A marked increase in “Nanny state” politics has evolved in both local and Federal government. Mandatory vaccinations, mandatory health care, mandatory compliance with legislation influenced by corporate interests and un-elected officials. The days of informed consent and personal freedom of choice appear to be a thing of the past. Today dairy farmers in this “Live Free or Die” state face potential financial loss due to the opinion of an Agriculture Commissioner who feels that, since he doesn’t believe in the benefits of raw milk and raw milk products, dairy consumers shouldn’t be allowed to have that choice.

In early 2012 legislation sponsored by Reps. Comtois,  Groen,  S. Palmer and Rep. Okerman was brought before the NH House committee on Environment and Agriculture on behalf of several small farmers seeking relief from onerous regulation of farm products. With the support and leadership of the Patriot Pastor – Garrett Lear, well-known defender of our Constitutional rights, this small group of New Hampshire citizens and patriots reestablished the rights of consumers to make their own food choices.

That legislation, House Bill 1402 (HB1402), through the cooperative efforts of NH Health and Human Services and the newly organized Microfarmers of NH, resulted in meaningful changes to existing law allowing New Hampshire’s largest proportion of farmers – those earning less than $100,000 per year – to meet customer demands for raw milk products. Thus, Microfarmers of New Hampshire was born as a group of local farmers determined to advance pro-farm legislation to assure that local demand for healthy farm products will be met for the foreseeable future.

Previous advances allowed for direct sales of raw milk products without a milk producer-distributor license for certain small scale dairy producer-distributors in addition to exempting certain homestead food operations and homestead food products from licensure by the department of health and human services. It is time for Small & Beginner Farmers of NH to voice support for these rights as well as for the passage of HB 1592-FN to our legislators and Governor Sununu who appointed Jasper.

Sale of cheese, yogurt, butter or other dairy products made from raw or heat treated milk:

RSA184:30-a allows for “the sale, within the state, of cheese made from raw milk when such cheese has been aged a minimum of 60 days at a temperature above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and is clearly labeled as unpasteurized.” This matches the language in section 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 133, the federal cheese laws.

RSA184:30-a also states that “This section shall not prohibit the direct sale of yogurt made with raw milk by the producer in this state, provided that such yogurt is clearly labeled as having been made with raw milk.” This is contrary to federal requirements for yogurt and applies only to raw milk yogurt made within the state and sold directly to consumers within the state.

Unfortunately, Commissioner Shawn Jasper has demonstrated a negative personal opinion towards raw milk products and seeks to, once again, challenge consumer and producer freedoms as a result. In pursuing HB-1592, it became evident to its promoters that the current Agriculture Commissioner (Shawn Jasper) and the NH Farm Bureau are pushing to change the raw milk law altogether. Shawn Jasper has made his opinion clear that he does not believe that anyone should be able to sell raw milk. The NHFB and the commissioner are going to try and change the law next legislative session to require testing and licensing of anyone who sells raw milk regardless of size.

• To read HB1402 in its entirety click here.
• To visit the NH Department of Health & Human Services click here.
• To view or search NH Statutes (RSA’s) click here.
• To read HB1592 in its entirety click here.