Michael Schmidt Acquitted of 19 Raw Milk Charges

Here is a ruling that gives a strong precedence to the Cow Share Programs of the world.  The Complete Patient had this to say about the verdict,

In the end, the judge determined that cow shares are outside regulatory oversight based on the following:

• That legislation is subject to a “dynamic” based on cultural, social, and historical factors. In other words, raw milk doesn’t pose the same dangers it might have been seen to pose in the 1930s, when much of Ontario’s dairy legislation was passed.
• That Michael Schmidt wasn’t “marketing” the cow shares. “There was no advertising and sale (of raw milk) to the general public…Cow shares are a legitimate private enterprise that does not constitute marketing in Ontario.”
• Perhaps most intriguing, that “the people who are permitted to buy the milk are fully informed” via a special booklet, identification cards, regular newsletters, and other steps Michael Schmidt took on behalf of his members.  “There is no evidence of any illness” in all the years Michael Schmidt has been distributing raw milk, he observed, and tests by the regulatory authorities never found any evidence of pathogens.

Be sure to check out the complete patient article and others linked below.

• From The Bovine, Michael Schmidt acquitted on all 19 charges — judge takes three hours to render verdict supporting legal basis for raw milk through private cow shares
• The Complete Patient, Huge Victory for Michael Schmidt As Canadian Judge Rules Cow Shares Outside Regulators’ Jurisdiction
• Article from TopUsNews, Justice of the Peace acquits Ontario dairyman in raw milk case
• From Posted Toronto, Michael Schmidt acquitted in raw-milk case

As you have probably seen by now, we have been working on a new backend for vaughnshire.com.  We are maintaining the blog for the usual family update, political rants, and theological musings, but we felt the farm needed a little more flexibility than the blog could provide.  We have a lot of exciting plans for the news site, but today the exciting announcement is the formal launch of the Vaughnshire Dairy.  We are offering herd shares in our small (but growing) dairy herd.  Check out the details here and if you are in the local area let us provide you with some great fresh milk!

http://vaughnshire.com/dairy/vaughnshire-cow-share/49-vaughnshire-cow-share.html