Dairy producers gather for lobby day
By Janet Kubat Willette
jkubat@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 03/03/2011 10:11 AM
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ST. PAUL — About 65 dairy producers and industry representatives made their way to St. Paul Feb. 15 for the 10th annual Minnesota Milk lobby day.
The dairy producers met with more than 50 lawmakers from both urban and rural parts of the state.
Marianne Peterson of Pine City and her son, Derek, a student at Ridgewater College, met with Sen. David Brown, R-Becker.
The main topic of conversation was raw milk.
Brown said he had no reason not to support bills that have been introduced to expand access to raw milk. The bills are SF147, authored by Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, and HF255, authored by Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth.
Minnesota Milk Producers Association is opposed to any efforts to expand the sale of raw milk.
Raw milk is the perfect vector for foodborne illnesses including listeria, campylobacter and e-coli, Marianne said. Pasteurization kills the bacteria that cause those illnesses.
Brown said it was the first time he'd heard from anyone opposed to expanding the sale of raw milk.
He asked about whether or not a person selling raw milk is inspected and how it could be traced to the farm of origin. He said they caused him to think about the issue, which is one of the most passionate issues at the Legislature so far this year.
The dairy industry is concerned not only because of the health risks associated with raw milk, but also because a bad actor could give the entire industry a black eye. When people read that someone got sick after drinking raw milk, they don't remember raw, they remember milk, Derek said.
That conversation made their trip to the Capitol worth it, Marianne said.
Pine Island dairyman Michael White said raw milk was also a hot topic during his visits with lawmakers.
They want more information, he said. They want more input in order to make a good decision. Health is an important issue and the legislators he met with are looking at both sides of the issue.
White has visited lawmakers the past four years during Dairy Day at the Capitol.
It's always worthwhile to make the trip and visit with legislators. Each year, it gets easier to talk with lawmakers and get his points across, he said.
Minnesota Milk priorities this session include streamlining the permit process, which is moving forward; support for the dairy development and profitability enhancement program, support for a dairy research teaching and consumer education center and support for a livestock investment grant or livestock investment tax credit.
Legislators were generally supportive of the livestock investment grant and the dairy development and profitability enhancement program, but they have to figure out where to find the money.
Minnesota Milk hopes the Legislature provides $500,000 in predesign funding in the bonding bill for a dairy research teaching and consumer education center.
White said there was no discussion on this topic unless he or his wife, Denise, brought it up.
"This is a real poor environment to be asking anybody for a lot of money," White said.
Rep. Joe Schomacker, R-Luverne, said the permitting process should be the path to prosperity rather than the way to slow progress down. He wants people to be successful, while acknowledging a need to respect the environment.
Schomacker spoke to several producers gathered in a room in the third floor of the State Office Building. He said it was the largest group he had spoken to thus far.
Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, vice chairman of the House ag committee, also addressed the group.
He talked about Gov. Mark Dayton's budget and expressed optimism about an improving economy.
He said the ag economy has been a bright spot — the John Deere dealer at home couldn't stop smiling all winter.
He's encouraged to see milk futures prices headed in the right direction after a couple tough years for dairy producers. Anderson thanked the milk producers for what they do.
"It's a real commitment to be a dairy producer," he said.