Re: ACTION ALERT Help Washington's Micro-dairy Farms TODAY

[Guest guest]

Dear Chrys,

I may be laying bare my ignorance here and I realize time is of the

essence, but I have a crucial question. I am an advocate of less, not

more government. If I understand your suggestions you are calling for

a new agricultural agency to monitor and liscence small, backyard,

family farms? I am not sure I would want that? I think the better

thing as far as the state is concerned is to simply require that anyone

who buys raw milk do so at their own risk. Perhaps each farm could ask

them sign a waver?

Perhaps I am missing something here so please communicate your thoughts

to me. I am willing to learn.

Also I have already contacted my reps and Senator to respect our

individual choice to purchase and consume raw milk. Am definately

willing to write more for the right cause.

Thanks for your help!

Syrie

[Guest guest]

Most of the recently-licensed Grade A Raw milk producer-distributors in

Washington are definitely MicroDairies. WSDA is used to working with

small farmstead cheesemakers and now are accepting many innovated

approaches for truly micro-scale dairies who want to get licensed.

There are at least three of use fully-licensed Grade A Raw microdairies

that will have no more than a dozen goats producing milk. That is the

equivalent of one holstein or two jersey cows.

At least three of us hand-milk our animals. We all hand pour and hand

cap our milk containers.

Please check out the photos of my Grade A Raw microdairy that

has uploaded to the RawDairy photos section, in the folder

labeled " Rainhaven. "

Visit http://www.conwayfamilyfarm.com/Grade_A_Raw.htm

and

http://www.gardenhomefarm.com

The existing regulations DO accommodate very small scale

microdairying, and our milk quality is the best in the world!

I have asked Coles, WSDA Food Safety Director, to include info

on the WSDA " Grade A Raw licensees " webpage that lists all the

pathogens our milk samples are tested for; it is more than the

regulations require. They do test for e.coli, listeria, salmonella, etc.

Debbie Higgins

Rainhaven Grade A Raw Goat Dairy

Duvall, Washington

[Guest guest]

Chrys & Emmy -

Other than Mother Therese's Grade A Raw microdairy here in WA, and

Mark McAfee's Organic Pastures Grade A Raw large cow dairy in CA,

none of the " task force " members that you have assembled are showing

proof that they have had their animal health tests done or posting their

monthly lab results showing pathogen testing etc.

Every Grade A Raw dairy in Washington, now and in the past which

includes cow dairies with 40 producing cows, and also us very small

Grade A Raw microdairies, have been able to produce milk that is

<10,000 SPC and <10 coliform and that does indeed get screened by

WSDA for other pathogens. Gloria of WSDairy Fed's 40-cow Grade A

Raw dairy that operated for decades never had a coliform count of over

2. That's pretty dang good, ain't it?

The thing is, and I have often encouraged unlicensed raw milk sellers to

do so as our RawDairy moderator can well attest, unlicensed

unregulated farmers can always choose to have their animal health

tests done (TB & brucellosis) and do monthly lab tests through a private

lab - there certainly are no laws preventing them from taking the initiative

to practice due diligence on these matters. And yet, how many do?

I have explained to Mark McAfee that one of the most exciting things he

could be doing would be to get more farmers in California licensed with

their Grade A Raw dairy permit. How fantastic would that be, to see a

whole plethora of Grade A Raw microdairies flourishing in California, of

all sizes, and hey yeah let's get some Grade A Raw *GOAT* dairies

going down there, ewe all!!

So, bottom line: if you truly want safe raw milk, stop this BS about how

Grade A Raw standards in WA are unsafe, and start helping those

farmers who are not yet licensed to get their animals tested for TB and

brucellosis, and to have a private lab test their milk samples and get

them over their fears that they can not meet current regulatory

standards. If at first their samples do not meet these standards, have

them tweak their processes and upgrade their facilities until they can

and give them the confidence to be mooving forward with getting their

Washington Grade A Raw license.

Debbie Higgins

Rainhaven Grade A Goat Dairy

Duvall, WA

Hand milking, hand pouring, hand capping the milk from under a dozen

Toggenburg does!

[Guest guest]

You and I read it the same way. I don't want the government coming and

telling me what to do when my shareholders are happy and so am I with what

we have in place.

K.C.

