"You better be careful selling farm eggs, 'they' may get you!!!!!"

[rufus]

I give people eggs. I won't charge for them because that would open me up to a whole lot of problems with the IRS. I sure don't want to tangle with them again.

Still, I had someone threaten to turn me in because she was sure my chickens didn't have all of their shots. This lady didn't even know that the eggs come out of the butt, the same hole as the poop. I didn't tell her.

 

[kglazier]

what does it matter about the vaccinations? I know immunization important for flock health and I wouldn't uses eggs from a sick chicken but a healthy hen that has never been vaccinated makes good eggs.

 

[cassie]

I'm not to sure about state laws, but I think the tax man, would like some money!!
That would be my concern.. i'm in Canada, but since the downturn, the tax mans has started keeping a closer eye on, what they think is their money..

The tax man shouldn't be a concern at least in the USA. Income from egg sales is not pure profit unless you don't have any expenses in producing them. Just keep records of your expenses like feed etc. You would pay taxes, if any, on net income, not gross income. Net income is gross income (the total of what you take in) minus expenses (feed, electricity, bedding, etc.)

 

[blythspirit]

I plan on selling a small amount of eggs, flowers, veggies, and hopefully honey next year at the end of my driveway, all from my and my hens, bees and gardening efforts. I see people from all over the area doing this but it really never occurred to me to make sure I wasn't breaking any laws...oops I better check into it for my area. I make a little money already from planting flowers and plants in garage sale finds. I know I am not breaking any laws doing that, but since this if food I better check. Thanks for posting this.

 

[oldrooster]

I give people eggs. I won't charge for them because that would open me up to a whole lot of problems with the IRS. I sure don't want to tangle with them again.

The IRS more than likely view your eggs and chickens as a hobby. Unless as Cassie stated you have 0 expences (or more money coming in than expences) but also don't dare deduct the your costs as a loss either unless you are a "farmer" (meaning you are in the buisnes to make money and then you and your accountant can figure out what to itemize in one year or what needs to be amertized over several years i.e. a new coop that will likely last 10 years (if built to last that long) will need to be wrote off over 10 years. I am sure some people may have 5-10 acres and in the right area (claimate, community, and property) they could be a buisnes (knowing that they can sell fruits/veggies or meat/milk/eggs) to make enough profit after expences to file taxes as a farm.
Back to topic of the thread many states have what is called an egg board (or something similar). In Indiana you can only sell eggs on the property where the eggs are laid, and under a set number of dozen without paperwork and permits. I asked an egg inspector at a store I worked at and he confirmed those where the basic rules, if you raise them in your back yard and don't sell more than a set amount your golden. I forget the number because I knew I was not interested in having the number of hens that would produce that amount. I knew I wanted to keep enough hens to get 2dozen to 15 or 20 dozen a week. (I know wide spread, but I knew there would be seasonal fluctuations and also some hens getting ready to lay and some nearing the "change of life" (or the chicken version of it).

 

[rufus]

And now I read this:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na...utm_source=feedburner&track=rss#axzz2u60f037m

If the link doesn't work, google "food safety la times".

The scariest thing you can hear is "I am from the government, and I am here to help you."

If the federal government put as much effort into arresting dope dealers as they do running down Amish raw milk producers, this would be a better country.

 

[ivan3]

And now I read this: 

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na...utm_source=feedburner&track=rss#axzz2u60f037m

If the link doesn't work, google "food safety la times".

The scariest thing you can hear is "I am from the government, and I am here to help you."

If the federal government put as much effort into arresting dope dealers as they do running down Amish raw milk producers, this would be a better country.

Well, read page one of the article (link goes to second page). First, the `rules' being promulgated (and all stakeholders have lots of time to comment) are the result of the Food Safety Modernization Act which is the `red headed stepchild' of the Patriot Act (oh noes! terrorists spraying the crops with Anthrax!!!). IIRC, one's operation has to generate a half-a-million in income directly derived from one's `farm' to fall into the 'we'll inspect you every 7 years' category "Registered Facility". Smaller operations might well be subject to stricter State regulations - but the Feds are stretched very thin and the Fed rules exempt smaller operations that don't ship the majority of their product out-of-State (but those regs are not a result of the FSMA). It is a Consumer Safety Lobby that is pushing the FDA rule making on the FSMA (guess the FDA is taking a break from being pushed around by big Pharma via paid-for Congress Critters).

