RAWMI Annual Report for 2023-24

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) is on a mission to improve the safety and quality of raw milk and raw milk products through farmer training, rigorous raw milk standards, raw milk research, and improving consumer education.

In 2023, RAWMI was awarded a 5th grant for $45k from the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation (RAF) to further our work. RAWMI matches an economic benefit of stewardship of pastures and soils to high value raw dairy products for consumers. Safe raw milk from pastured cows can sustain the farm financially while the grazing improves the soils.

With the 5th grant from RAF, RAWMI was able to accomplish much towards the overall goal of universal access to safe raw milk. Over the last year, RAWMI accomplished the following.

Farmer Training and Mentoring

• Trained over 150 farmers, legislators, university professors, and consumers on raw milk benefits and risk management

• Prepared and presented an intensive full day World Class, Low-Risk Raw Milk training course for farmers in conjunction with Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, Texas

• Prepared and presented a 1.5-hour Thriving with Raw Milk webinar for farmers in conjunction with Iowa State University in support of Iowa’s recent legalization of raw milk

• Prepared and presented a 2-day intensive Raw Milk Risk Management training course in Oregon in conjunction with Cast Iron Farm and Godspeed Hollow

• Prepared and presented a 1-hour talk about The Quest for Raw Milk from Grass to Glass in conjunction with Dairy Day at Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum in New Jersey

• Prepared and presented a 1-hour talk about The Return of a Nourishing Tradition at Ringoes Grange in New Jersey

• Prepared and presented a 1-hour Got Raw Milk? discussion at University of North Carolina School of Law in conjunction with the Conservation and Agricultural Law Foundation

• LISTED eleven new farms who each went through the process of developing an individualized Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) for managing the health and hygiene of their unique farms

  • Fiat Farm in Bethel, Minnesota

  • Hillside Springs Homestead in Poultney, Vermont

  • ACM Grace Hill in Washington, Iowa

  • Flowered Cow Dairy in Penfield, Illinois

  • LanaRosa Dairy in Leicester, New York

  • Shady Paddock Farm in Paige, Texas

  • The Lucky Star in Iowa City, Iowa

  • Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee

  • Lomah Texas in Dallas-Fort Worth area

  • Anonymous Goat Dairy in British Columbia, Canada

  • Chapman Family Farms & Dairy in Morrill, Nebraska

• Served as the raw milk hotline for farmers in need across the USA and Canada

• Provided one-on-one mentoring in the production of low-risk raw milk to over 50 additional farms in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, British Columbia Canada, New Brunswick Canada, Quebec Canada, and Portugal

• Hosted quarterly meetings for LISTED farmers, which allow the farmers to stay up-to-date on the latest lessons learned for safe raw milk

 Raw Milk Research

• Amassed hundreds of raw milk test data from RAWMI LISTED farms 

• Attended the International Milk Genomics Consortium Conference

• Worked with researchers from Spectacular Labs and Kraken Labs who are developing on-farm technology for pathogen testing 

Education for Raw Milk Legalization

• Developed raw milk legalization policy brief as a resource for legislators, policy makers, and legalization advocates

• Worked towards increased legal access to raw milk in Wisconsin, Delaware, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Africa, and Canada (with Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance)

• Successfully advocated for legalization of raw milk in Iowa and Albuquerque, New Mexico

 Raw Milk Educational Materials

• Published 9 content pieces on the RAWMI website

  • Managing Pathogen Risks from Fresh Cows and Does

  • Iowa: The Path to Legalization of Raw Milk

  • Managing the Increased Risks of Calf-Sharing on Raw Milk Farms

  • Texas Raw Milk Training: for World-Class, Low-Risk Raw Milk

  • New Raw Milk Research from the 2023 IMGC Symposium

  • Albuquerque New Mexico: Another Victory for Raw Milk Legalization

  • New Raw Milk Research: Suppression of Pathogens in Properly Refrigerated Raw Milk

