There have been some stories in the media lately (particularly Fox News) about alpacas. Stories from commentators who really don't get it and have decided that their story is about how alpaca farmers get tax breaks and "subsidies". What you see above is the down and dirty of alpaca farming. We raise fleece. And in less than 3 months, I will have over 100 pounds of fleece to process. It has to be sorted, washed, picked, carded and spun into an end product. This is what having a "productive farm animal" (that's what the IRS calls it) is all about--the end product. I'm guessing John Stossel's dining room doesn't look like this.
I must take this opportunity to clarify for any of our gentle-readers who have been subjected to the recent onslaught of alpaca stories, that alpaca farmers do not get subsidies. It would be nice, but that is just not the case. We get to handle our business in the same manner that any other business does. If we buy a water bucket, it is treated as an expense to the business. If we sell a shawl, it is income. We collect and remit sales tax. We purchase hay and grain from other farmers as well as support cooperatives in Peru who make products we cannot manufacture. Those are the facts. We just want to keep it real here, and despite all of the hype you may hear from Associated Press and Fox, this is a down and dirty farm business. And that's just the way it is, Son.In the process of sorting the fleece, you need to pick out the dreaded "second cuts". These are little bits of fleece that are nipped away during the shearing process creating little blobs of fleece that will create nasty nubs in your yarn as it is processed. They must be picked out and discarded.
On the positive side, one can sit and sort fleece and catch up on some mindless TV. This is what I did from 11AM to 4PM today. I was able to get through Duende's fleece (4.1 lbs), Leah's fleece (3 lbs.) and Cassandra's fleece (1.4 lbs.), plus 1.6 pounds of coarse fleece that will be made into felt for tote bags. Fashion and lovely fingernails are just not happening here.
While I was hunched over bags of fleece, the Farmer was trying to untangle a warp for the next set of alpaca rugs. (Want one? Go here... http://www.sturdywelshwoman.etsy.com/)
His persistence paid off.
Despite my grumbling about the bad rap alpaca farming has been getting, we wouldn't trade it for the world.
On the positive side, one can sit and sort fleece and catch up on some mindless TV. This is what I did from 11AM to 4PM today. I was able to get through Duende's fleece (4.1 lbs), Leah's fleece (3 lbs.) and Cassandra's fleece (1.4 lbs.), plus 1.6 pounds of coarse fleece that will be made into felt for tote bags. Fashion and lovely fingernails are just not happening here.
While I was hunched over bags of fleece, the Farmer was trying to untangle a warp for the next set of alpaca rugs. (Want one? Go here... http://www.sturdywelshwoman.etsy.com/)
His persistence paid off.
Despite my grumbling about the bad rap alpaca farming has been getting, we wouldn't trade it for the world. 
4 comments:
http://www.alpacadigest.com/Tax_Planning___Benefits/tax_planning___benefits.html
http://www.alpaca101.com/whyraise.asp
http://www.alpacas.com/resources/taxplanner.aspx
???????
To Anonymous: There are risks and advantages to running any business. The alpaca business is treated the same tax-wise as our main video production business. While your links talk about the deductions and depreciation you get (which is true), it is the same as any other business, be it alpacas or a drycleaning business. We are set up as a business to make a profit (which we will hopefully do within the next year).
In order to cover our expenses in this business, I learned to spin, and the Farmer learned to weave. Instead of a weekend getaway to New Jersey, one of us goes to an alpaca show with the animals, while the other stays home. It is hard work and sacrifice to run a business. But the intangibles are pretty amazing.
Please leave your name or drop us a line. We'd love to show you how a small time farm operation can work.
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