2015 Senate Ag Committee Meeting Summary - February 9, 2015
I was able to listen to the live stream of the Senate Ag Committee meeting on February 9, 2015. I was trying to listen while quickly scribbling notes. I did my best and I believe the information below to be accurate.
Senator Maynard provided a summary of the sub-committee that was considering the raw milk bill. He said they met 3 times as a sub-committee, they met with individual farmers as well as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health. They did research via council on the other states' laws and the options surrounding raw milk. They came up with 3: retail sales, farm sales, and herd shares. Of the 3, they decided to go with herd shares at this time.
Council then provided a summary of the bill. I couldn't write it all down, but some key points included:
- Responsible party buys into the herd and can then get raw milk from that herd.
- Responsible party must sign a liability release acknowledging the possible dangers of raw milk and releasing the farmer from liability.
- All animals in the herd must be tested as TB and Brucellosis free every 12 months.
- Animals with high mastitis (maybe it was phrased as health issues, I couldn't write fast enough) must have their milk withdrawn.
- Animals with chronic high mastitis must be removed permanently from the herd.
They then took questions of Council. They only listed the county each person represented, so I don't know exactly which senator asked what questions.
The senator from Greenbriar asked if goat milk was included in the bill. The answer was yes.
The senator from Greenbriar asked if anyone was there from the Farm Bureau to state an opinion. The answer was no. The senator from Greenbriar stated his disappointment. The committee chair stated he could not speak for them, but believes they have elected to take no position on the issue this year.
The senator from Berkely asked if apple cider would fit into this bill. The short answer was maybe. (Nothing further came of this question.)
A representative of the DHHR was then asked to speak. This was Brad Cochrin from the Public Health Department. He stated what they always say: the CDC says raw milk is dangerous, especially to pregnant women, children, the elderly, and those with immune disorders. And that the FDA claims there is no health benefit to raw milk over pasteurized milk. There were several questions about outbreak statistics. He said there were 2 outbreaks related to herd shares in 2014, 1 in KY. There were 3 in 2013. 2 from the same farm in AK and 1 in TN. He gave some other numbers I couldn't get written down. Then was asked and acknowledged that raw milk cheese is OK if it has been aged.
The senator from Upshur (wish I knew who he was as he was AWESOME!! I'm guessing it was Robert Karnes but I'm not 100% sure) grilled the PH rep about the number of deaths due to raw milk in the last 25 years. The PH rep said I think 3, the Senator said he found 5. The senator pointed out how many more people die from eating spinach than drinking raw milk. He asked "should we pasteurize spinach?" (told you he was awesome!) He said 10 million people drink raw milk, and with only 5 deaths in the last 25 years clearly the attack on raw milk is stupid when so many things are more dangerous (I'm paraphrasing that last part - I can't recall exactly how he worded it).
The senator from Wayne asked if raw milk butter was allowed. The answer was no.
At this time the bill was voted upon. It was agreed to substitute the new herd shares bill for the current raw milk bill. The new herd shares wording then UNANIMOUSLY PASSED. There's a way they word it, but basically the committee recommends the senate approve the bill, but first it has to go through the health committee. Time to start lobbying there!!