  • FDA Demonstrates Bias Against Raw Milk in Unfounded Raw Cheese Recall

  • Avian Flu and Raw Milk – A Common Sense Approach

• Published Farmers Can Thrive in the Emerging Raw Milk Market in The Natural Farmer Newspaper

• Continued work on an extensive book about raw milk risk management

• Wrote a 40+ page introductory training booklet for farmers titled Essential Principles for Low-Risk Raw Milk

 Supporting Testing for Low-Risk Raw Milk

• Provided on-farm lab sponsorships to 11 farms

  • Flat Creek Acres in Montana

  • 57 Farm Store in Wisconsin

  • Flowered Cow Dairy in Illinois

  • Shady Paddock Farm in Texas

  • Lomah Texas in in Texas

  • Lucky Star Farm in Iowa

  • ACM Grace Hill in Iowa

  • Chapman Family Farms in Nebraska

  • Towering Oaks Farm in North Carolina

  • Anonymous farm in British Columbia Canada

  • Raising Arrows in Nebraska 

Welcoming 6 Farms to RAWMI Community in Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, and New York

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) sends a warm welcome to six more farmers who have completed our Listing program! RAWMI offers free mentoring to all dairy farmers. Whether they are milking one cow, a handful of goats, or a large herd, the principles of safe raw milk production form a foundational toolset that benefits all dairy farmers and their customers. 

Some of the farmers we mentor choose to keep it casual, and are satisfied to just ask us a few questions before continuing their raw milk journeys. There is another set of farmers, though, that is not content to just dip their toes in the water; they want to dive right in and take their entire milk process to the next level. 

For these farmers, we offer our (free) RAWMI Listing program, wherein we assist farmers in developing their own unique on-farm Risk Analysis and Management Plan, documenting their processes with written Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, and identifying the Critical Control Points that are essential to their production of safe raw milk. RAWMI Listed farmers test their milk at least monthly for ongoing assurance that their processes are working well to produce low-risk raw milk. RAWMI Listing is the gold standard for raw milk producers.

Six farms have recently completed the RAWMI Listing process, and we extend them a warm welcome into our growing community!

• ACM Grace Hill in Washington, Iowa

• Flowered Cow Dairy in Penfield, Illinois

• LanaRosa Dairy in Leicester, New York

• Shady Paddock Farm in Paige, Texas

• The Lucky Star in Iowa City, Iowa

• Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee

ACM Grace Hill – Washington, Iowa

ACM Grace Hill is operated by Andy and Christy Meader in the historic Grace Hill community. Their home is the original Grace Hill store, mentioned in the book Iowa Outpost written by Katherine Buxbaum who grew up in the home.

Since 2006, the Meaders have used raw milk for their own family and found it helpful for many of their health concerns. They started out with a small hand-milked herd of goats, but have now moved into machine milking with cows. They believe in the importance of quality local nutrition and produce A2 raw milk from registered Guernsey cattle. They are proud to follow the RAWMI framework for producing the best quality raw milk products.

You can learn more about ACM Grace Hill here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#acm

Flowered Cow Dairy – Penfield, Illinois

Flowered Cow Dairy is operated by Elizabeth Hesterberg on her family’s farm in Illinois. Elizabeth grew up on her family’s farm and originally started producing milk for her own family before growing her herd to provide milk for her community.  Elizabeth is very passionate about providing healthy, clean, low-risk raw milk for her community and bridging the gap between farm and consumer. Coliform and Standard Plate Count tests are run twice per week in the on-farm lab to ensure milk quality and safety.

Each of the Jersey cows in the milking herd at Flowered Cow Dairy is given a floral name to reflect the beauty, femininity, and individual personality of the cow. The small herd is rotationally grazed on pasture throughout the growing season and supplemented with a small ration of non-GMO grain at milking time.

You can learn more about Flowered Cow Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#flowered

LanaRosa Dairy – Leicester, New York

LanaRosa Dairy is operated by Lana and Wayne Scofield on their 100-acre farm in New York. Wayne and Lana have a scrap metal recycling facility and Lana has transitioned to working full time on the farm. Lana originally sought raw milk to help with healing her health problems, and they decided to get a Jersey cow since there were no local sources for raw milk. Once their community saw the cow out in the pasture, people were clamoring for raw milk so their herd grew from there.

