Small Dairy Farmers Fear Coming Out of the Barn

[marmar]

from Civil Eats:


Small Dairy Farmers Fear Coming Out of the Barn

December 22nd, 2011
By Christopher Fisher


Amidst a spate of law enforcement raids and other regulatory actions taken by local, state, and federal officials against raw milk producers across the country, an alarmed group of small California dairy farmers and consumers have recently formed the Food Rights Coalition and begun to push state regulators and legislators to take action to help them. The coalition formed in response to at least a half dozen cease and desist orders issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) over the past year to small dairy herdshares across the state.

At a Petaluma, California meeting last week, several local members of the group expressed concern for the loss of their livelihoods and the safety of their families, seeking the assistance of 6th District Assemblyman Jared Huffman to protect their milking rights.

Prior to meeting Huffman, Farmer J (who spoke during an interview on condition of anonymity) stated that the CDFA’s actions forced them to reach out to other herdshares, farmers, and advocates to begin organizing: “It was the fear of what they were doing and where that could be heading that led us to come together and try to protect ourselves and fight for our right to do what we’re doing–milking and caring for a few cows and sharing the milk with our co-owners.”

A herdshare is a private business arrangement whereby consumers purchase a piece, or share, of a cow, goat, or herd of the animals and contract with a farmer who is compensated for feeding, caring, and milking the animals, and bottling, storing, and distributing the milk. The details of the relationship between farmers and their herdshare co-owners may vary, but they generally feature the encouragement, sometimes requirement, that co-owners make some regular contribution to the animals’ care themselves. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2011/12/22/small-dairy-farmers-fear-coming-out-of-the-barn/

[Pigheaded]

1. I dislike my government

If someone wants milk from a goat
Let them buy it

PH

[Odin2005]

2. Big corproate Ag wants to strangle small producers.

And they do it by poisoning the regulatory structure with regulation that deliberately screw over small producers.

[Aerows]

5. Exactly

It's a shame that they do this, and even more of a shame that they get away with it.

[Marrah_G]

3. We have a raw milk dealer right here behind Gillette Stadium :)

They also have fresh eggs, divine cheeses and grass fed beef.

It's such a treasure to find in the suburbs.

[Why Syzygy]

4. Hope that

you didn't just get them busted.

[Marrah_G]

6. They are completely legal

http://lawtonsfamilyfarm.com/

Been there almost 300 years.

[Why Syzygy]

7. Total coolness...

I don't know anyone who has gotten busted of late who WASN'T legal. However. It's a regulatory overstep.

[ddeclue]

8. Coming out of the barn?