It is currently illegal to sell or transfer raw milk in Montana. The State has even harassed herd shares, where people jointly own animals and drink their own milk.

 

House Bill 574 would change this. The bill will allow small-scale farmers, who meet specific standards, to sell raw milk, as well as recognize people's right to consume milk from their own animals through herd shares.

 

The House Agriculture Committee is holding a hearing on House Bill 574 Thursday, March 7. Attend the hearing and help pass this bill!

 

WHEN: 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 7

WHERE: Room 137, Capitol Building, Helena, MT [directions] 

WHAT: Hearing before the House Agriculture Committee

WHY: Having people in the room really makes an impact on the legislators!

 

Whether or not you can come in person, please email all of the members of the House Agriculture Committee to urge them to vote yes on HB 574!

 

Just click on this link, and fill out the form to send the same message to each legislator in the entire Agricultural Committee at one time:

 

* Enter your name, address, email, and other personal info 

* Select "House Agriculture" from the drop down menu after choosing the "Committee" bubble

* Type in "HB 574" for the bill number

* Click on the "for" bubble to show that you support raw milk

* Include a short message in the box below as to why you support raw milk 

* Hit "Send Message" to email it to all of the members of the committee

Call your own legislator at 406-444-4800, and urge them to do everything they can to move HB 574 forward!

HB 574 creates a small herd exemption from the existing mandatory pasteurization requirements. It allows a small farmer to have up to 15 cows and 30 goats or sheep and sell raw milk. The farmer must have a permit and undergo random quarterly testing, but he does not have to adhere to the Grade A dairy regulations, such as stainless steel machinery and concrete floors. Milk can only be sold to people coming to the farm to buy it. The bill also allows Grade A dairies to sell raw milk directly to consumers on the farm.

 

HB 574 also offers a herdshare provision that recognizes that part-owners of an animal can consume milk from that animal. No milk is being sold, and the part-owners are responsible for deciding what health and safety measures they want to take for themselves.

 

To read the bill and check on its status, go to:  

www.data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billhtml/HB0574.htm 

 

Updates will be posted on the Montana Alliance for Raw Milk Facebook page at:  www.facebook.com/mt.arm 

 

For more information, contact Chris Rosenau at [email protected]