Delegates James Hubbard (D-23A) and Nic Kipke (R-31) have introduced a bill, House Bill 3, to recognize the right of consumers to obtain raw milk and raw milk products from dairy livestock they own as part of a contract with milk producers, an arrangement commonly referred to as a cow-share or herdshare agreement.
Attend the hearing on the cow-share bill on Tuesday, January 28 at 1 p.m. in Annapolis, Maryland with the House Health and Government Operations Committee. You can submit written testimony for the hearing by email to John Murphy at [email protected]
In April of 2006, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (MDHMH) issued a change to the existing regulations in Maryland to redefine a cow share as a sale of raw milk specifically to make cow shares illegal. Until then, cow shares were a viable means for Maryland consumers to obtain raw milk from Maryland farmers. Activists have been working for years to gain their full rights to purchase raw milk from the producer of their choice. Reinstating the right to contract with farmers in a cow share is a great first step. With this law in place, Maryland residents will once again have the choice to support Maryland farmers by engaging with them for their raw milk needs.
Maryland dairy farmers have lost millions of dollars to Pennsylvania raw milk producers.
The Maryland dairy industry needs to develop more options for farmers to generate income. Maryland has lost hundreds of dairy farms over the past 20 years. Family farms need more forms of income to remain viable.
Consumers have access to raw milk in 35-40 states; Maryland is behind the curve.
The consumption of raw milk is legal in Maryland. Why do consumers need to cross state lines to exercise a right they have?
Access to raw milk can provide other income opportunities for Maryland farmers and small farm prosperity.
Raw milk has a good overall track record for safety.
Rural economies have been declining over the past few decades. This is a way to strengthen rural economies once again and see them prosper.
Sign the Online Petition Now to email your message to the committee members asking them to support HB3 then follow up with phone calls.
Simply enter your full contact information so legislators can know that you are a Maryland resident. Your message will go to the full committee and you can also choose to send it to the editor of a local newspaper:
I urge you to vote YES on HB3 to allow access to raw milk through consumer-owned livestock boarding contracts.
Add your personal message in comment field. You can expand on any of the Talking Points and emphasize that you want the choice to obtain raw milk and raw milk products within Maryland.
Please share this link with others and encourage them to do the same, bit.ly/FTC-MD-HB3
Action #2
Follow up by Phone
Although the full committee is listed at the end, to be most effective, follow up by phone (and email) with the committee members listed here. You may want to use the Sample Message as a script.
Submit written testimony for the hearing by email to John Murphy at [email protected]
When you call or leave a voicemail for a legislator, please emphasize that you'd like the choice to be able to obtain your milk from within Maryland. It would be good to mention the amount of money you are currently spending in other states because of the current ban on raw milk in MD.
Your calls make a big difference.
Personalize your message and add your own words expressing why you care about access to fresh milk with a focus on choice and economics. Incorporate any of the Talking Points.
SAMPLE MESSAGE for calls or voicemails:
"My name is __________ and I'm a Maryland resident. Please support House Bill 3, introduced by Delegates Hubbard and Kipke. I support the right of farmers and consumers to engage in herdshare contracts. I want the choice to obtain raw milk within Maryland and keep the money in the state.
Each month, I spend $100 on raw milk from Pennsylvania--that's $1,200 each year going to pay Pennsylvania farmers and not Maryland farmers. Passage of this legislation will create untold economic and raw milk products opportunity for Maryland farmers. Thank you for your support."
Membership benefits include the possibility of representation in court; the Fund typically pays for all court costs. The Fund is not an insurance company and cannot guarantee representation on all legal matters. Your membership fees and donations help to keep local food sources available and preserve family farms facing unjust enforcement actions.
Questions? Contact us by email at[email protected]or call 703-208-FARM (3276).
Please forward this alert to others who are concerned about protecting locally-sourced nutrient-dense foods and preserving sustainable small family farms and artisan food producers as well as defending the rights to sell and to access the foods of one's choice from the source of one's choice.