Vote today to legalize raw milk in U.S.

For what its worth -- vote to legalize raw milk

Here’s an opportunity to influence American public policy on raw milk, coming to you via Steve and Paula Runyan’s blog:

“….We wanted to let you know that the first round of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition will end this Wednesday, December 31 at midnight Pacific Time.

The idea you have voted for, “Legalize Milk,” is currently in 2nd place in the Other category. The top three ideas from each category will make it into the final round, so if this idea remains in 2nd place, it will qualify.

We expect a lot of last-minute voting, so you may want to consider making a final push on behalf of this idea to ensure it remains in the top three. The easiest way to increase the number of votes for this idea before the deadline is to email the following link to friends and encourage them to vote:

www.change.org/ideas/view/legalize_milk

You may also want to try posting the link on Facebook or any blog you may write.

If you have any questions, please let us know. Also note that the final round of voting will begin next Monday and end just before the Presidential Inauguration in mid-January….”

“Humpty Dumpty” judge in raw milk case attempts to redefine the word “consumer” as “anyone who eats”

Here we come a Carroll-ing among the leaves so green.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less…..” — Lewis Carroll

Here’s a followup on the case of the Meadowsweet Dairy in New York which has been the subject of regulatory attention due to alleged raw milk infractions. This excerpt is from the Ithaca Journal:

“A small Lodi dairy is getting help in its appeal of a court decision siding with the state agriculture department in a case over selling unpasteurized milk.

Farmer jailed for unlicenced raw milk

Sharon Ann Palmer of Healthy Family Farms, arrested in California for raw goat milk crimes?

First, a summary from the Journal of Whole Food and Nutrition: “….Now it’s goat milk and cheese. … The owner of Healthy Family Farms has been arrested and jailed. Now out of jail, Sharon Palmer is facing criminal charges for selling raw goat cheese and raw goat milk at farmers markets in Ventura CA…”

And now, an excerpt from a report in the Ventura County Star from Sunday Dec. 21, 2008:

“….Sharon Ann Palmer, 48, was arrested in connection with the plant called Healthy Family Farms at 6780 Wheeler Canyon Road, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials said in a prepared statement.

Members of the department’s Agricultural Crimes Unit and other local health agencies began an investigation of Palmer in the first week of December and found she was operating the plant without a license and selling potentially unpasteurized milk products at farmers’ markets in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, according to the statement.

Raw milk roundup #5 — 20 new stories

Photo from Artisan cheesemaker. See item below:

Artisan cheesemaker seeks 10 gallons of raw milk per week: “I am a small time artisan cheese maker. I need a source for local raw milk. I need about 10 gallons a week for now. I am willing to buy, or to trade some of my cheese for your milk. I make traditional Cheddar, Swiss, Havarti and Gouda. My cheese is not for sale. I offer my cheese to family and friends. Please let me know if you have fresh, raw milk for sale or trade. -Wayne wayne_a_harris@hotmail.com 216 347 2146″

Journal of Whole Food and Nutrition reprints Michael Schmidt’s Christmas letter (with an introduction)

The Bovine ties for first place in Raw Milk Sex Slogan contest

Michael Schmidt’s Christmas message

Dear Cow Share Owners:
Dear Friends:
Dear Government Officials:

It is that time of year again where we all reflect on the past and on the future.

As much as we try to avoid the mirror for the purpose of inner reflections, it is a wonderful tool to re-assess where we have come from and where we need to go. The current state of the world teaches us once again that we have no control over so many things we thought we would have.

As I watch the return to reality and, with it hopefully, the return to sanity, I do sense the growing awareness of the here and now, of what truly matters and the reality of inner strength.  As the sun is at her lowest point in her annual journey, we can reflect easier because we have the soothing darkness where we can be alone but surrounded by others invisible to our eyes.

Ron Hull Ph.D. and Dr. Ted Beals — Michael Schmidt’s expert witnesses

Here is some information (from what was presented at the pre-trial hearing December 22) about witnesses that Michael Schmidt will be calling at the trial in January. The first section is about Theodore (Ted) Beals and the second is about Ron Hull:

Ted Beals

I, Theodore F. Beals, being of sound mind and body and duly sworn, do hereby make the following statements based on my personal knowledge and to the best of my information and belief:
1. I am a resident of Grass Lake, Michigan, USA
2. I earned my Bachelors of Science, Masters of Science, and M.D. from the University of Michigan in 1956, 1957 and 1966 respectively.
3. I have been licensed to practice medicine in the State of Michigan since 1967.
4. I completed specialized residency training in pathology at the University of Michigan in 1971.
5. I am certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
6. I have written a book on pathology and have written several chapters in other books on pathology.
7. I have published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles on medicine, microscopy, assays, cancer, and cytopathology.