Re: ACTION ALERT Help Washington's Micro-dairy Farms

TODAY

> Dear Chrys,

> I may be laying bare my ignorance here and I realize time is of the

> essence, but I have a crucial question. I am an advocate of less, not

> more government. If I understand your suggestions you are calling for

> a new agricultural agency to monitor and liscence small, backyard,

> family farms? I am not sure I would want that? I think the better

> thing as far as the state is concerned is to simply require that anyone

> who buys raw milk do so at their own risk. Perhaps each farm could ask

> them sign a waver?

>

> Perhaps I am missing something here so please communicate your thoughts

> to me. I am willing to learn.

>

> Also I have already contacted my reps and Senator to respect our

> individual choice to purchase and consume raw milk. Am definately

> willing to write more for the right cause.

>

> Thanks for your help!

> Syrie

>

>

>

>

>

> PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

> Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

>

> Archive search: http://onibasu.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Syrie,

Yes, I hear you. I am also an advocate of less government. The painful

truth of the matter is that here in Washington, they will be passing a

bill that will require shareholder dairies to be licensed. There is no

stopping that. Also it will criminalize selling milk without a license.

This much we have lost and we do not have the political power to turn

this around.

The action alert is the product of many hours of work and collaboration

with raw milk advocates, WAPF members and chapter leads, consumers,

producers, shareholders, Shareholder Dairy farmers, and dairy farmer

wannabe's. Rather than simply have us stepped on, we are offering these

proposed amendments to try and create a legal place for Micro-dairies and

Shareholder Dairies to exist. Something along the lines of a level

playing field. Otherwise, folks are facing jail here.

It's not perfect. But our legislators will not allow a buyer beware

policy. They cannot be convinced to " simply require that anyone who

buys raw milk do so at their own risk " . Some farms already have

waivers, but they are not iron clad. Any lawyer can probably punch a hole

through a waiver if paid enough. There are other legal complexities with

waivers as well.

We are not creating a new agricultural agency. That already exists with

WSDA Food Safety who enforces grade A licensing. We hope to create a new

licensing category for Micro-dairies with regulations that really

make it possible, and affordable, for even a one-cow dairy to be

legal.

And the issue of safety is not one to be taken lightly.

We're facing political realities here. Maybe there are still some who

will resist the powers that be until they are dragged away. Most folks I

know aren't that way. They just want to be able to make a living or a

supplemental income and not fear for their security.

What else can I say?

Thanks for your concern.

Chrys

At 11:37 AM 1/30/2006, you wrote:

Dear Chrys,

I may be laying bare my ignorance here and I realize time is

of the

essence, but I have a crucial question. I am an advocate of less,

not

more government. If I understand your suggestions you are calling

for

a new agricultural agency to monitor and liscence small, backyard,

family farms? I am not sure I would want that? I think the

better

thing as far as the state is concerned is to simply require that anyone

who buys raw milk do so at their own risk. Perhaps each farm could

ask

them sign a waver?

Perhaps I am missing something here so please communicate your thoughts

to me. I am willing to learn.

Also I have already contacted my reps and Senator to respect our

individual choice to purchase and consume raw milk. Am definately

willing to write more for the right cause.

Thanks for your help!

Syrie

PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

Archive search:

http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

Yes you answered the ?-- what have we come to? and you gave one of many reasons why. I have asked myself over the last many years why do we put up with it? & when will we stand up for ourselves? Bea

RE: Re: ACTION ALERT Help Washington's Micro-dairy Farms TODAY

One of your last sentences is telling “ They just want to be able to make a living or a supplemental income and not fear for their security.”

This legislation comes about from a supposed “protection of the public” stance. Yet people need to be concerned about their security FROM THE GOVERNMENT> not protection BY the government.

Chrys et al are in a bad spot. The legislature is setting a stage for contract rights to be abridged across the country on the precedent made out there. But local farmers need to be salvaged from becoming criminals overnight.

The problem I see is that the powers that be have the money, power, and time, particularly time, so encroach upon our freedoms without having any repercussions. I hope that a good micro-dairy amendment can be put on the bill, and I also hope that the share holders, or even one, will challenge the share portion in court.

Otherwise, despite all the rhetoric about availability of clean safe milk, there will be less and less across the nation. Chrys says “there are still some who will resist the powers that be until they are dragged away.”

