Re: OHIO! Weds! Call for Raw Milk!

[Guest guest]

Hi Barry,

The problem with the bills is that they open the door for the ODA to

write administrative rules concerning standards for milk testing, herd

health and facilities. This could lead to a situation such as the one

currently unfolding in New York and Pennsylvania where the Agriculture

departments are claiming to find contaminants in the milk and are

shutting down the affected farms. The farmers in Ohio have been

standardizing on the herdshare contract that Judge Hein approved in

December 2006, and since Gov. Strickland has stated that he sees nothing

wrong with herdshares that appears to be the way to go in this state. The

herdshare contract is a binding legal document between the shareholders

and the herd manager, and is an effective way to keep the government out

of our business. It forces a more standardized and defined relationship

between farmers and consumers, but I view this as a good thing as it

brings both sets of people closer together into something more than just

producers and consumers. I have an ownership interest in the farm and a

long-term relationship with my farmer, which has definite benefits for

both of us.

Sincerely,

Don Neeper

At 04:33 PM 1/7/2008, you wrote:

Don,

Nice to hear from you. You certainly have a lot more info than I do. I

only have what was on the legislative website. Plus my rep told me it was

in committee.

As far as I am aware, I am the only one pushing for these bills. I am not

a member of any organized groups, I just want raw milk to be legal for

trade and as commonly available as pasteurized.

Looks like we need to pressure the ODA and Health Dept. to accept the

bill as written.

I would appreciate you posting the info you just shared, just to keep the

discussion going.

Thanks,

Barry

Don Neeper

Senior Software Engineer

SofTechnics, a METTLER TOLEDO Company

dneeper@...

don.neeper@...

http://www.OhioRawMilk.info/dneeper

[Guest guest]

Don, but herdshares require milk pickups from the farm. That's

difficult for some folks and impossible for others. And who's to say

what the next governor will decide?

> Hi Barry,

>

> The problem with the bills is that they open the door for the ODA

> to write administrative rules concerning standards for milk

> testing, herd health and facilities. This could lead to a situation

> such as the one currently unfolding in New York and Pennsylvania

> where the Agriculture departments are claiming to find contaminants

> in the milk and are shutting down the affected farms. The farmers

> in Ohio have been standardizing on the herdshare contract that

> Judge Hein approved in December 2006, and since Gov. Strickland has

> stated that he sees nothing wrong with herdshares that appears to

> be the way to go in this state. The herdshare contract is a binding

> legal document between the shareholders and the herd manager, and

> is an effective way to keep the government out of our business. It

> forces a more standardized and defined relationship between farmers

> and consumers, but I view this as a good thing as it brings both

> sets of people closer together into something more than just

> producers and consumers. I have an ownership interest in the farm

> and a long-term relationship with my farmer, which has definite

> benefits for both of us.

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Don Neeper

>

>

> At 04:33 PM 1/7/2008, you wrote:

>

>> Don,

>> Nice to hear from you. You certainly have a lot more info than I

>> do. I only have what was on the legislative website. Plus my rep

>> told me it was in committee.

>>

>> As far as I am aware, I am the only one pushing for these bills. I

>> am not a member of any organized groups, I just want raw milk to

>> be legal for trade and as commonly available as pasteurized.

>>

>> Looks like we need to pressure the ODA and Health Dept. to accept

>> the bill as written.

>>

>> I would appreciate you posting the info you just shared, just to

>> keep the discussion going.

>>

>> Thanks,

>> Barry

>>

>

> Don Neeper

> Senior Software Engineer

> SofTechnics, a METTLER TOLEDO Company

> dneeper@...

> don.neeper@...

> http://www.OhioRawMilk.info/dneeper

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The herdshare contract is actually written such that the " Boarder

(shareholder) or Boarder's designee shall pick up Boarder's share of milk

production at the Dairy facilities... " . So, in our case the

shareholders are divided into geographical driving groups of anywhere

from ten to twenty-five people, and each member in the group rotates

driving out to the farm to pick up everyone's weekly order. As I said,

it's a much more formalized relationship, requires coordination, trust,

and is much different than simply visiting the grocery store whenever you

want. However, we've been doing it for five years now and it's generally

worked pretty well.

And who's to say what the next

governor will decide?

That is a valid concern, but Judge Hein's decision will still stand

regardless of who is governor or ODA director.

Sincerely,

Don Neeper

Re: OHIO! Weds! Call for Raw Milk!

Posted by: " Val "

listval@...

valereee2000

Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:58 pm (PST)

Don, but herdshares require milk pickups from the farm. That's difficult for some folks and impossible for others. And who's to say what the next governor will decide?

Don Neeper

Senior Software Engineer

SofTechnics, a METTLER TOLEDO Company

dneeper@...

don.neeper@...

http://www.OhioRawMilk.info/dneeper

[Guest guest]

That sounds like a mess. I'm not interested in joining any clubs or

social circles.

I can't believe people actually put up with that. Better agricultural

and dietary habits will never catch on if you have to skulk around in

the dark with groups of conspirators.

If the average Joe can't see raw milk openly sold, he will only think

it's illicit.

[Guest guest]

Well, HB52 & SB95 only allow for on-site raw milk sales, so even if

they were to be passed you would still need to physically drive

yourself out to a farm to buy raw milk! My herdshare pick-up location

is only five minutes from my house, so which is more convenient? :-)

If you read the minutes from the June 14th Milk Sanitation Board

meeting on the ODA's website you'll see that it's very unlikely that

the bills will be reconciled or signed by the governor. And since the

farmers have withdrawn their support and interest the bills will in

all likelihood simply die in committee. Realistically and like it or

not, herdshares will be the only legal mechanism for obtaining raw

milk in Ohio for the foreseeable future. (Unless Ron happens to

elected president. :-)

Sincerely,

Don Neeper

>

> That sounds like a mess. I'm not interested in joining any clubs or

> social circles.

> I can't believe people actually put up with that. Better

agricultural

> and dietary habits will never catch on if you have to skulk around

in

> the dark with groups of conspirators.

>

> If the average Joe can't see raw milk openly sold, he will only

think

> it's illicit.

>