Lana and Wayne decided to take the step of becoming permitted by the New York Department of Ag and Markets in 2022 and just celebrated their first year in August 2023.  They are happy to share delicious Jersey milk with their community. They are a boutique dairy which only allows them to serve a limited number of consumers. 

You can learn more about LanaRosa Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#lana

Shady Paddock Farm – Paige, Texas

Shady Paddock Farm is operated by Tammy and Dennis Gallagher on 13 beautiful acres in Central Texas. Tammy is a former Registered Nurse and Dennis is a retired Marine. After originally producing raw milk and cheese for their own family, Tammy and Dennis fell in love with Nigerian Dwarf goats and the farming way of life.

The Gallaghers believe that the very best food products come from healthy, happy, and stress-free animals. With this in mind, their animals are raised with a compassionate care philosophy. They are excited to share delicious and creamy goat milk provided with their community. 

You can learn more about Shady Paddock Farm here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#shady

The Lucky Star Farm – Iowa City, Iowa

The Lucky Star Farm is operated by Susan Young on a 20-acre diverse homestead in Iowa. Susan is an educator and her family started their farm back in 2011.  Susan milks Nigerian dwarf goats and her customers appreciate the delicious sweet milk, high in protein and butterfat.

The goats are machine milked once-a-day and milk is tested weekly in the on-farm lab to ensure all milk is up to RAWMI standards. Susan is committed to producing the highest quality raw milk possible for her community and dedicated to sharing local food, education and farm experiences with others.

You can learn more about The Lucky Star Farm here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#lucky

Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy – Thompson’s Station, Tennessee

Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy is operated by Jennifer and Brad Wilson in middle Tennessee. Brad was a management consultant and Jennifer was a PhD biophysics researcher prior to homeschooling and starting the farm.

Whispering Willows originally started out as a rabbit farm, but that soon grew to include chickens, goats, and cows. The Wilsons are passionate about providing nutritious foods for their community. They produce both cow and goat milk, as well as raw yogurt and a variety of hard and soft cheeses.

You can learn more about Whispering Willows Farm and Dairy here: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#willows

Texas Raw Milk Training: For World-Class, Low-Risk Raw Milk!

Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) recently taught a full-day intensive farmer training class on Production of Low-Risk, World-Class Raw Milk in Mount Pleasant Texas. RAWMI President Mark McAfee and Vice President Sarah Smith traveled to Texas to teach this class in collaboration with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC).

There were 25+ attendees from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Attendees included farmers who are already producing raw milk, prospective farmers considering raw milk production, and students who were interested to know more about raw milk.

RAWMI presented our full 5-hour training presentation in the NTCC Ag Complex classroom, complete with catered snacks and lunch from local businesses.

A Texas state dairy inspector also presented and answered questions about Texas raw milk laws. She provided invaluable information about Texas’ Raw for Retail statute as well as the allowance for herdshares in Texas.

Following our classroom presentation, we took the students for a farm tour at Udder Delight Dairy, which is a raw milk micro-dairy that is operated by Tom and Brenda Ramler. Their dairy is currently working through our free one-on-one mentoring process to become a RAWMI Listed dairy.

Overall, this class was a resounding success! The students were engaged and appreciative of the opportunity to learn more. Several farmers who attended the class have expressed interest in becoming RAWMI Listed as well.

RAWMI extends special thanks to Tom Ramler, Jimmy Smith, and Northeast Texas Community College for sponsoring and coordinating this important step for safe, low-risk raw milk in Texas!

Sept 23rd TEXAS Training: Producing World-Class Raw Milk

On Saturday September 23rd in Mount Pleasant, TX, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will be presenting a full day workshop on Producing World Class Raw Milk.

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Raw milk presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk, delicious raw milk.

Raw milk is an exceptional farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win-win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This training workshop will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) in conjunction with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC). This class will be from 8am-4pm Central Time, and it will count for Continuing Education (CE) credit, too!

