Comments (5)

By Judith, 01/19/2010 5:08 pm

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!

Comments (0)

By Judith, 05/28/2009 8:41 am

Yesterday was another peaceful drive to the dairy. It is so quiet out there. I was told it wasn’t always so.

It’s a different a scene that Susan Dill remembers from her childhood on the farm. On milk days the town’s people would line up with their own containers to get their milk. It was bustling few hours of activity. A time to say your “howdy do s” and catch up on the local gossip.  It was one of the ways the community stayed connected. It was a real connection over real food.

When my mother was growing up in the 20s, her family could buy or produce fresh raw whole milk and buttermilk. Butter hadn’t been ostracized yet and was still naturally yellow and delicious.  Local cheeses were available in great variety, texture and color that varied according to the culture and craftsmanship of the cheese maker. Having quality local dairies was considered to be vital to the economy of communities and the health of the people.

Now In my time, milk is accused of being the culprit of allergies, intestinal disorders, heart disease . Raw milk has it even worse. It’s been demonized.

Strange how these health conditions were rare when milk was available raw  and REAL .

Dairies that produce raw milk are finding it increasingly more difficult to get insurance because of the perceived liability issues. Yet a restaurant that serves eggs sunny side up, or a steak cooked rare, has the same degree of risk. Ever notice the little disclaimer at the bottom of the menu?

Liqueur stores and taverns sell products known to cause birth defects. But I haven’t seen them shut down in mass and ran out business because of the “risk to the public”. Not to mention  the risk to the public when someone drives while under the influence of their products. Yet they have insurance policies protecting their livelihoods.

So now, when I pull up to St John’s Organic Farm, I’m usually the only car there. The milking and packaging has happened earlier in the day. I go into the milk house and pull 2.5 gallon packages of milk from the cooler. I transfer the packages to my cooler in the back of my van.

There are no conversations except for the ones with my own family. Just the lowing of the cows, clucking of chickens and the occasional cooing of a morning dove.

It’s bitter sweet. I welcome the quiet.  I love the scenery at the farm, the old buildings, especially the barn. The rolling soft hills, still green with spring grass.

Yet I can’t help feeling a little sadness.  It would be nice to see a friend and catch up on our lives. Watch kids petting calf noses. To hear voices. To watch people mingle. I guess that’s why I love the Saturday market so much.

My heart hurts a little knowing that this awesome real food is here, ready to nourish and build health. Yet people tell me they are scared to drink it or they complain it’s too expensive.

I get back into my car and drive home. On my way I drop off packages for another share owner.

Who knows maybe more folks will buy shares and then I can deliver more packages…that would make me feel better. All that wonderful milk…….

Check out Why a Campaign for Real Milk?.