Massachusetts herdshare bill before the Environment Committe
Oct 26, 2015 19:59:45 GMT -5
missevelyn and cdmoi like this
Post by brigitte on Oct 26, 2015 19:59:45 GMT -5
In Wednesday, Oct. 28, H3648, an act authorizing owners to utilize products from cows and goats, will be herd by the Environment Committee in Massachusetts in Boston.
Anyone who wants to can tag along. Room B 1 at 1 p.m.
This bill passed in Connecticut in the spring, and we now have legislation/regulation in surrounding states which allows small dairies to operate outside of commercial dairy and raw milk licensing regulations. Massachusetts has been stopped by The Farm Bureau, which continues to argue that Herdshare is an attempt to thwart inspection and regulation.
This will pass, but it may take time. Wish me Godspeed. It's another day off from work, another long drive, and more nonsense from the Farm Bureau.
Very different story than Connecticut, where herdshare was born at a kitchen table two years ago in a discussion between me and a Goshen Farmer. NOFA and the state's Farm Bureau there did not oppose. In Wyoming sweeping legislation passed this year allowing on and off farm sales of dairy products. Upon further investigation, the reason for passage was largely the result of an absence of commercial dairy/Farm Bureau opposition. There are just 20 commercial dairies left in Wyoming. A half dozen states have also passed legislation this year allowing certain sales of raw milk, including, stunningly, the FDA's backyard state of Maryland.
I keep thinking that in another generation or two, the look back will be on this time in history when choices were made that changed the dynamics of local agriculture. We now know that processed meat is a dangerous carcinogenic, according to the World Health Organization. We know that GMOs are dangerous to health and so are the chemicals the Farm Bureau is fighting to be able to continue using. And we know that raw milk, safely produced and within the privacy of a contractual agreement with shareholders who have the right to their food source, is a curative for many illnesses and can restore valuable gut bacteria.
The Farm Bureau in Massachusetts is also fighting strongly against a bill that will move to regulate the more humane treatment of animals.
Anyone who wants to can tag along. Room B 1 at 1 p.m.
This bill passed in Connecticut in the spring, and we now have legislation/regulation in surrounding states which allows small dairies to operate outside of commercial dairy and raw milk licensing regulations. Massachusetts has been stopped by The Farm Bureau, which continues to argue that Herdshare is an attempt to thwart inspection and regulation.
This will pass, but it may take time. Wish me Godspeed. It's another day off from work, another long drive, and more nonsense from the Farm Bureau.
Very different story than Connecticut, where herdshare was born at a kitchen table two years ago in a discussion between me and a Goshen Farmer. NOFA and the state's Farm Bureau there did not oppose. In Wyoming sweeping legislation passed this year allowing on and off farm sales of dairy products. Upon further investigation, the reason for passage was largely the result of an absence of commercial dairy/Farm Bureau opposition. There are just 20 commercial dairies left in Wyoming. A half dozen states have also passed legislation this year allowing certain sales of raw milk, including, stunningly, the FDA's backyard state of Maryland.
I keep thinking that in another generation or two, the look back will be on this time in history when choices were made that changed the dynamics of local agriculture. We now know that processed meat is a dangerous carcinogenic, according to the World Health Organization. We know that GMOs are dangerous to health and so are the chemicals the Farm Bureau is fighting to be able to continue using. And we know that raw milk, safely produced and within the privacy of a contractual agreement with shareholders who have the right to their food source, is a curative for many illnesses and can restore valuable gut bacteria.
The Farm Bureau in Massachusetts is also fighting strongly against a bill that will move to regulate the more humane treatment of animals.