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• History of raw milk

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Grass-to-glass raw milk risk management

• Raw milk testing

• Building a successful raw milk market

We'll spend the morning and early afternoon at the NTCC Agriculture Center at 2886 FM 1735, Mount Pleasant, TX. Then we’ll head over to a raw milk dairy on campus for a hands-on experience.

How to Register

The registration fee is just $25, which will include the full day of training plus a boxed lunch!

You can register here: https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Start/6250b435-49b6-49a6-b6d9-f200b00c9eb3?SSO=N

THRIVING with Raw Milk Webinar: FREE Video Seminar with Focus on Iowa

Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Iowa’s new law presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk raw milk.

Raw milk presents a unique farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win for both farmers and consumers!

Watch Our FREE 1.5 Hour Seminar

Below is our 1.5 hour video seminar, Thriving with Raw Milk, presented by:

• Mark McAfee - Raw Milk Institute President and Founder

• Sarah Smith - Raw Milk Institute Vice President

• Joseph Heckman, PhD - Raw Milk Institute Board Member and Soil Scientist from Rutgers

• Esther Arkfeld - Iowa Dairy Farmer and Advocate for Raw Milk Legalization

• Fred Hall - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist

• Senator Jason Schultz - Legislative Sponsor of Bill to Legalize Raw Milk in Iowa

This Raw Milk Institute seminar focuses on:

• Iowa’s new raw milk law

• How raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Introduction to raw milk risk management

• Building a successful raw milk market

August 12th FREE Iowa Raw Milk Webinar

Raw milk is now legal in Iowa! Whereas farmers producing milk for the pasteurized market often struggle to make ends meet, raw milk farms are thriving. Iowa’s new law presents a unique opportunity for farmers to move into an expanding market by implementing intentional practices and higher standards to produce low-risk raw milk.

On Saturday August 12th at 11am Central, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will be presenting a free 1.5-hour Iowa Raw Milk seminar. This presentation will be livestreamed online, so farmers from across Iowa will be able to conveniently attend from their own location.

Raw milk presents a unique farmstead product that brings all the added value back to the farmer with an incentive to work on quality. By selling directly to consumers, raw milk farmers are able to obtain greater financial rewards for their work, while consumers benefit from the improved flavor and nutrition. It’s a win for both farmers and consumers!

About the Training

This 1.5 hour webinar will be presented by the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) in collaboration with Esther Arkfeld (RAWMI Listed farmer who was instrumental in the legalization of raw milk in Iowa).

This RAWMI presentation will focus on:

• Iowa’s new raw milk law

• Why raw milk farms are thriving

• Health benefits of raw milk

• Benefits of selling raw milk

• Safety and risks of raw milk

• Introduction to raw milk risk management

• Building a successful raw milk market

We'll be providing lots of practical tips for farmers who are interested in switching to raw milk as a sustainable business model.

How to Register

This webinar is open and free for farmers in Iowa as well as elsewhere.

SORRY, we had to close registration for this event at 100 attendees. Let us know if you missed this but want to attend a future event.

Welcoming Farms in Minnesota and Vermont to RAWMI Community

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) sends a warm welcome to two more farmers who have completed our Listing program! RAWMI offers free mentoring to all dairy farmers. Whether they are milking one cow, a handful of goats, or a large herd, the principles of safe raw milk production form a foundational toolset that benefits all dairy farmers and their customers. 

Some of the farmers we mentor choose to keep it casual, and are satisfied to just ask us a few questions before continuing their raw milk journeys. There is another set of farmers, though, that is not content to just dip their toes in the water; they want to dive right in and take their entire milk process to the next level. 

For these farmers, we offer our (free) RAWMI Listing program, wherein we assist farmers in developing their own unique on-farm Risk Analysis and Management Plan, documenting their processes with written Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, and identifying the Critical Control Points that are essential to their production of safe raw milk. RAWMI Listed farmers test their milk at least monthly for ongoing assurance that their processes are working well to produce low-risk raw milk. RAWMI Listing is the gold standard for raw milk producers.

