We have an interesting dynamic occurring in Pennsylvania. Raw milk can be legally sold from farms and stores, yet the public officials who administer the regulations clearly are uncomfortable about the rapidly growing numbers of people purchasing Pennsylvania raw milk.
But these officials face a dilemma: raw milk is becoming a serious business there, just as it has in California. The number of farms licensed to sell raw milk has more than tripled over the last four years, to 75. That’s a significant number of farms, paying significant taxes, and spending significant money in their local communities. That’s a lot of consumers paying premium prices directly to farmers, without interference of middlemen.
Business is so good that Pennsylvania farmers want the state to allow them to sell other raw-milk-based foods. And the politicians in Harrisburg are at least considering the possibility.
When money clashes with principles, money has a way of winning out. Just look at the expansion of gambling well beyond Nevada into many states around the country, hungry for the extra tax revenues.
It’s important to remember that one of the big reasons the raw milk business is so good is that consumers are pouring into Pennsylvania from neighboring states that don’t allow raw milk sales—Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, and New Jersey.
Brian Snyder of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture described the phenomenon this way: “In my opinion the ‘real’ reason for us to be here today has to do with the fact that far more production and sales of Pennsylvania raw milk products are now occurring than anyone fully realizes. Most of this trade is ‘legal’…But there is also a large and increasing amount of product that is leaving Pennsylvania through a variety of means that challenge federal and state laws.”
He added, “Not only are some farms already doing a very significant business in selling raw milk and its products, but other farmers with larger than average operations are watching these proceedings very closely to evaluate their own potential to enter this market.”
I suspect neighboring states will look across the border and wonder whether it makes sense to keep some of the raw milk and related sustainable agriculture sales closer to home. Individuals like Evelyn are going to be there to remind the Maryland legislators.
Increasingly, as the comments following my previous posts on the Pennsylvania hearings make clear, farmers and consumers alike are re-defining the raw-milk agenda, and in effect, the health and nutrition agenda. Dave Milano says it well: “Positive change will only occur when bureaucrats are overwhelmed by the grass roots. So does milkfarmer: “What they don’t understand is that rules, and laws, and press conferences, and contamination scares will do little to slow down this movement.”
I would only add that truth has an easier time of winning out when there are financial benefits in the victory.
***
The other shoe may be getting ready to drop in Greg Niewendorp’s crusade against the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s bovine tuberculosis testing program and accompanying implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). He reports that the Charlevoix County sheriff, George Lasater, alerted Greg that a state court has issued an administrative search warrant to allow the MDA to conduct the bovine TB tests and apply RFID tags to the ears of his 29 head of cattle.
Greg says he’s been told the sheriff likely won’t serve the warrant until early October. In the meantime, Greg hopes to delay and eventually overturn the warrant, by challenging it in the same state court from which it was issued. He plans to challenge it on the basis of what he argues are inconsistencies in the underlying state law, as well as “my freedom to be left alone and just feed and clothe my family on my land.”
Hopefully, this drama will next play itself out in court rather than on Greg’s farm.
Speaking of grass roots:
We attended the Harvest Fest yesterday at Tillers International (http://www.tillersinternational.org/index.html) in Scotts Michigan. It was well attended! There were quite a number of people discussing what happened to Richard Hebron and a group of small farm owners signing up people to form a legal action group. The underlying sentiment was.."Never again…." There were a couple of farms offering cow shares this year-the first I have seen at this event.
Non-Compliance Relief Fund
Taking a stand of non-compliance puts a tremendous toll on ones resources. The National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) established the Non-Compliance Relief Fund to provide specific support for those like Greg NIewendorp who take such a courageous position. To support Greg and others like him, please donate here or send a check made out to Non-Compliance Relief Fund to:
Non-Compliance Relief Fund
c/o NORM
680 E 5 Point Highway
Charlotte, MI 48813
http://www.normeconomics.com/
They need people there, though. Anyone know anyone in Michigan?
Sally Beckwith
—–
East Jordan, Michigan
On Tuesday, September 18, Sheriff George Lassiter informed Michigan cattle farmer Greg Niewendorp that the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has secured a warrant to go on Niewendorps property to TB test his herd and apply NAIS compliant radio frequency identification ear tags to the cattle. Since February, when he submitted a letter to the MDA stating that he would not participate in the MDAs dangerous experimental TB herd testing program, Niewendorp has refused to let MDA on his property. On August 21, state police and an MDA representative came illegally onto Niewendorps property attempting to coerce him into having his herd tested, and Niewendorp politely escorted them off.
Sheriff Lassiter told Niewendorp and the MDA that, as the server of the warrant, he will give Niewendorp 72-hour notice before serving him the warrant. The 3 day notice will allow time to notify supporters to assemble at Niewendorps.
It is important that as many people as possible assemble at Niewendorps farm the day the MDA plans to trespass to test and tag the cattle. Niewendorps intent is that the cattle NOT be tested or tagged. Niewendorp wants as many people as possible to come. Please be ready to assemble once the 72-hour notice has been given. Niewendorp plans to open the freezer and have an all-day cookout for everyone who joins with him in standing up for his God-given divine rights and preventing the barbaric behavior of the MDA.
The MDA will have an undisclosed number of police "to assist." In my conversation with Bridget Patrick, coordinator of the TB herd eradication program, she insisted the police were just coming "to assist." Though she went through a number of verbal gyrations to try and eliminate any concerns I might have, she was quite evasive in answering my pointed questions concerning the nature of that "assistance." The bottom line is, the more people who show up, the better off everyone will be. There IS safety in numbers.
Please bring video recording equipment and cameras.
We will send updates (and directions) with any new information.
Greg Niewendorp is putting everything on the line for the freedom and rights of all of us. Let us not fail him.
LOCATION
Greg Niewendorp
4185 Beishag Road
East Jordan, MI 49735
231.536.7956
Non-Compliance Relief Fund
Taking a stand of non-compliance puts a tremendous toll on ones resources. The National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) established the Non-Compliance Relief Fund to provide specific support for those like Greg NIewendorp who take such a courageous position. To support Greg and others like him, please donate here or send a check made out to Non-Compliance Relief Fund to:
Non-Compliance Relief Fund
c/o NORM
680 E 5 Point Highway
Charlotte, MI 48813
http://www.normeconomics.com/
Many thanks,
Deborah Stockton, Editor
VICFA Voice
http://www.vicfa.net
editor@vicfa.net
The Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (VICFA)
Our purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products. VICFA opposes any government funded or managed National Animal Identification System.
Going to need a big crowd there to keep the law away from the cows.
This kind of confrontation is crucial to over turning state mandated databasing of farms.
Sure wish I was closer to MI.
I wonder if they would really force their way to the barn.