Page 94 - Summer2009

STATE LEGISLATION UPDATE

CONNECTICUT. HB 6313, a bill that would have limited sales of raw milk to the farm only [see Wise Traditions Spring
2009 issue], died in the Joint Committee on the Environment. Raw milk can currently be sold in retail stores; a number
of licensed dairies in the State derive over half of their raw milk sales from retail store transactions. However, HB 6312,
a bill stipulating criminal penalties for the sale of “adulterated raw milk and raw milk products” was voted out of the
Joint Committee on the Environment but currently is stalled in another committee. If this bill passes into law, cow share
programs would become illegal in the State unless the farmer has a retail raw milk license.

NEW JERSEY. Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Warren/Hunterdon) and State Senator Marcia Karrow (R-Warren/Hunterdon)
have introduced companion bills to legalize the sale of raw milk in New Jersey. The Assembly bill is A621 (formerly A4424
filed in 2007); the Senate bill is S2627 and has been assigned to the Senate Economic Growth Committee. The bills allow
a licensed producer “to sell, offer for sale or otherwise make available raw milk directly to consumers or retail stores.”
The bills also allow raw milk licensees to sell raw milk products, specifically listing yogurt, kefir, butter, cottage cheese
and raw milk cheese. In addition, the bills expressly legalize cow shares, stating that nothing in the law “shall…preclude
a consumer, for the purpose of obtaining raw milk, and a farmer from entering into a contract for shared ownership of a
cow and contractually prescribing the terms and conditions of milk production. If the contract is entered into pursuant
to this subsection, no raw milk permit shall be required.” Under the terms of the bills, applicants cannot obtain a permit
unless they sign an affidavit “certifying that no growth hormones will be used in the process of producing raw milk.” On
May 11, the Assembly Agriculture Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on A621. After the hearing, Committee
Chairman Nelson Albano (D-Cape May) was quoted as saying, “Our intent as a committee is to make sure that we do
everything possible to help dairy farmers in the state of New Jersey. We cannot let this be a dying breed . . . we also
have to make sure that consumers in New Jersey have the right to purchase something they can get in any other state.”
The current ban on raw milk sales has cost the State’s dairy farmers substantial business in sales that have gone to raw
milk producers in Pennsylvania.

NEW YORK. State Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-District 57) has re-introduced Senate bill S2428 (formerly S6827 in
2008) while Representative Daniel Burling (R,C,I-Warsaw) has re-introduced A6610 (formerly A10870 in 2008); these
companion bills would allow the sale of raw milk in retail stores. Current law permits only on-farm sales. Those selling
raw milk at retail would be required to post a sign at the point of sale reading, “NOTICE: Raw Milk sold here. Raw Milk
does not provide the protection of pasteurization.” The Senate bill has been referred to the Consumer Protection Com-
mittee and the Assembly bill has been referred to the Agriculture Committee.

VERMONT. H.125, a bill that would increase the amount of raw milk dairy farmers can sell from the current 12.5 gallons
a day to 40 gallons, has passed both the House and the Senate and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. The bill estab-
lishes standards for the sale of raw milk for all producers with additional standards being required of those farms selling
more than 12.5 gallons per day. Any farm that complies with the additional standards can sell milk through delivery as
well. Under current law, sales can only be made at the farm. The additional standards include an annual inspection by
the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets and twice monthly testing by an FDA-accredited laboratory.
All farms selling raw milk will now be required to register with the State regardless of the volume they sell.
THANK YOU FROM MARK AND MARYANN NOLT

A hearty thank you for all your support during our recent raw milk episodes (see
Wise Traditions, Summer and Fall, 2008. Thank you for all the cards, letters and phone
calls, for participating at the rallies and for your offers to help at the farm. Thank you
for your contributions and understanding.
Special thanks to Lyn Rales and her son Matt for hosting the fund-raiser last sum-
mer. Thank you to the speakers Sally, Joel, Bill and others. Thanks for all for attending
and your many contributions.
Thank you to our many loyal patrons for standing with us in our time of trials.
This is life but we continue to strive for a better tomorrow. To everyone, your kindness
was and continues to be greatly appreciated! Mark and Maryann Nolt and Family

Protesters at the hearing for raw milk dairy farmer Mark Nolt,
who was subject to two raids by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
92 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2009