Two farms have recently completed the RAWMI Listing process, and we extend them a warm welcome into our growing community!

Fiat Farm – Bethel, Minnesota

Fiat Farm is operated by Francesca and Matt Steffel. Fiat Farm is the first dairy from Minnesota to achieve RAWMI Listing. Fiat Farm was started with a desire to give the Steffel’s six children rural childhoods in an agricultural environment that would teach them hard work and responsibility.  They have been raising their children on raw milk for 10+ years.

Francesca and Matt have worked to establish the natural pasture soils on their property and are diligent about providing their herd with the best possible feed and environment to thrive. They utilize an on-farm lab for frequent bacteria testing of their milk. The Steffel’s passion for regenerative farming and milking cows grew into a desire to share the high-quality milk they produce with their local community.

You can learn more about Fiat Farm here:

• https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#fiat
  

Hillside Springs Homestead – Poultney, Vermont

Hillside Springs Homestead is operated by David Atherton and Erica Wellington in Vermont.  David is a science professor and Hillside Springs Homestead is the first dairy from Vermont to achieve RAWMI Listing. Hillside Spring’s primary focus is producing the tastiest and healthiest raw milk available.

David and Erica's herd has a high quality of life, including rotational grazing during the warm months and accessible shelter from the cold during Vermont’s winters. Hillside Springs utilizes an on-farm lab for frequent bacteria testing of their milk. Raw milk is their passion and they love to share it with the community.

You can learn more about Hillside Springs Homestead here:

• https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/listed-farmers/#hillside

• https://hillsidespringshomestead.com/

• https://www.facebook.com/HillsideSprings/

Join Us for Raw Milk Training in Oregon June 17-18

On June 17-18 2022, the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) will be providing Raw Milk Risk Management training in Oregon. This training is will be done in collaboration with Cast Iron Farm (RAWMI Listed farm in Oregon).

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About the Training

This 2-day intensive RAWMI training workshop will focus on the benefits of raw milk, grass-to-glass identification of risks, development of a risk management plan, and lessons learned from other raw milk dairies. It is our goal to assure that raw milk is safe and continues to be freely available for both farmers and consumers in Oregon.

The training will be hosted at Cast Iron Farm in McMinnville, Oregon. We'll be providing lots of practical tips for the production of safe raw milk. The training will include formal presentations as well as demonstrations and tours at Cast Iron Farm. This training has been shown to reduce outbreaks and illnesses, increase safety, and lower insurance costs.

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Cost and Registration

The cost for this 2-day training workshop is only $35.

If the cost is a barrier, feel free to contact Christine at Cast Iron Farm to learn about potential scholarships.

You can register for the class here:

http://castironfarm.com/rawmi-training-june-2023/

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Class Schedule

Saturday June 17th

• 9:30am - Arrival and introductions

• 10:00am - 45 minute presentation by Oregon Department of Ag outlining the new CAFO regulations for anyone owning dairy animals.  This will include time for Q&A. If you do not feel comfortable attending a presentation given by the state agency, feel free to join us after lunch.

• noon-1pm - Light lunch and snacks

• 1pm-3pm - RAWMI presentation by Mark McAfee on health benefits of raw milk, safety and risks of raw milk

• 3pm-3:20pm - Stretch break

• 3:30pm-5pm - RAWMI presentation on raw milk risk management from grass-to-glass

Sunday June 18th

• 9:30am - Milking demonstration and tour of Cast Iron Farm

• 10:30am-noon - RAWMI presentation about raw milk testing and and building a successful raw milk business

• noon-1pm - Light lunch and snacks

• 1pm - One-on-one questions and consultations with RAWMI to answer all your questions

Sunday afternoon tours of Godspeed Hollow, another RAWMI listed farm 20 minutes from Mcmminnville, can be arranged by appointment for those interested.

RAWMI Annual Report for 2022-23

The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) is on a mission to improve the safety and quality of raw milk and raw milk products through farmer training, rigorous raw milk standards, raw milk research, and improving consumer education.

