ACTION ALERT

Grassroots support is more important than anything now

in getting a Wisconsin Raw Milk Bill passed this legislative session!

Right now! Your calls to both of your state legislators asking them to Co-Sponsor the new Raw Milk Draft LRB 2821 will make a big difference. Click here to find your Wisconsin Legislators.

Cosponsors Needed by Dec. 2

Tell your legislators why you want to see direct farm to consumer raw milk sales legalized in Wisconsin. Ask them to contact Rep. Dave Murphy (R-Greenville) and sign up as a cosponsor on bill draft LRB #2821. The more co-sponsors a bill has, the better chance it has of getting through the legislative process to a vote in the full Wisconsin Senate and Assembly.

Murphy Letter to Legislators

Representative Dave Murphy sent this message to members of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Please act now and make follow-up calls to your legislators.

To: All Legislators

From: Rep. Dave Murphy

Due date: Wednesday, December 2, 2015

I am introducing legislation to allow the sale of unpasteurized (raw) milk and products made with raw milk directly from Wisconsin farmers to consumers.

The raw milk products could only be purchased on-site, at a farm.

People increasingly want to source their food, and allowing raw milk purchases for those preferring a farm-to-table philosophy makes sense.

As with all fresh produce, consumers are aware when they purchase that the item has not been processed.

This gives consumers another option for the purchase of a dairy product, and since purchase is only permitted on-site at a farm, there will be no confusion with pasteurized milk products, which are sold in stores.

26 states allow raw milk sales of some kind, including California.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows a dairy farmer to sell unpasteurized (raw) milk and raw milk products such as butter and cheese directly to consumers on the farm where the milk and milk products are produced. Current law generally prohibits the sale of raw milk and raw milk products.

This bill also exempts certain dairy farmers from licensing requirements under current law. Current law requires a dairy farmer to have a milk producer license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and requires a facility that processes or manufactures dairy products such as butter or cheese to have a dairy plant license from DATCP. Current law also requires a facility engaging in food processing to have a food processing license from DATCP, but provides an exception for dairy plants that have a dairy plant license. Under the bill, a dairy farmer does not need to have a milk producer license if the only milk sold by the dairy farmer is raw milk that is sold to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced. The bill also exempts dairy farmers from needing a dairy plant or food processing license if the only milk products that the dairy farmer processes or manufactures are raw milk products for sale to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced.

In addition, this bill exempts certain dairy farmers from the grade A permitting requirements under current law. Current law prohibits the sale to consumers of milk or fluid milk products that are not grade A milk or fluid milk products. A dairy farmer or dairy plant operator selling grade A milk or grade A fluid milk products must have a grade A permit. The standards for producing grade A milk and milk products are more stringent than for non-grade A milk and milk products. Under the bill, a dairy farmer may sell non-grade A raw milk or raw milk products directly to consumers on the farm where the milk and milk products are produced.

Finally, this bill creates exemptions to DATCP rules relating to the operation of dairy farms and dairy plants and the testing and quality of milk and milk products. Under the bill, these DATCP rules do not apply to raw milk or raw milk products sold directly to consumers on the farm or to the operation of a dairy farm or dairy plant that does not sell or distribute milk or milk products other than raw milk or raw milk products.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

To cosponsor this legislation, please contact Rep. Dave Murphy at 608-266-7500 or respond to this email.

Office of Representative Dave Murphy

608-266-7500

Room 318 North, State Capitol

Madison WI 53708

Five Phases to Pass a Wisconsin Bill

The Wisconsin Raw Milk Association (WRMA) is tracking this bill. Your voice needs to be heard every step of the way!

1. Contact your state Representative and Senator no later than Dec 2nd and ask them to Co-Sponsor LRB Draft #2821 which is sponsored by Representative Dave Murphy. Do this NOW! Best days to call are Nov 23, 24, 30, Dec 1, or Click here for details…

2. Contact all legislators who serve on committees that will be taking up Bill # ____and ask them to have a hearing. Sign up now for WRMA Action Alerts to know when this is needed.

3. Attend a hearing in Madison or ______ to show your support. WRMA will send an Action Alert for the hearings [registered? sign up now].

4. Call your legislators to ask them to vote “YES” on Senate Bill # ______ and Assembly Bill # ______ when it reaches the point of being up for vote on the floor. WRMA will send an Action Alert when the Raw Milk bill is up for a vote [registered? sign up now].

5. Call Governor Walker and ask him to sign Bill #_____ once it passes the House and Senate. WRMA will send an Action Alert when it’s time to call the Governor [registered? sign up now].

WRMA asks you to follow through and make your voice heard! Then send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Made my calls” so efforts can be tracked.

Let’s make it happen this time!

In 2010, an unprecedented 800-plus people voiced their opinion at a public hearing in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in support of legislation that allowed for on-farm sales of raw milk, which later comfortably passed in both the Assembly and the Senate, only to be vetoed by then-Governor Doyle.

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Educational and Political Action Services also provide an avenue for FTCLDF to build grassroots activism to create the most favorable regulatory climate possible. In addition to advising on bill language, FTCLDF supports favorable legislation via action alerts, social media outreach, and the online petition service.

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