Something really nice for Christmas — Little Miss Chatterbox and her two cents worth of opinions on raw milk

Vegetarian diet? -- not so smart after all. Picture from "PETA". And no, that doesn't stand for "People Eating Tasty Animals".

Here’s an unusually well-written treatise on the advantages of raw milk, and the risks of eating. We follow this with links to, and excerpts from, articles on “the dangers of soy” and “the false nirvana of vegetarianism” — which are also from the same author, Lorette C. Luzajik (a.k.a. Little Miss Chatterbox). Here’s part of what Little Miss C. has to say about the raw milk brouhahaha:

“There’s really no need to point out to the hopeless morons opposed to raw milk that nature knows best. Milk, straight from the cow, is OBVIOUSLY far better for you than any manipulated product. It contains all of the amino acids, cutting down the body’s need to manufacture them out of the essentials. Some people have lived on nothing but milk, straight from the udder. No need to argue over the ‘high fat content’ of what comes perfectly made. The way it’s made is superior, no matter what new trend comes about. From yaks to cows to goats, Mama Nature knows best, and feeds us from her breast.

Vegans who proclaim all the dangers of milk are not wrong. The kind of milk that causes diseases, deficiencies, and intolerances is processed milk. When we drink defatted milk, we are not able to absorb the nutrients. When we take in growth hormones, we take in poisons. And pasteurization kills many of the nutrients and the enzymes needed to digest milk.

Pre-trial proceedings begin for Michael Schmidt — a report from Dec. 22, 2008

Raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt was in Newmarket Monday Dec. 22, 2008 for his pre-trial hearing. The lawyers submitted the “willsays” of the expert witnesses as evidence. This involves not only their credentials as experts but a list of statements and areas of concern that they will say at the trial. (very technical language).

There were discussions as to how the trial will proceed. Michael was concerned as to whether 7 days of trial would be enough time and whether it was wise to bring in his expert witness all the way from Australia if there was any chance that we would not be called upon.  The judge assured him that 7 days would be enough and that the witness should be brought in.

Michael raised the previous ruling disallowing the Cowshare Members standing at the trial and said that he would need to bring them as witnesses. The Judge said that it is his job to decide if the evidence has bearing on the case and he will decide during the trial. There were 22 supporters in the courtroom during the short hearing and it was wonderful to see that kind of support.  See all of you at the real, Raw milk trial in January. — Judith

Bernie Bailey shares more about Ontario’s former small dairies (Part 2)

Crates of milk at the former Sun Rise Dairy in Wingham

Bernie Bailey has sent some supplementary material to expand on the theme he presented at Michael Schmidt’s press conference at Queen’s Park November 18, 2008. Here’s part of a transcript of a discussion about franchise regulations with a representative of another small dairy, this one from Northern Ontario.

Access to local markets seems to be the topic at issue here. Big dairies buying shelf space at the head office level seems to have undermined local dairies’ access to local markets. Duh? I guess that’s what it was intended to do. And I guess that’s why we don’t have those small dairies anymore in Ontario and why we’re getting all our supermarket milk from “the big three”.

Bernie’s introduction:

If you read the part about Farquhar dairy [in the excerpt below] you will see that the commission and he talk at length about shelf buying by big dairies and the commission knows this is a violation of the law (combines act I think) but it is OK and normal for big milk and again no action taken. If you go back into the package I gave you, you will find a letter from the competition board saying that the IDIA (Independent Dairy and Ice Cream Association) is a  a good thing. I had to get that letter to keep the IDIA alive as Jim Wheeler chairman of the farm products marketing commission told my members we were illegal and I spoke with Don after this and even though he sits on or has sat on these boards it is not till now that he admits that the big milk always gets there way, even if you sit on the committee, but the IDIA changed the lies coming from the commission as they were no longer picking on one small owner at a time  and I paid the price. [the IDIA was an association of small dairies which Bernie Bailey founded — Ed].

Raw milk roundup #4 — 12 new stories

Grazing goats on the White House lawn

Wallaby milk wallops superbugs: “…Did you know that scientists are studying the milk from the Tammar wallaby, a kind of petite kangaroo? As it turns out, wallaby milk packs such an immunity wallop that may be helpful in fighting antibiotic- resistant bacteria, or superbugs….”

Heron Hill Dairy, a source of raw goat cheese, suggests keeping goats at the White House; apparently it’s a practice that dates back to Lincoln.

Reaction to attempts to discredit raw milk in Italy

Yet another micro cow share operation is birthed. It’s a Mooovement!