Public Hearing on MA Raw Milk Bills 10 a.m. Tuesday - June 14 |
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture will be accepting testimony on 24 bills (click here to see the list of bills); two of them support access to raw milk: Bill H. 1995 would allow licensed farmers to deliver raw milk directly to the consumer off-site from the farm. The farmer would also be able to contract with a third party to deliver raw milk to the consumer. Current law allows only the on-farm sale of raw milk by licensed farmers. In the last year, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and Resources (MDAR) has threatened enforcement action against buyers clubs that have sent agents out to the farm to pick up raw milk for club members.
Bill H. 3273, known as the "cowshare bill", would affirm the right of those who have a partial or complete ownership interest in a cow or goat to legally obtain milk from that animal for the owners' own personal use. The bill was introduced in response to a recent threat by MDAR that it would take action against farmers operating cow- or herd-share programs.
Whether you can attend or not, please submit by June 28 written testimony in support of these bills. |
TAKE ACTION - ATTEND HEARING |
WHAT: Joint Committee Event Public Hearing on 24 bills including two on Raw Milk, H. 1995 (delivery) and H. 3273 (cowshares) WHEN: June 14, 2011 - Tuesday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm WHERE: Google Map Directions Quaboag Regional High School 284 Old West Brookfield Road Warren, Massachusetts Raw milk farmers, consumers and supporters are urged to attend the hearing and to offer either oral or written testimony in support of the raw milk bills (H. 1995 and H. 3273). |
TAKE ACTION - SUBMIT TESTIMONY |
1. Oral Testimony - The rules of the Committee will allow any individual to testify for up to three minutes. Testimony must stay on topic and be relevant to the specific issues addressed in the legislation. 2. Written Testimony - Anyone may also submit written testimony at the time of the hearing. 3. Mail Testimony to Representative Ann Gobi, Room 473F, State House, Boston, MA 02133 by June 28. |
BACKGROUND FOR H. 1995  |
Currently, state law allows dairy farmers, if licensed by the state, to sell raw milk to customers who come to the farm. The milk is regularly inspected and must meet the same standards of safety as milk which has been pasteurized. But the high price of fuel makes it hard for individuals to travel sometimes an hour or more to pick up small quantities of milk, and the state has refused to sanction cooperative buying clubs for this purpose. The bill (H. 1995), introduced by Rep. Anne Gobi, would also allow licensed raw milk dairies to sell their milk on land that they own or rent which is not contiguous to the land where they milk their animals. This is important for farmers who have farm stores in or near towns, but milk their cows in more remote areas. Currently they are not allowed to bring milk off the property where it is produced. For more background, read NOFA/Mass Talking Points for H. 1995. |
BACKGROUND FOR H. 3273 |
On August 6, 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and Resources (MDAR) mailed Sandisfield dairy farmer Brigitte Ruthman an "order to cease and desist the distribution of raw milk." Ruthman operates a one-cow shareholder dairy and distributes raw milk to the three people that have invested in the cow. The department subsequently revoked the order but did not change its position that anyone operating a cowshare or herdshare program needed to be registered and licensed with the state. The bill (H. 3273), introduced by William "Smitty" Pignatelli, was inspired by Ruthman's plight. Ruthman had previously refused to get licensed because the costs of complying with the licensing requirements were not affordable for her one-cow dairy. As Kimberly Hartke points out, "Not one of the 25 fresh farms selling cow milk off the farm was created from nothing, i.e., all were retrofitted from existing dairies which made it financially feasible. In the case of Brigitte's bootstrap farm, she needs to operate by the herdshare model, because of the expensive and onerous regulations." Cow/goat sharing is a viable and legal alternative. For more background, read about Massachusetts at RealMilk.com |
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