People have been consuming dairy for centuries, but over the past few years, the U.S. Government has increased its control of the dairy industry and the safety protocols it must follow.
An incident at Hidden Creek Farm in Michigan suggests that the government has too much control over the private dairy industry, and there is now concern over its future.
Dairy Farms Spread Diseases
Farms of all kinds, including dairy farms, can spread diseases. One of these diseases is bird flu, which spreads among birds. However, a recent outbreak spread to mammals, including domesticated animals such as cats.
It spread across 31 states from one dairy farm in Texas, and researchers have needed clarification on how a disease that should only be spread among birds can also be spread to mammals. Thankfully, it poses a low risk to humans.
Contaminated Dairy Products
There is every possibility that dairy products can be contaminated and have to be recalled. As an example, some potato products were recalled due to contamination and were found to have Listeria.
While vegetables become contaminated with this and other diseases from fertilizer, animals can carry the bacteria without appearing ill. If the animal does have Listeria, meat and dairy products are contaminated with the bacteria and need to be recalled.
Climate Scientists Want to Get Rid of Meat and Dairy
According to climate scientists, meat and dairy are key contributors to the climate crisis, and something drastic needs to happen to lessen its impact.
Most climate scientists have said that having a mass reduction in livestock production would play a key part in reducing emissions that affect climate change, which could help save the planet.
Hidden Creek Farm
Hidden Creek Farm is based in Michigan and runs a cow-share program. This is where individuals buy ownership of the dairy cows, and it gives the people rights to the milk the cows produce.
The milk they hold the rights to is raw. However, the government has some issues with people drinking raw milk, so the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) visited the farm.
Importance of Structured Herd Share Agreements
When running a dairy farm, it is essential that any herd share agreements are correctly structured. If farmers fail to do this, it can cause problems for the farmers and consumers.
A proper structure also means that both parties are protected from regulatory overreach from organizations such as MDARD.
Why MDARD’s Visit Was Troubling
It can be scary if a government department visits your farm as you don’t always know the reason for the visit or the outcome. Regardless of that, MDARD’s visit was troubling for different reasons.
Before visiting the farm, the officials involved in the visit spread an unidentified chemical on their vehicle, which caused biodiversity concerns.
Why Is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity is important in farming. This is especially true when raw dairy products are present because unknown chemicals can risk the health and safety of the farm’s operations and herd share members.
As the MDARD officials never disclosed that they put the chemicals on the car or what the chemicals were, this remained a significant threat to the farm’s operations.
MDARD’s Expanding Control
MDARD only has some control over dairy farms, and many commentators believe that their turning up to Hidden Creek Farm and how the visit was conducted suggests they are trying to expand their control.
This is because the organization cannot make legal decisions and judgments on private herd share agreements. However, their actions will likely affect access to raw milk, which many people claim has health benefits.
Raw Milk: A Benefit or Danger?
Some people claim that raw milk has amazing health benefits, while others argue that it is dangerous to consume and that no individual should go anywhere near it. So, is raw milk a benefit or danger?
Raw milk has similar benefits to pasteurized milk, including supporting organ health, lowering blood pressure and being good for the eyes and bones. However, unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk contains bacteria that can cause diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis and listeriosis. This is why health officials recommend staying away from raw milk and sticking to pasteurized.
Governments Purchasing Farmland
Some suggest that governments are planning to purchase farmland, as has been seen in states such as Maine. However, there are some concerns about this.
The main concerns are food freedom and individual rights. It is widely believed that if the government purchases this farmland, it could result in even more restrictions on what individuals can grow and consume.
Unconstitutional or Protecting People?
Whenever government officials get involved in cases like this, some argue that it is unconstitutional, whereas others say that they are only doing it to protect people.
Those who claim it is unconstitutional argue that it is government officials’ way of removing individual rights and freedoms and that action should be taken to protect these rights. If action isn’t taken, these rights will be removed.