As generating any revenue on the front end is verboten, at present, what usually happens are situations like the `Big Tomato Murder' of 2008. Owing to the paucity of pers/equipment available to devote to rapid epidemiological tracking, a Salmonella outbreak was initially attributed to tomatoes and jalapenos. The tomato producers lost well over 100 million dollars that summer (consumers wouldn't buy them). The actual source was contaminated pond water at a jalapeno farm in Mexico. The House hearings at the ht. of the scare were revealing - lots of accusations/complaints from both R's/D's directed at the APHIS/FDA witnesses (trying to blame APHIS/FDA for not hiring the inspectors/equipment necessary to nip this sort of thing in the bud - by getting loud and talking over witness when the witness tried to point out that it was the House that had cut the FDA's budget for testing for food borne illness... and APHIS (USDA) not IDing at border)

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5734a1.htm

The rules for producers that wish to sell at our local Farmer's Market are much stricter than the State Regs, and the State Regs are stricter than the Fed Regs. Farmer's market producers will Definitely be inspected by Market Board Members (more than once a year - best be growing that okra & watermelon under good conditions in Boone County, Missouri - and not hauling in half-rotten trash from Arkansas - gotta love that Quality Assurance - and am happy to pay the premium for that attention to detail).

As we're BYC, it might be of interest to read up on the Exotic Newcastle Outbreak of 2002, in California, et al (is it cheaper to provide free/subsidized testing to flock owners up front, or pay for depopulation and the hit to international trade on the back end?): http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/newcastle_disease_info.html

 

[rufus]

I am afraid all of this regulation will discourage production by small producers. The mega farms will still have the where with all to hire legal talent to pick the way through this minefield. The law of unintended consequences will kick in with higher prices. The people lose in the end. Government employees get promoted and a raise. Small farmer goes out of business. IRS audits the small farmer and he goes to prison. Big agribusiness buys up the small farms and wins big time and imports fake food made of God only knows what from China. People get cancer and die. Lawyers sue and win big, but all the money goes into their fees. Somebody says there out to a law, and bingo, there are a plethora of new laws and regulation. New agencies are created to enforce the new laws and regulations. Government employees again get promoted and get another big raise. Taxes go up again and the government borrows more money from the Fed causing inflation, and China raises the price of their fake food. Congress holds hearings and says they are protecting the people. The television says that all people should have the right to fake food from China. Congress writes some more fake food laws and creates more agencies to enforce them. Government employees again get promoted and get another big raise. Taxes go up again and China wants to be repaid. Government has the fed print a lot of money to pay off the Chinese. We have a lot more inflation. China is unhappy with the worthless dollars we paid them with

.We are being protected.

I think I will just hide out in the forest of southern Chile.

 

[kglazier]

I am afraid all of this regulation will discourage production by small producers.  The mega farms will still have the where with all to hire legal talent to pick the way through this minefield.  The law of unintended consequences will kick in with higher prices.  The people lose in the end.  Government employees get promoted and a raise.  Small farmer goes out of business.  IRS audits the small farmer and he goes to prison.  Big agribusiness buys up the small farms and wins big time and imports fake food made of God only knows what from China.  People get cancer and die.  Lawyers sue and win big, but  all the money goes into their fees.  Somebody says there out to a law, and bingo, there are a plethora of new laws and regulation.  New agencies are created to enforce the new laws and regulations.  Government employees again get promoted and get another big raise.  Taxes go up again and the government borrows more money from the Fed causing inflation, and China raises the price of their fake food.  Congress holds hearings and says they are protecting the people.  The television says that all people should have the right to fake food from China.  Congress writes some more fake food laws and creates more agencies to enforce them.  Government employees again get promoted and get another big raise.  Taxes go up again and China wants to be repaid.  Government has the fed print a lot of money to pay off the Ch
inese.  We have a lot more inflation.  China is unhappy with the worthless dollars we paid t with

.We are being protected.

I think I will just hide out in the forest of southern Chile.

tell us how you really feel.
no doubt the Feds can go way overboard. another good reason to keep chickens. even if I can't sell the eggs I can eat them...and I swear they were eating fire ants today...

 

[netty74]

Anyone know the laws in SC ?? I sell my eggs to my coworkers . I rinse them off under hot water , dry and put the collection date on the cartons and keep them refrigerated untill I sell them . Which doesn't take long at all