That may be the case, and I can tell you I would be one of them. In my opinion, that is why we are facing so many abridgements to our freedoms…..regular people who have lives and families do not feel they can afford to stand up for what is right. That gives the power to the tyrants. And the more power they have, the more they desire. In Virginia now, we are fighting a bill which would give the commissioner of agriculture the right to warrantless searches and destruction of flocks as small as 1 production unit based upon a SUSPICION of exposure to Avian flu. Not a particular strain, just general. We have current regs in place which protect public health and commercial flocks, but those are not good enough. They want more unbridled power.

kathryn russell

www.MajestyFarm.com

"The one the tyrants fear is the man who

knows his rights and is prepared to stand up for them."

andr Solzhenitsyn

From: RawDairy [mailto:RawDairy ] On Behalf Of Chrys OstranderSent: Monday, January 30, 2006 7:19 PMTo: RawDairy Subject: Re: Re: ACTION ALERT Help Washington's Micro-dairy Farms TODAY

Dear Syrie,Yes, I hear you. I am also an advocate of less government. The painful truth of the matter is that here in Washington, they will be passing a bill that will require shareholder dairies to be licensed. There is no stopping that. Also it will criminalize selling milk without a license. This much we have lost and we do not have the political power to turn this around.The action alert is the product of many hours of work and collaboration with raw milk advocates, WAPF members and chapter leads, consumers, producers, shareholders, Shareholder Dairy farmers, and dairy farmer wannabe's. Rather than simply have us stepped on, we are offering these proposed amendments to try and create a legal place for Micro-dairies and Shareholder Dairies to exist. Something along the lines of a level playing field. Otherwise, folks are facing jail here.It's not perfect. But our legislators will not allow a buyer beware policy. They cannot be convinced to "simply require that anyone who buys raw milk do so at their own risk". Some farms already have waivers, but they are not iron clad. Any lawyer can probably punch a hole through a waiver if paid enough. There are other legal complexities with waivers as well.We are not creating a new agricultural agency. That already exists with WSDA Food Safety who enforces grade A licensing. We hope to create a new licensing category for Micro-dairies with regulations that really make it possible, and affordable, for even a one-cow dairy to be legal.And the issue of safety is not one to be taken lightly.We're facing political realities here. Maybe there are still some who will resist the powers that be until they are dragged away. Most folks I know aren't that way. They just want to be able to make a living or a supplemental income and not fear for their security.What else can I say?Thanks for your concern.ChrysAt 11:37 AM 1/30/2006, you wrote:

Dear Chrys, I may be laying bare my ignorance here and I realize time is of the essence, but I have a crucial question. I am an advocate of less, not more government. If I understand your suggestions you are calling for a new agricultural agency to monitor and liscence small, backyard, family farms? I am not sure I would want that? I think the better thing as far as the state is concerned is to simply require that anyone who buys raw milk do so at their own risk. Perhaps each farm could ask them sign a waver? Perhaps I am missing something here so please communicate your thoughts to me. I am willing to learn.Also I have already contacted my reps and Senator to respect our individual choice to purchase and consume raw milk. Am definately willing to write more for the right cause.Thanks for your help!SyriePLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

Syrie, Grade A Raw microdairies in Washington can choose to have their

business structured as a " shareholder " style, or not, as they wish.

GardenHome Farm Grade A Raw microdairy does business as a goat

share farm. The Conway family Grade A Raw microdairy and my own

Rainhaven Grade A Raw microdairy have chosen not to do the shareholder

approach.

There really is flexibility and creative innovation going on between WSDA

and small microdairies. I and some of the other licensed microdairies

continue to ask our legislators to put some of these leniencies in black-

and-white regulations so that it is crystal clear that things like a single milk

room that doubles as a bottling/milk processing room will continue to be

allowed (like Mother Therese has had since 1981) and to actually say that

filling and capping by hand are allowed. However, I don't expect them to

address those issues and put them into law during this short session

which ends March 9th, but we can certainly expect it to happen next year.

There are other issues we are working on to reduce the economic

burden/barriers, such as reducing the frequency of TB testing in goat herds

that are closed. Right now, TB in cows in other states has become a hot

issue, so I don't think we can expect the lawmakers to waiver on that yet.

I am very very hopeful that many other states that up to now have been

impossible to deal with regarding allowing any raw milk sales will be open

to allowing this kind of basic simple Grade A Raw microdairy. The more

microdairies (and dairies of all sizes) that get their Grade A Raw license in

Washington, the more official Food Safety data we will be compiling each

month, and armed with that and knowing that here in WA we can hand

milk, hand fill and hand cap plus have a simple icewater bath as our " bulk

tank " .... well, I think that if any states this summer want to have us

licensed raw milk dairies provide them with info for their legislators, we will

be delighted to see every state in this country have the full right to raw milk

as much as they do pasteurized milk.

