¡Join the fight!
Have you noticed that when people write about the raw milk issue, pro or con, the caveats fly? Raw milk advocates say, "We don't want to minimize the food safety issues, but..." while opponents go, "Of course, people have the right to choose what foods they want to eat, but..."
The raw milk issue is fascinating to me because it yanks Americans' politics and sympathies in opposing directions, mine included. Which only fascinates me all the more.
For me, I believe farmers and consumers should be able to trade goods, citizen to citizen, whether it's raw milk, moonshine, or marijuana. That's the libertarian in me. Read more...
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle vetoed his state's controversial raw milk bill yesterday.
"I recognize that there are strong feelings on both sides of this matter, but on balance, I must side with the interests of public health and the safety of the dairy industry," [Governor Doyle] said in his veto letter to lawmakers. Read more...
Wisconsin assembly votes 60-35 to legalize some sales of raw milk through the end of 2011. Via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Assembly early Friday morning passed 60-35 a controversial bill that would allow farmers to sell untreated milk at their farms.
The issue has struck a chord with many consumers and segments of the farm community who tout milk — straight from the udder — as a safe product with many healthful properties. The bill had already passed the Senate and now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle, who has said he would sign a raw milk bill under the right circumstances. Read more...
Via MOSES:
High tunnels are taking off in Minnesota and Wisconsin and this is great news for farmers (and eaters) in these two states. Read more...
Raw milk is definitely a fringe issue for most Americans, but it's fascinating to watch it gain some "mainstream steam".
Our eyes turn once again to Wisconsin, where Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim John is leveraging the buzz in his state's raw milk battle to appeal to voters. From John's blog:
Wisconsin's Senate Ag Committee has passed a bill to allow sales of raw milk from certified farms in the state. From Wisconsin Ag Connection:
"Today's vote is a great example of politics working at the grassroots level," [bill co-sponsor Se. Pat] Kreitlow said. "After hearing hours of testimony from hundreds of concerned citizens on both sides of the issue last week, legislators from both parties got together and worked out a compromise that allows families who wish to purchase raw milk to do so, while ensuring that concerns about public health are taken seriously." Read more...
Here's a message that I just sent to my operatives in Wisconsin.
Gentlemen,
I have a mission, and you are the two best men for the job.
In 5 days, on March 20, Great Lakes Distillery of Milwaukee will be selling a limited run of their artisan bourbon. GLD is a very groovy company, and this will be the first Wisconsin-made bourbon distilled since Prohibition Era in the Badger State. Note: Only 263 bottles will be available for purchase.
In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, yesterday, four-hundred and fifty people showed up to offer 10 hours of testimony on state bills that would legalize the sale of raw milk in the Dairy State.
According to WSAU Radio in Wausau, "scientists, government officials, consumers, and farmers were among those testifying," and apparently the pros outnumbered the cons in the audience. The pro raw milk side was organized in large part by dairy farmer Vince Hundt, who bought a ton of paper hats for supporters of the legislation. Read more...
The raw milk fight has been heating up over the last year, with various states moving to legalize sales of raw milk. Raw milk dairy farmer Michael Schmidt's fight and win in Canada has certainly been encouraging to raw milk enthusiasts, and the publication of David Gumpert's Raw Milk Revolution, seems to have turned up the heat under the raw milk story, too.
But if I were looking for bigger watershed moments that mightactually change national opinion (or spark a deeper conversation), I'd watch the raw milk legalization debate in Wisconsin right now. Read more...
Wisconsin has okayed creation of the largest CAFO in the state.
Rosendale Dairy, which we've reported about before, has been issued a permit by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, allowing it to expand its herd from 4000 to 8000 head, making the largest CAFO in Wisconsin. Read more...
