Raw Milk Legislation
Below is a copy of an email I received…. I am posting it here and I hope that many of you respond :0)
Our LOCAL Farmers need our help NOW!
KEEP FOOD REAL!
Thanks,
Judith
Dear Raw Milk Advocate:
As you may be aware, there are currently proposed legislative rules before the House and the Senate in Boise concerning Cow/Herd Share Programs in Idaho and our ability as Farmers to continue to provide these services to people who wish to use them. There are some good parts to the proposed rules which will help to assure the cleanliness of the milk, such as regular testing of the milk for bacteria counts, etc. However, there is one proposal which could, in effect, drastically limit the availability of raw milk from Herd Share Programs in the future. That is that each herd would be limited to no more than three lactating cows or seven goats or sheep.
This limitation, in my opinion, is unrealistic, as it in no way serves to reduce the risk of contaminated milk; safe milk depends on cleanliness. But it does severely limit the amount of milk a single farm can produce for its boarders. Therefore it will limit the number of consumers who can use the boarding services.
If you agree, and you would like to help protect the right of consumers to drink raw milk please contact the legislators listed below and let your voice be heard IMMEDIATELY!
The House and the Senate work simultaneously to hear the rules. Below are each of the committee members of the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee and their email addresses:
Senator Tim Corder (R), Mountain Home – Chair, tcorder@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Chuck Winder (R), Boise - Vice Chair cwinder@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Gary Schroeder (R), Moscow, gschroeder@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Brent Hill (R), Rexburg, bhill@senate.idaho.gov
Senator John McGee (R), Caldwell, jmcgee@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Leland Heinrich (R), Cascade, lheinrich@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Melinda Smyser (R), Parma, msmyser@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Edgar Malepeai (D), Pocatello, emalepeai@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Les Bock (D), Boise, lbock@senate.idaho.gov
We have learned that the representatives of the House Agriculture subcommittee that will study the rules are as follows (with links to their e-mail addresses):
Rep. Ken Andrus, (R) Lava Hot Springs, Chairman, kandrus@house.idaho.gov
Rep. Mack Shirley, (R) Rexburg, mshirley@house.idaho.gov
Rep. Dennis Lake, (R) Blackfoot,
dlake@house.idaho.gov
Rep. Donna Pence, (D) Gooding. dpence@house.idaho.gov
You can email members of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee at the following website: http://legislature.idaho.gov/about/contactbycommittee.cfm.
If you or others wish to have your voices heard, you must act now! If you believe that people should be able to drink raw milk if they wish and that producers should not be limited by unreasonable low herd size limits please email each of the above legislators immediately or it will be too late to make your voice heard.
Sincerely,
Luana Hiebert
Heritage Farms
PO Box 247
Cocolalla, ID 83813
208-683-4410
When you purchase from Heritage Farms you support a local farmer, sustainable agriculture, and thus, the very environment in which you live!
American, Daily Musings, FREE RANGE Poultry and Eggs, GRASS FED Beef and Lamb, RAW MILK, SUSTAINABLE stewardship, children's health, kids nutrition, whole foods
| 
community, dairy, food, freedom, Idaho, milk, organic, RAW MILK, real food
Last week I was told that the Idaho Agriculture Committee approved the sale of raw milk. It was then to go before the State Legislature. While talking with a lady (evening 2/4) who is buying 50 glass half gallon milk jugs from me (I have over 4000 to sell at $1 ea + shipping)….the ruling is NOT going forward. She got it from the guy at the USDA who helped us with writing the rules.
Apparently there is a rich guy over in Idaho Falls area that has hired a lawyer to stop the sale of Raw Milk from small herds (3 cows/7 goats). The reasoning that was told to me was that the rich fella has a relative or friend that does herd shares and is afraid of the competition….as currently herd shares walks a fine line of being legal and people have not been gone after. Well, what they don’t know is that selling Raw milk period! was going to be made illegal this session of the state legislature, since there can be no monitoring of all who would sell. So a number of us got together to have some rules drawn up. It was to be our foot in the door.
Why in the world would someone want to do herd shares and not submit to the rules…especially if it allowed us to sell our Raw Milk….and we could advertise also! Talk about shooting themselves (and us) in the foot! I am so mad I could spit!!
Anyone out there who does Melaleuca products know who is the President/CEO/Head Honcho of the company and how to contact him? He may be the money behind the lawyer(s).
Laura Middleton
God Blesses (Goats…
but especially Saanens)
Buhl, ID 83316
208.543.9018 or 208.293.6808 (cell)
saanens@usa.com
Also….the herd wouldn’t be limited to just the 3 cows/7 goats. Unless it was changed in the Agriculture Committee (and I was not told that happened), one would register their 3 cows/7 goats with the USDA and could sell milk from ONLY them. The other cows/goats on the property would have to be for personal consumption. Unless I misunderstood what was said at the meeting, but that’s what my notes say.
Laura Middleton
Thanks for posting this article. I live on the Eastern side of the state in Teton Valley and keep two Jersey cows. I do not currently have a herd/cow share program but have been thinking about implementing one because of the great interest I have had in fresh milk and fresh milk products. I will write to these people in Boise if it’s not too late.
Blaire Kribs
I don’t understand why a cowshare program should be registered with the state or government at all. A cowshare program is a private arrangement between 2 parties that have agreed upon the care of a cow and the allocation of the “assets” (i.e. milk).
I do agree that if a farm is going to provide milk and other products on a large scale there should be some oversight as that is an industrial model, but all small family operations should be exempt from government interference. If the small family farm can’t deliver a safe, quality product their local consumers will put them out of business quick enough, they don’t need the government red tape to ensure the safety of their products. On the other hand, the industrial food model is consistently the root problem with the food safety in this country, yet through various legal loopholes and “safeguard” measures that are neglible on a industrial level but onerous on a small scale are the only options provided by the government (and convinced the masses) in the name of food safety.
Laura, I have to add that you were misinformed about the relative of the “rich” man. That relative is a struggling small mom and pop family operation that is not afraid of competition, but is trying to make sure the new regulations don’t force them out of the game completely as has happened to family farms across this country for years.
there is truth in both sides. Vandersloot does have a relative who is involved in the cow share program in northern idaho, and has put pressure on the legislature to help keep cow shres alive. On the other hand I see ahy people vote against the legislation because the minute that the government gets a foot in on the control of these cow shares, they will have us cornered and can monitor and regulate us any way they want. It will be through increased taxes or incresed legislation on what we have to provide. I am trying to put my own cow program together, and I am willing to do what ever I have to do to try to comply, but I have no plans to tank my mmilk or have the need for govt testers bugging me to try to find a reason every month to shut me down. bigger more controling government is never a good thing. Just let honest hard working america try to make a living. Honestly, the dairies could care less about the rules, they are just worried that we might steal all of their precious customers. Please!!