Debbie Higgins

Rainhaven Grade A Raw microdairy

>

> If we are going to go ahead and liscense the micro-dairy, in effect

> saying, " raw milk sales are fine under these circumstances.... " then

> can't we do away with the shareholder concept since that idea was

> conceived to get sround the regulations that say you may consume raw

> milk only if you own the cow?

>

> I think it would uncomplicate the whole deal.

>

> Just wondering what ya'll think.

> Syrie

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Syrie, Grade A Raw microdairies in Washington can choose to have

their

> business structured as a " shareholder " style, or not, as they wish.

AH.... this makes sense to me, thank you! And really, thank you

to all who have responded, this is how we learn!!

I can say I agree with the concept of getting licensure for raw

milk dairies, hand filling, hand capping, ice bath....that would be

great to have that down as legal. And I understand what an impact

the outcome of all this will have on the rest of the nation.

I agree with everything fmf stated so beatifully with the tiny

exception of:

Farm shares are the DESIRED way to approach raw milk sales in the US.

Anyone who can't see that, isn't paying attention.

fmf

My jury is still out on whether a shareholder program is in my

best interest. Obviously the one I inquired on was not. (and I am

paying as much attention as a homschooling mother of 6 can!) :-)

I agree that a farmer can better practice good husbandry if he has a

small herd. (Please keep in mind I at one time milked 400 head/day

for 12 hours a day every day....yadyadyada...) It is the large farm

model that is the culprit for the disease and suffering of the

livestock that socialistic schemes like NAID pretends to address.

I am for the small farm. It was on the backs of small farms and

small business that this nation was built.

However I think it is a slippery slope to say that shareholding is

the only way raw milk sales should be structured. ( I know the word

used was DESRIED but it felt like ONLY) It just reminds me a touch

too much of " my child can only recieve an adequate education in a

school room " or closer to home, " Milk is only safe pastuerized " . As

a raw milk consumer I want to have a choice between participating in

a program or not. As a former dairy farm kid who may venture back

into this some day as a producer, I am not sure yet that I would go

the sharehold way.

I am NOT saying shareholding is wrong, I am NOT saying it is illegal,

I am saying I want a choice. That should be honored in this big ol'

land of freedom!

I think hosting a raw milk reception for our legislators is a great

idea. The commercial folks are doing it. Every year the WA ST Dairy

Princess gathers up donations from the commercial processors to

present to the legislators on behalf of the Dairy Farmers of

Washington. If the raw community wants a voice this is one

way to have it.

Welcome Ben and family from Bellingham!

Syrie

[Guest guest]

>

> Syrie, Grade A Raw microdairies in Washington can choose to have

their business structured as a " shareholder " style, or not, as they wish.

AH.... this makes sense to me, thank you! And really, thank you

to all who have responded, this is how we learn!!

I can say I agree with the concept of getting licensure for raw

milk dairies, hand filling, hand capping, ice bath....that would be

great to have that down as legal. And I understand what an impact

the outcome of all this will have on the rest of the nation.

[lotzakdz]

But do you agree that private individual should have to meet these

requirements for their own animals? This is where I disagree w/ Debbie. I

firmly believe that a tiered approach to retail production is a workable

regulatory model, and should be encouraged. I agree that the information

received and data collected will be helpful. BUT not at the expense of

legislating ownership abilities and contractual rights.

I agree with everything fmf stated so beatifully with the tiny

exception of: Farm shares are the DESIRED way to approach raw milk sales in

the US.[lotzakdz] Anyone who can't see that, isn't paying attention.

fmf

My jury is still out on whether a shareholder program is in my

best interest.

I am for the small farm. It was on the backs of small farms and

small business that this nation was built.

