How big is too big?

Rabbitgeek posts from Facebook:
"One immediate problem is that small breeders often find themselves in trouble with the zoning department. If rabbits are protected as livestock, many times there is the requirement for acreage to serve as a buffer for neighbors. In one area, one needs 1/2 an acre to qualify for "incidental agricultural" use. A common size lot single family dwelling is 1/8 of an acre."

"Laws that get passed do not affect big guys and little guys equally. The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) would apply to all animal raisers but while small farms have to pay a per animal license (expensive) the big operations get to buy a site license for pennies per animal."

" I have no problem with somebody who has 500 working does. Or even 1000 working does. What I don't want to see is laws that require us to have 500 working does before we are considered "legitimate" farmers/breeders. If small farm/homesteading/urban farming is going to be successful, we need some parity with the big guys. But if the big guy is Cargill, I'm gonna be toast. No, I'm going to be the shadow of toast."

"Like the recent laws in Calif about chicken egg producers required to use bigger cages or pen or range feeding. If big rabbit producers are forced to use huge cages, we will all be redesigning our rabbitries. Other issue is that some of us have raised small rabbits for meat (Dutch, Standard Chinchillas) and those should not be forced to use larger cages."

Have a good day!