Four dairy producers are suing the Oregon Department of Agriculture over a new regulation they say will harm their small companies. Starting April 1, certain small dairies will be required to register as Confined Animal Feeding Operations, or face penalties. According to the ODA, some raw milk producers are bypassing the registration requirement, resulting in environmental problems and unfair competition. Farmers are fighting back, filing a case in federal court, claiming that the regulations do not represent how small companies function and accusing the state of shielding the corporate milk industry.
One of the claimants is Sarah King, the proprietor of Godspeed Hollow Farm in Newberg, a three-cow enterprise that offers raw milk by subscription. She contests the state’s confinement threshold, claiming that her free-roaming animals meet the standards. She is concerned that under these restrictions, she will have to purchase costly equipment and gather considerable data.
The case comes amid a dispute about unpasteurized milk in Oregon, which is not sold in shops but may be sold directly to customers. Advocates claim that the pasteurization process kills good bacteria, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the public not to ingest raw milk owing to an increased risk of severe foodborne disease and a lack of evidence supporting health advantages. Even with good agricultural techniques and frequent animal testing, the possibility of infection persists.