However I think it is a slippery slope to say that shareholding is

the only way raw milk sales should be structured. ( I know the word

used was DESRIED but it felt like ONLY)

[lotzakdz]

PLEASE, PLEASE do not mistake how you FEEL about the structure of the

comment for the facts of what he said. This is the problem that we have now

with society in general. They let their feelings get in the way of the

realities. " I feel government should protect public safety, I feel that

raw dairy can be a public health threat, I feel that ..yada yada yada. "

He did NOT say it is the only way, Just as raw milk may be the DESIRED

form, doesn't mean that is everyone's choice. I homeschool, and believe

(versus feel) that government schools are rotten to the core. But the choice

comes with the parent. Just do not like my tax $$ subsidizing them. Not

eating junk food is a DESIRED diet. Does that mean ONLY? NO! Optimally, I

would like to have enough $$ to purchase my own cows, do all my capital

expenditures and have some plenty left over to send my kids to college and

throw some in for retirement. I do not. That is why the agister

relationship works so well for so many. Why do companies sell stock? Because

they need to capital for a number of reasons, to start up, to improve, to

expand. There are some, indeed many, private companies that are self

capitalized. But the concept is valid and time-honored.

You said:

I want to have a choice between participating in a program or not. As a

former dairy farm kid who may venture back [lotzakdz] into this some day as

a producer, I am not sure yet that I would go the sharehold way.

[lotzakdz]

[lotzakdz] You should not need to nor have to. It should be your choice. And

the fact of the matter is, raw dairy retailed in stores would be a great

choice! You can reach many people who cannot and will not come out to the

farm or make those arrangements, you will be able to get the impulse buyer

who may never have THOUGHT of raw milk, and your market of people that shop

at stores would be vast. I personally do not believe the agister

(shareholder) model is integrally better, but it does open the opportunity

for start-up and allows small producers to be able to reach more people and

offer a service desired. I like the regularity of income, the relationship

aspect, knowing who is going to be coming, NOT retailing and all that

involves, and the critters of course. I would not want to retail. I don't

even like going and sitting at to the farmer's market! But there are plenty

who do.

I am saying I want a choice. That should be honored in this big ol'

land of freedom!

[lotzakdz]

No one has intimated you should not have a choice. Again, you do a

disservice by misinterpreting what was written and taken it personally.

I think hosting a raw milk reception for our legislators is a great

idea. The commercial folks are doing it. Every year the WA ST Dairy

Princess gathers up donations from the commercial processors to

present to the legislators on behalf of the Dairy Farmers of

Washington. If the raw community wants a voice this is one

way to have it.

[lotzakdz]

I agree it would be good. The midwives' group in Va. does it. But again, we

have to milk cows and need consumers to come out and support. The

difference between WA ST Dairy Princess and the little folks is that we

cannot afford to hire full time lobbyists, take time off work to court

these people, and/or pay for farm help to cover us.

And we should not have to. But the political reality exists that people are

in power who want to be wined and dined, and whose scruples are seldom

firm.

It amazes me that no one has jumped on Rep. Jim's comments about how

citizens should not want to affect what the government does! Seems like

someone should pass that to the opposition

Welcome Ben and family from Bellingham!

Syrie

PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

Syrie,

I chose my words carefully...so next time, read the words I write

rather than what you 'think' they say. If I wanted to say 'only',

that's what I would have wrote. (I used the word preferred too....but

you must have missed it).

There are very few people on this list that are saying there is only

one way to provide raw milk to consumers. HAVING to become a state

licensed grade A dairy doesn't seem like much of a choice to

me...although 'some' here would like you to believe it.

Choice is good, and consumers of raw milk should have many options

available. The OP model...with commercial dairies selling to other

retailers is one option that can't be overlooked, but that shouldn't

be the highest priority. In my eyes, it would be BETTER to encourage

many small farms producing high quality milk products. There seems to

be some fundamental problem that governments have with farmers

selling directly to consumers. All sorts of regulations and red tape,

which have been written to control mass mechandisers and the

producers who supply them, are a burden to them. It has created a

situation where the hassle and expense isn't worth the return. As a

result less choices are available...and of the ones that are left

many are selling crap for low prices.

I contend that with the farmshare model consumers would have MORE

choices and have a larger say in their food supply decisions. If you

make it difficult for people to enter into this kind of market the

willingness of those inclined will decrease. Farmshares have the

potential for building community...something that WalMart doesn't.

Communities centered around raw milk will benefit society as a whole.

States such as WA are taking steps to minimize choices for the

consumer. Other states are watching, and if the narrow minded

approach is successful there, the entire nationwide movement will be

set back. Under the guise of 'public safety' politicians are

establishing more hurdles and roadblocks to a diverse landscape of

raw milk producers. Pretty scary when you understand that 157 has

been shown to be destroyed in properly produced raw milk.

