A national animal identification program has some small farmers and ranchers worried about their future.
"It would probably end up putting me out of business," Burnet County farmer Michael McEvoy said.
He raises everything from chickens to goats on his 65-acre farm.
"Lots of red tape," McEvoy said, "They are talking $3 to $5 a tag."
The National Animal Identification System, or NAIS, would require farmers and ranchers to tag their animals and file paperwork, if they are moved from their registered location.
Uncontrollable variables like the drought and rising fuel costs have really cut into the profit margin of small farmers, adding an extra cost, even if small, could put them out of business, they say.
"My margins are tight enough that I can't raise my prices for what I sell my lamb chops for because people just won't pay those higher prices," McEvoy said.
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Animal IDs
Small farmers and ranchers are opposed to an animal ID program.
 
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture initiated the program in 2004 saying it was needed to control diseases like mad cow or bird flu.
But some in the farming industry complain the new regulations apply more to the corporate world.
"The laws and regulations are being made really due to large input of large corporate agriculture," South Travis County farmer Judith McGeary said.
"There really isn't a voice for the small farmers," McEvoy said.
That's why McGeary helped start an organization called The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. It now has around 45 members nationwide. It will look at issues like land use regulations, land valuations and funding for research. But the main goal is to fight NAIS. And there is some hope from a congressman here in Texas.
"Congressman Ron Paul has introduced an amendment to the appropriations bill HR 5384 that would cut off the federal funding. Because even though there are not federal regulations that have established NAIS, the government has been spending tens of millions of dollars funding it," McGeary said.
The agriculture appropriations bill is expected to be on the House floor Wednesday for debate and final vote.
If the money is cut, it would make it very difficult for NAIS to move forward. And that means the small independent farmers can hold on to the dying breed of their livelihood.
