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New York Threatens to Jail Two Raw-Milk Dairy Farmers
The Complete Patient ^
| Feb. 14, 2008
| David E. Gumpert
Posted on 02/14/2008 1:33:00 PM PST by davidgumpert
New York state continues to tighten the screws on Barb and Steve Smith, the operators of Meadowsweet Dairy in Lodi. Over what? Over their decision to establish a herd share organized as a limited liability company, and make raw milk dairy products available exclusively to the LLC’s 120-plus shareholders.
The immediate issue concerns a search warrant issued to the NY Department of Agriculture and Markets in December...Now Ag and Markets has returned to the state judge who issued the warrant, and obtained a “show cause” order as to why the Smiths shouldn’t be held in contempt of court...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecompletepatient.com ...
TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Government; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: contemptofcourt; dairy; herdshare; rawmilk
New York State is trying to set an example of dairy farmers Barb and Steve Smith so no others will even think about trying to do what they are doing--establish a private herd share to escape the agency's ever-more-harsh regulation.
To: davidgumpert
The WSJ had an article is this (maybe not these exact people). As I understand it, raw milk can be consumed if it comes from your own cow -- but you can't sell it to anyone. But some folks think that raw milk has health benefits, so they buy "shares" in a herd and as a fringe benefit of being an owner, they show up at the farm on a regular basis and take away raw milk from "their" cow.
Yes, it's legal game-playing, by I think it's a bit chilling that the state wants to squash it.
To: davidgumpert
When raw milk is outlawed, only outlaws will have raw milk.
3
posted on
02/14/2008 1:41:47 PM PST
by
rednesss
(Fred Thompson - 2008)
To: ClearCase_guy
Your description of the process matches what I know of a similar setup here in central Indiana. I have thought about looking into buying a share, but I’m a little leery of the rev’nooers...
To: davidgumpert; Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; akatel; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Alexander Rubin; ...
similar stories
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
5
posted on
02/14/2008 3:08:57 PM PST
by
traviskicks
(http://www.neoperspectives.com/Ron_Paul_2008.htm)
To: Hegemony Cricket
I own a small share of a dairy farm out here in Texas, so that I can get raw milk. The laws vary by state; some details of the laws and situation, for each state, can be found at
RealMilk.com: What's Happening.
I don't worry too much as a consumer of raw milk about running afoul of the rev'nooers. They mostly go after the producer (the farmer), not the consumer (the milk drinker).
See my Freeper home page for more raw milk information.
6
posted on
02/14/2008 3:27:13 PM PST
by
ThePythonicCow
(The Greens and Reds steal in fear of freedom and capitalism; Fear arising from a lack of Faith.)
To: davidgumpert
"Don't drink the milk- it's spoiled!"
7
posted on
02/14/2008 7:11:37 PM PST
by
murphE
(I refuse to choose evil, even if it is the lesser of two.)
To: ThePythonicCow
I drank it working on a farm as a teen - never really got a taste for it, though. It is, well, pretty raw!
8
posted on
02/14/2008 7:14:02 PM PST
by
djf
(I think McCain deserves a chance. After all, he is on R side!)
To: ThePythonicCow
For now, they go after the farmers. Who’s to say consumers won’t get their turn?
9
posted on
02/20/2008 7:53:17 PM PST
by
davidgumpert
(More on problems with raw milk availability in Michigan)
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