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Our Letter To Al Juhnke
Feb. 22, 2010
Today, I received a letter for State Representative Al Juhnke. Over the last few months I have been contacting a few of our government officials, who I thought could help change some of the outdated raw milk laws we have in place. Why am I doing this? Simple... I think folks should have a choice about food, we raise dairy goats for milk, and for health reasons. There is a demand for unpasteurized goat milk, the problem is people don't know where to get it.
With this in mind, I wrote my Representative, Al Juhnke, who also happens to be the Chair of the Agriculture Finance Committee. Below is the letter he sent us. I think it shows that the State Minnesota is on the edge of change.
I emailed him this Feb. 09, 2010:
We contacted you last May, concerning the
subject of raw milk. The reason I am writing you again is simply this:
if the legalization and regulation of raw milk sales can be done in one
state, it can be done in other states as well. As of July 1, 2009, the
State of Vermont has legalized and regulated the legal sale of raw milk
from on-farm producers. My question is, "when can we expect the State of
Minnesota to do the same?"
http://www.ruralvermont.org/milk.html
It appears Vermont now has a simple 2 tier system, limiting raw milk
sales for small producers. If MN could do something like this, I believe
it would have a positive economic impact for many small, family dairy
farms. The same farms that were hit so hard lately with the low milk
prices... as well as satisfy the increasing demand for raw milk
products. All this can be done without negatively effecting the larger
dairies or market pricing. For you government types, it would make it
easier to regulate and tax.
With it, the Growing Safe Food Act (S. 2758) would be a perfect fit.
Please give this issue further consideration and if possible, introduce
this subject to your colleagues. We need this.
Thanks much
Richard & Carol Radtke
320-220-2235
He replied with this letter:
Contact Information
| Contact | Phone | Farm Position |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Radtke | 320.220.3235 | Dairy Manager/Owner |
| Richard Radtke | 320.220.2235 | Farm Manager/Owner |
| Madison Radtke | N/A | Goat Herder/Daughter |
