On April 27, 2004 we arrived in Washington, D.C. with the intention of bringing the A.M.G.A. and issues affecting the U.S. meat goat industry directly to our U.S. Senator's and Congressmen's attention. This year, as in past years, "your" meat goat Association, the American Meat Goat Association, was the only goat producers association present at the scheduled sessions and appointments. Some of the issues that we addressed were of a regulatory nature and others were of a budgetary nature. Some of the regulatory issues discussed with our elected officials were as follow: we asked for a regulation to be passed that would prohibit the U.S.D.A. practice of roll stamping imported lamb and goat carcasses as to being of a U.S.D.A. choice grade. This practice in our opinion is misleading due to the fact that when American consumers see a label in the grocers case identifying meat products by U.S.D.A. choice the natural assumption is that the product is of U.S. origin. We need to force cessation of this practice and require that U.S. produced products be the only ones eligible for a U.S.D.A. grading certification.

Another regulatory issue we requested action on was that the U.S. livestock industry be able to develop its own set of guidelines in regard to development and implementation of a U.S.A.I.P. We do not need an ID program legislated to us by our elected representatives who have not a clue of production issues and species differences in production schemes and marketing techniques. What will work for a cow, pig, chicken, or sheep will not serve as a suitable set of guidelines for those involved in goat production.

The third regulatory issue addressed was the fact that following the border closures due to the 12-23-03 BSE scare here in the U.S. exports of bovine (cattle), ovine (sheep), and caprine (goat) products and live animals were banned by over 50 countries in the global marketplace. We requested assurance that when trade is reopened with these countries that caprine products be included in the negotiated settlements. All of these were non-budgetary issues discussed and as such stand a better chance of success than the next set of issues we discussed.

We worked on soliciting support and co-sponsors from the House for HR 2079, the Minor Use for Minor Species Act. As goat producers this Act is very important to our industry as it provides mechanisms to allow FDA approval of pharmaceuticals for treatment of ailments in goats and other minor livestock species. I urge all of you to write, call, fax, or email your home district House members and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors or to at least support this important legislation.

Then we got into discussions on budgetary issues that are a bit more difficult to achieve support for. This difficulty arises mainly because of a scheduled 11% across the board cut in appropriations. When such budget cuts as these are scheduled agricultural programs are some of the first ones whose budgets are reduced.

In this goat herders mind the one funding issue that I feel is the most important is the funding of the remaining balance of federal money set aside in 1996 for the NSIIC (National Sheep "& Goat" Industry Improvement Center). This entity was established to provide grant monies and low interest loans to sheep and goat industry related research projects and start up ventures. As of May 1, 2004 only 28 million of the 50 million dollars in funding authorized in 1996 has been disbursed to the center, which leaves a balance of 22 million in unfunded dollars. It is going to be a tough fight to get these remaining funds distributed but this is an issue of utmost importance. As of now the NSIIC has loan and grant monies working for sheep and goat industry related projects in 37 states here in the U.S. The push for appropriations allowing the disbursement of the originally authorized funds is imperative because in 2006 the center is to become a privatized entity and will no longer be eligible for receipt of these undistributed monies. The NSIIC has done a lot for us goat producers so, again I am going to request that you contact your Senators and Congressmen and push for allocation of these monies; we need them to allow operation of the NSIIC to continue once it is privatized. They have done a lot for us and now we have an opportunity to return the favor; let's not let them down.

Another budgetary issue that we need to address is the continuation of funding for the USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services Program at it's current level. This is the program that provides the funding for our State predator control programs. Like in every other instance over the years, when the Federal budget needs to be cut Agricultural programs are the bulls-eye and the area targeted by legislators for these cuts. It is up to us agricultural producers to speak up if we wish to be heard since we comprise less than 2% of the U.S. population.

On the evening of the 28th of April the annual American Lamb BBQ was held which is an event hosted by ASI and the lobbying firm of Meyers & Associates, there in D.C. I am happy to report many of the 150 plus Congressmen, Senators, and their aides present got their first taste of goat meat this year. This was due to the generosity of W.E. and Carolyn Whitehead of Sonora, Texas who operate the T4 Ranch and T4 Meats. They donated some of their goat jalapeno-cheese summer sausage that was served as a pre-meal snack. When visiting with attendees some of the comments I heard were "I didn't know goat was this good", and "I have never eaten goat before". The product was a big hit so next time you see W.E. or Carolyn be sure to thank them for the contribution. Even Guy Flora, ASI President thought the sausage was good even though the jalapenos made it a bit spicy for his taste buds.

It took me three years to get goat meat in to this event and I sure was happy to see it so well received. I also received numerous requests for copies of our AMGA cookbook, as many of them now want to try goat meat in other dishes, so all in all it was a great success. I was also treated to one of the best views I have ever seen out of an office window. With remodeling completed Representative Charles Stenholm has a new corner office that has a huge window directly behind his desk in which the Capitol dome is in the background view. Sitting there visiting with Charlie and looking at that magnificent view was just another high point of my recent trip to D.C.

This entire trip and appointments scheduled were made possible through the efforts of ASI, Myers & Associates, and the TS&GRA, so don't cuss the sheep producers too loudly folks. They have over the years made the connections needed yet are not so selfish to disallow us goat people into their game; remember agriculture producers are less than 2% of our U.S. population, we ALL have to work together. On the return trip from D.C. to Sonora I stopped off to give a presentation on May 1st to producers and researchers at the Prairie View A&M University International Goat Research Center's Annual Field Day.

On May 7th at the invitation of the Mountain States Meat Goat Association, I also gave a presentation on the U.S. meat goat industry, the issues facing us, and as always promoted the our industry and the American Meat Goat Association in Coalville, Utah. The following day I was asked to judge an open and junior breeding goat show and a junior market goat show and was really amazed at the quality of the livestock present. Exhibitors showing goats were not only from Utah but also from Idaho and Wyoming, the MSMGA has adopted a pro-active approach towards assisting their members to market their surplus stock by collecting the animals and providing transportation to a market in California. They are a great bunch of people and I really enjoyed the opportunity to address the group, and to be able to meet those present and put a face with a name since I've had email correspondence with several of them prior to the May 7 & 8 meeting.

On May 15th it was off again on another trip to promote our industry and it's representing organization, the American Meat Goat Association. This trip was to Springfield, MO for a meeting of the Southern Missouri Meat Goat Producers and I have to say they were as enthusiastic and upbeat a group as any could possibly be. It is really great to act as a representative for producers within an industry where negativity never seems to be present. In all my travels one thing that still amazes me is the lack of knowledge of our association and our current undertakings. In all fairness to producers though, I suppose this unawareness is due to the fact that as an association the A.M.G.A. doesn't conduct an extensive enough outreach program. Since we don't host/sanction shows all across the U.S. as do the goat registries, it appears the best opportunity we have to get our message out is through direct interaction with all the state, regional, and localized goat associations across the country, of which there certainly appears to be enough. This number of associations is great and allows them to address issues affecting their particular region, yet at the same time there is a downside. With all the various groups and sub-groups at present, and more forming up every day, there seems to be a lot of confusion among new producers. There is such an alphabet soup of goat associations the average Joe or Jane has to wade through in order to decide where to spend their membership dollars. It comes as no surprise to me that knowing who is doing what for whom and when is practically impossible for them to decipher.