Raw Milk Association of Colorado
 
 

Friday 03rd of July 2009

Find A Raw Milk Dairy

RMAC Updates

Our Spring 2009 Newsletter is here!  Click on the "Newsletters" tab (far right).

Our June 23 Board meeting has been postponed.  We will reschedule toward the end of July or early August. 

Thank you,

Blair McMorran

Upcoming Events

Julie Schondel of Godshow Ranch in Parker will be giving (hard and soft) cheese-making classes at the end of July. 

Cheesemaking workshops are below:

 

Soft Cheese       Monday, July 27th        10am – noon

                     Thursday,July 30th      10am – noon

                     Saturday,August 1st     10am – noon

 

Hard Cheese      Monday, July 27th        1pm – 3pm

                     Thursday,July 30th      1pm – 3pm

                     Saturday,August 1st     1pm – 3pm

Prices:

Soft cheese w/supplies $25, w/o supplies $15

Hard Cheese $40 (Supplies will not be provided, but I will see about having them available for sale.) 

Please let me know if you have any questions.


Please RSVP by July 11th.  There will be a limit of 25 people ages 12 and up.  Please reserve your spot early.

 

Julie

 

God's HOW Ranch, LLC

God IS how we get stuff done!

42358 Vista Rdg

Parker, CO 80138

303-690-2437

Our new website is up and running!!

www.godshowranch.com

 

Mark your calendars for June 23rd.  RMAC will  host a teleseminar with Pete Kennedy, Esq., President of Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). He will speak about farmer's rights in the context of the document "What to do if you receive a visit".  You can find this document on FTCLDF's website, or email me for a copy.  

We will meet or teleconference at the Rocky Mountain Farmer's Union 4th floor conference room,  1-3PM.  All RMAC members are invited to attend.  

Hope you can make it!

 

Special News

  “We believe existing systems for identification of livestock, including brands and tattoos, are effective for disease control, and changes to optimize existing systems can be accomplished by state authorities without implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

The implementation of the NAIS – whether by federal or state governments – raises concerns about the impact on private property, privacy and the ability to conduct business, therefore we oppose any government action that funds or mandates premise registration and individual or industry participation in the NAIS.”

You can read about recent federal bills addressing food safety and farming here:

http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/federal_bills.htm  (for state legislation: http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/state_bills.htm )

and here:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17256.cfm

The latest food "safety" bill, H.R. 2749, needs to be stopped.   Please sign this petition

http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-15june2009.htm

The publisher of AcresUSA and a long time advocate of organic farming, Charles Walters died in January.  You can read about his life here.

And so it went...

Jersey Cow

For over 50 years the large dairy interests in America have worked to promote the idea that "pasteurized" milk is safe milk.

They did this for two major reasons:

1). Pasteurization enabled them to collect and transport milk containing high levels of bacteria, because the process would kill the bacteria in the milk.

2). Because pasteurization killed all the bacteria (both good and bad) in the milk, the shelf life of the milk was longer, resulting in higher profits through lesser amounts of spoiled milk.

What you were never told was that this was a poor choice.

It was a poor choice because it enabled an inferior product to dominate the market, while at the same time, putting the small dairy farmers out of business.

Fortunately, today we have better technology that can render the perceived benefits of pasteurization obsolete.

 

The Sun is Rising on Raw Milk...Again.

Prior to the advent of pasteurization, the average family depended upon a local dairy to provide milk, cheese and butter. If the farmer did a poor job and the milk soured too soon, the clients were quick to point out the problem.

Pasteurization was promoted as a beneficial way to handle milk because it killed many, but not all, pathogens and prolonged shelf life. No one knew the harmful effects and decline in nutritional value that the process entailed. Now we know of better ways to collect, refrigerate and handle unprocessed milk.

Unfortunately, the government has yet to catch up with the best studies on the benefits of raw milk, but things are improving quickly.

Help us Help You Get the Nutrient Dense Food That Your Family Deserves ...

Our Goals Are as Follows:

1. Establishing Guidelines for Production and Distribution of Raw Milk

  • Registration procedures
  • Milk testing requirements
  • Sanitation standards
  • Distribution methods

2. Providing Outreach to New Producers

  • Interpreting the Colorado Raw Milk Statute
  • Clarifying the consumer/farmer contract
  • Providing a safe environment for raw milk production
  • Assisting with milk testing and evaluating results
  • Establishing guidelines for holistic herd health management

3. Educating Consumers

  • Outlining health and nutritional benefits of raw milk
  • Understanding raw milk safety issues
  • Defining the responsibilities of an informed consumer: understanding the consumer/farmer contract
  • Supporting holistic management practices

4. Organizing the Raw Milk Network

  • Developing a membership organization
  • Establishing liaison with public health officials
  • Promoting appropriate Colorado food policy
  • Developing organizational partnerships
  • Maintaining a political presence
  • Managing media relationships

 

Important Links

Newsletters

Please feel free to read our RMAC Newsletters in PDF format. Be advised, the files are large.

Spring 2008 (1.9MB)
Summer 2008 (7.6MB)

Spring 2009 (580 KB)

Questions to Ask..

Uneeda Goat

Tell Me How You ...

Sally Fallon, the President of the Weston A. Price Foundation, once said that she depended on an army of "militant moms" to get the word out on nutrient dense foods. Those moms know how to ask important questions about raw milk.

  • How do you collect your milk?

    • Good collection techniques involve clean hands, clean containers and clean cows and goats.

  • How Soon Do You Chill the Milk?

    • The ideal process lowers the milk's temperature to less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours.

  • What Do You Feed Your Cows and Goats?

    • Many people have realized the problems with confinement dairies. Diets of excess corn can lead to acidosis in the cows. However, not all cows can thrive in switching to a grass based diet over night. Most farmers care deeply about their animals will not let them suffer, just because "grass-fed" beef is popular. Look for a provider who has the wisdom to know when a lactating cow needs a little something extra to keep her weight up.

    Goats should be fed high quality legume hay or pastures designed for goats.

  • Where's the Cream?

    • Most cows yield anywhere from 3 to 5 percent fat in their milk. In fresh milk, it rises to the top of the bottle. That's what gives it that burst of flavor. Expect the cream to be there.

    Goat's milk is naturally homogenized, so the cream stays mixed in the milk and doesn't separate the way cow's milk does. So, don't be concerned if you can't find the cream on top, it's in there!"