Western Farm Press: Regulations Are A Financial Noose For Small Producers

Source: Western Farm Press

• Buttonwillow, Calif., farmer Jason Selvidge says every year state and federal governments pile more and more regulations on agriculture. It appears government is intentionally trying to drive agriculture out of business, he believes.

Government regulations impact all agricultural-related operations (farms, processors, shippers, etc.) regardless of size. Larger operations often hire employees to strictly work to ensure the farming enterprise complies with government requirements, Selvidge says. The costs are often spread out across the larger operation. 

Yet smaller farmers — the same ones government says it wants to protect — are actually hardest hit financially by regulations. 

"Everyone loves to hear about small farms and the need for the small family farmer," Selvidge says. "What really happens when government develops regulations and the related rules is overhead costs are driven higher which in turn drives smaller farmers out of business faster. They cannot financially handle the regulations."

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