[Sca-cooks] Virginia Dairy legislation

[Elaine Koogler]

Sharon Gordon wrote:

>Does anyone know more about this legislation?  What effect could/would it
>have on SCA feasts in the state of Virginia?
>
>Sharon
>gordonse at one.net
>****************
>----- Original Message ----- 
>GOVERNOR WARNER HAS SO FAR BEEN UNWILLING TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF
>VICFA TO DISCUSS THE NEW DAIRY REGS.
>
>
>
>ACTION ALERT
>Because of the onerous dairy regulations Gov. Warner recently signed, due to
>take effect January 26, 2005,
>
>  a.. not only will small dairies and cheese producers get wiped out...
>  b.. not only will people no longer be able to buy fresh cheese or butter
>at a farmers' market or on a farm...
>
>because of the way "dairy farm" is defined in the cheese regulations, they
>have set the stage for eliminating individual ownership of dairy animals for
>private consumption of milk and milk products.
>
>This has been brought to the attention of VDACS--the Virginia Department of
>Agriculture and Consumer Services--and VDACS has not been able to deny it.
>
>Here is their definition of a "Dairy Farm" (2VAC 5-531-10 Definitions,
>sec.133.134):
>
>       'Dairy farm' means any premises where any cow, goat, sheep, water
>buffalo, or other mammal (except humans) are maintained and milked for the
>purpose of providing milk for manufacturing into dairy products as defined
>herein and intended for human consumption.
>
>Notice they do not say  "intended to SELL for human consumption," but merely
>"for human consumption."
>
>John Beers of VDACS wrote the regulations.  The regulations are:
>
>  a..  2 VAC 5-531, REGULATIONS GOVERNING MILK FOR MANUFACTURING PURPOSES
>[106 pages] (commonly referred to as "the cheese regs")
>  b.. 2 VAC 5-501, REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE COOLING, STORING, SAMPLING AND
>TRANSPORTING OF MILK [41 pages].
>
>They are accessible online at the following link:
>
>http://legis.state.va.us/codecomm/register/vol21/iss08/WELCOME.HTM
>
>These regulations can be suspended if Governor Warner asks the House and
>Senate Agricultural Committees to vote to suspend them, but he must do so
>before the 26th of January.
>
>
>
>CALL and WRITE GOVERNOR MARK WARNER IMMEDIATELY!!!
>The Honorable Mark R. Warner
>P.O. Box 1475
>Richmond, Virginia 233218
>email: mark.warner at governor.virginia.gov
>
>(804) 786-2211    fax: (804) 371-6351
>Also contact the new Secretary of Agriculture, Robert S. Bloxom
>Robert S. Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture
>
>1100 Bank St., 10th Floor
>Washington Building
>Richmond, VA  232319
>email: robert.bloxom at governor.virginia.gov
>
>and the House and Senate Agriculture Committee members (see lists below)
>and
>
>your local Virginia General Assembly Senator and Delegate (see links below)
>
>
>TELL THEM THAT VIRGINIA IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHEN IT
>OVER-REGULATES THE SMALL FARMER!!!
>
>Tell them you are opposed to the new regulations which cover the storing and
>handling of milk and the manufacture of dairy products.  Ask them to suspend
>the effective date of the regulations so that the legislators may review the
>Department¹s action.
>      Constituent Viewpoint
>     (800) 889-0229 Toll Free
>      (804) 698-1990 Richmond Area
>
>
>
>  
>
I'm not sure.  I do know that there are regulations here in Maryland 
that make it so that a Mennonite farmer who used to come to our local 
Farmers' Market no longer comes because the State department that 
regulates such things (Agriculture?  Health?) told him he couldn't sell 
his eggs anymore.  This is a real loss as they were wonderful!  sigh. 

But I've written a letter to the Governor and the Secretary of 
Agriculture as a former resident of Virginia.

Kiri