For years farmers in Wisconsin have struggled to provide Raw milk to those clients that requested it. Like many states, Wisconsin allows the farmer and cow owner to drink raw milk, they just don't allow them to sell it. [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
In the past few years, several farms have pursued a "Cow share" program in which informed clients can own a share of a cow and have access to the nutrional benefits of raw milk.
This kind of creativity drives the "agribusiness guys" nuts, because if it ever catches on, their model of distribution will be in danger. As a result they have pressured state regulators to take the farmers to court in an effort to shut them down. However, the courts ruled IN FAVOR of the the farmers and cow owners. (Score 1 for personal Liberty! [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] )
I received the letter below today from Janet Brunner and wanted to share it with you because it illustrates the fight we are all a part of in trying to keep government in its place.
She said,
"Hello Friends of RawDairy,
Welcome to all – and thank you for joining our new mailing list devoted to bringing raw dairy consumers and providers together in one common place.
Wayne and I (along with our children) own and operate Midvalleyvu Farms, a Certified Organic, Grade A Dairy farm located in Pepin County, Wisconsin.
In March of this year, after a lengthy battle with the State of Wisconsin, we legally sold our first share of stock in Midvalleyvu Farms Inc. This share made it possible for the shareholder to purchase raw dairy products directly from our farm, whereas otherwise it is illegal to sell raw dairy products in Wisconsin. Since that time our list of shareholders has grown to nearly 100 families.
Along with the increase of shareholders, our selection of dairy products has grown. We currently offer milk, Cultured Butter, Yogurt, Kefir, Lebnah Cheese and Sour Cream, all made with fresh raw milk right here on the farm.
Considering that many of our shareholders have quite a distance to drive, we began to add other items to make it worthwhile for them to come to the farm. To make a long story short, we now have a small but growing Organic Foods Store.
Life was good – until last week anyway – when we received paperwork from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) requesting that we cease and desist the sale of shares as well as the sale of all dairy products to shareholders.
Their reasoning? The Wisconsin DATCP has decided that somehow we must have misconstrued what Judge Cheryl F. Daniels declared as the final ruling in our cases last October, which gave us this legal venue for making raw dairy products available to the public. It is the understanding of the DATCP that we are not set up to conform to the WI State Statutes. In other words, we’re breaking the law and we must shut! Our opinion? This is sheer harassment!
There are two other farms in Wisconsin that received this same paperwork last week.
Hayward Community Dairy
Tim Wightman and Gleta Martin of Hayward, WI
and
Back to the Best
Dan and Paula Siegmann of Rubicon, WI
We three farms are going to stand together and fight these charges, and do what is necessary to allow the continuation of our share programs, which brings us to the birth of this mailing list. We thought it would be a good way to converse with other farmers doing what we’re doing, as well as consumers who have access to the raw dairy products that are causing such a controversy.
If we all put our heads together to share ideas, goals, strategies, and support we might be able to make a difference. It would be so nice to be able to do what we’re doing without the constant fear that we’ll once again be harassed by the state officials in an attempt to shut us all down.
According to Sally Fallon, this type of program is being set up in several other states. In many other states, farmers have set up the cow share program (which did not work in Wisconsin). We must ALL win this fight so raw dairy products can be available in every county of every state.
I've been reading with interest all of the different methods people are using to get raw dairy out to the public. In the end I believe we all have one common goal, to make it available to everyone, everywhere - legally!
Thanks to all for joining us here - I'm sure we'll all have a great time!
Janet Brunner
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Wayne and Janet Brunner
Midvalleyvu Farms, Arkansaw, Wisconsin
http://www.midvalleyvu.com
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