it answers a few questions.

The Tin Mom · #24 02/03/11, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kshobbit

Kansas Goat Producers,
I have been made aware of the attached copy of a bill that has started through the Kansas legislature to establish a Kansas Goat Council and a $0.50 per head checkoff. I would like to make sure you are aware of the content. This bill has been introduced and has been referred to the Ag Committee where it is up to the Chairman to give the bill a hearing which would provide the best opportunity for individuals and organizations to propose amendments or changes. The Kansas Meat Goat Association (KMGA) has taken the lead on this piece of legislation. If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Miller ()(jerry-miller@emypeople.net), KMGA President, or Representative Joe Seiwert (joe.seiwert@house.ks.gov), the primary bill sponsor.
I just received this email and it answers a few questions.

Sorry, Bilbo, I am confused.

Kshobbit · #25 02/04/11, 12:02 PM

Sorry Tinmom I got that email from one of the KMGA officers. It looks like they are trying to say they did let everyone know about the bill. Oh yes I did retort to the KMGA president and the Kansas Representative. If they find my body floating in my stock tank you will know who did it!

Lurker_KS · #26 02/04/11, 02:19 PM

You have to go to the Kansas.gov site, and the KSlegislature portion, to track the bill, if you wish to read full text, see sponsors, and follow it through the committee (it is currently in committee)

Here is the link http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b201...asures/hb2099/

That page includes a link to the PDF of the bill proposing the creation of the Kansas Goat Council.

Kshobbit · #27 02/05/11, 10:23 AM

I have been in email correspondence with the KMGA president Jerry Miller. A nice guy but I bet he hasn't been in the goat business very long. He says most of the provisons that we object to were added later and he was unaware of the changes until several of us brought it to his attention! He is going to contact his man in Topeka, Joe Seiwert and have them removed! I asked him to drop the bill until the goat breeders in Kansas and the KMGA can meet and reach a mutually satisfying agreement.
The meeting to discuss the bill will be held in Topeka 02/08/2011 in the Robert Docking Building at 9:00 AM. Weather and roads permitting, I will attend the meeting and hope other concerned goat people attend also. If you want to speak you have to have your thoughts in writing and submit 35 copies of your speech. I can give you more detailed information if you plan to attend.
I think the check off idea is a good one as the sheep breeders and cattle breeders have been doing it for years. The difference is that the sheep and cattle folks have the check off money collected at the sale barns not every private sale in the state. As far as I know, they do not face fines or jail time if they fail to comply. I would additionally like to see a better cross section of goat breeders to be on the the Kansas Goat Council, meat, dairy, fiber, and pack goat breeders/raisers would be great.
Right now I think this bill needs to be trashed and a new more workable bill introduced that is agreeable to all or most of the goat raisers in Kansas.