Make your choice, and may your options be plentiful. Gather as much

information as you can, and use your head to get you to the point

where you are ready to decide. Most importantly though, when it comes

down to it, follow what is in your heart, for if you listen

carefully, your body will always tell you Truth. (especially if

you're drinking raw milk)

fmf

> >

> > Syrie, Grade A Raw microdairies in Washington can choose to have

> their

> > business structured as a " shareholder " style, or not, as they

wish.

> AH.... this makes sense to me, thank you! And really, thank you

> to all who have responded, this is how we learn!!

> I can say I agree with the concept of getting licensure for raw

> milk dairies, hand filling, hand capping, ice bath....that would be

> great to have that down as legal. And I understand what an impact

> the outcome of all this will have on the rest of the nation.

>

> I agree with everything fmf stated so beatifully with the tiny

> exception of:

> Farm shares are the DESIRED way to approach raw milk sales in the

US.

> Anyone who can't see that, isn't paying attention.

>

> fmf

> My jury is still out on whether a shareholder program is in my

> best interest. Obviously the one I inquired on was not. (and I am

> paying as much attention as a homschooling mother of 6 can!) :-)

> I agree that a farmer can better practice good husbandry if he has

a

> small herd. (Please keep in mind I at one time milked 400 head/day

> for 12 hours a day every day....yadyadyada...) It is the large farm

> model that is the culprit for the disease and suffering of the

> livestock that socialistic schemes like NAID pretends to address.

>

> I am for the small farm. It was on the backs of small farms and

> small business that this nation was built.

>

> However I think it is a slippery slope to say that shareholding

is

> the only way raw milk sales should be structured. ( I know the

word

> used was DESRIED but it felt like ONLY) It just reminds me a touch

> too much of " my child can only recieve an adequate education in a

> school room " or closer to home, " Milk is only safe pastuerized " .

As

> a raw milk consumer I want to have a choice between participating

in

> a program or not. As a former dairy farm kid who may venture back

> into this some day as a producer, I am not sure yet that I would go

> the sharehold way.

>

> I am NOT saying shareholding is wrong, I am NOT saying it is

illegal,

> I am saying I want a choice. That should be honored in this big

ol'

> land of freedom!

>

> I think hosting a raw milk reception for our legislators is a great

> idea. The commercial folks are doing it. Every year the WA ST

Dairy

> Princess gathers up donations from the commercial processors to

> present to the legislators on behalf of the Dairy Farmers of

> Washington. If the raw community wants a voice this is one

> way to have it.

>

> Welcome Ben and family from Bellingham!

> Syrie

>

[Guest guest]

When I think of shareholding dairy I think of situations where people that I have read about buy veggies like this. One operation charges a sum at the beginning of the year, like a deposit, and the rest of the agreed amount is paid when veggies are delivered. This way the people cover the seeds etc and all the people involved get a share and pay for labor, delivery etc with the remainder of the monies exchanged. This is an agreement with many variables and usually they all agree about things like chemicals etc. Why does it have to be different for milk?

Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadagdchik@...http://www.winnipegbeach.com/chikouskyfarms/

Re: ACTION ALERT Help Washington's Micro-dairy Farms TODAY

Thank you for articulating your points so well on this issue. I feel the need to clarify a few things.1) I hold no delusions that the govt. is nice or even has our best interest at heart. It is a constant source of concern to me that as a society we have lost the understanding of what the proper role of govt is.2) My suggestion to "do away" with the shareholder program should have been stated clearer. I in no way intended for the govt to interfere with consentual parties to a contract. Am I wrong in assuming that the shareholder program was started to enable folks to buy milk who don't or can't have a cow/goat? To get around the restrictions? If that is not why it was started to begin with I would be interested to learn of it's origins and I stand corrected If the legality issue is why the shareholder program was developed and our state recognizes the legality of raw milk sales through lincensure; I was suggesting that as an industry the shareholder program could be dropped, NOT that the govt could be empowered to break contracts between citizens. I want to be emphatically clear on that point! I am sorry to have apparently steped on some toes about shareholding. I admitt I have more to learn about it. My only experience with shareholding was an inquiry into one. The individual asked for a large lump sum of money up front, a sum every month, and I still would need to pay $6.00/ half gallon of milk. Considering in my current situation I pay $4.00 for a full gallon at the farm no strings attached, I politely said thanks, but no thanks. And I would have no more influence over the care of the animal than the man in the moon.Maybe that was a unique situation, I do thank you for bringing the other points to my attention. I appreciate the opportunity to learn and to!Respectfully,Syrie