In 2022, RAWMI was awarded a 4th grant for $50k from the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation (RAF) to further our work. RAWMI matches an economic benefit of stewardship of pastures and soils to high value raw dairy products for consumers. Safe raw milk from pastured cows can sustain the farm financially while the grazing improves the soils.

With the 4th grant from RAF, RAWMI was able to accomplish much towards the overall goal of universal access to safe raw milk. Over the last year, RAWMI:

• Trained over 150 farmers, legislators, university professors, and consumers on raw milk benefits and risk management

• Prepared and presented an intensive 4-hour training course on Raw Milk Risk Management for farmers and regulators in two Montana locations

• Met in-person with state and local regulators in Montana in support of newly-legalized raw milk

• Coordinated with Northeast Texas Community College in preparation for a Raw Milk Risk Management Training Workshop in Texas for Fall 2023

• LISTED five new farms in Iowa, Michigan, Montana, and North Carolina, who each went through the process of developing an individualized Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) for managing the health and hygiene of their unique farms

• Served as the raw milk hotline for farmers in need across the USA and Canada

• Provided one-on-one mentoring in the production of low-risk raw milk to over 40 additional farms in Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Minnesota, New York, Kansas, Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Alaska, North Dakota, Indiana, Utah, Missouri, California, Michigan, Montana, Texas, Idaho, Vermont, Washington, Oregon, Ontario Canada, British Columbia Canada, Dorset England, Beirut Lebanon, and Telengana India

• Hosted quarterly meetings for LISTED farmers, which allow the farmers to stay up-to-date on the latest lessons learned for safe raw milk

• Amassed hundreds of raw milk test data from RAWMI LISTED farms 

• Attended the International Milk Genomics Consortium Conference

• Worked with researchers from Spectacular Labs who are developing on-farm technology for pathogen testing

• Worked towards increased legal access to raw milk in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Canada (with Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance)

• Wrote 4 articles on Raw Milk Risk Management strategies which were published in Graze magazine

• Published 7 content pieces on the RAWMI website

• Began work on two books about raw milk, one focused on risk management and the other as a children’s book about raw milk

• Developed additional on-farm lab training materials and provided on-farm lab sponsorships to 12 farms

Raw Milk Training

RAWMI taught about raw milk health benefits and safety in the United States and Canada with in-person and web-based training. Whenever RAWMI teaches about raw milk risk management, soil and conditions management are emphasized as key elements in creating healthy, sustainable farms.

RAWMI trained over 150 farmers, legislators, university professors, university students, and consumers in association with the following:

• Montana’s Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) 

• Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance (CADA)

• Rutgers University

• Wild Willow Farm and Education Center of San Diego

Raw Milk Support in Montana

RAWMI continued to provide support and resources for the recent legalization of raw milk in Montana.  When the Local Food Choice Act (SB199) legalized raw milk in Montana, it also prevented the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) from imposing any standards for the production of raw milk. Following an outbreak of Campylobacter that was tied to a raw dairy farm, RAWMI became heavily involved to make sure that raw milk farmers learn important risk management strategies to allow both farmers and consumers to thrive in Montana.

With a small-stipend to cover travel expenses from AERO Montana, in September 2022 RAWMI taught Raw Milk Risk Management Training courses in Big Timber and Avon Montana.  These courses were attended by dozens of farmers and several state regulators. RAWMI also met with state regulators at DPHHS to discuss ways to help Montana farmers have access to the information they need in order to produce low-risk raw milk. 

Raw Milk Support in Texas

RAWMI is collaborating with Northeast Texas Community College in preparation for teaching a Raw Milk Risk Management course near Dallas TX. This training course is scheduled for September 2023 and will be aimed at helping Texas raw milk farmers learn risk management strategies for producing low-risk raw milk.  The training class will include a 4-hour classroom session followed by a visit to a local raw milk farm.

Farmer Mentoring  

RAWMI provided one-on-one mentoring and troubleshooting support for low-risk raw milk production for over 40 farmers across the United States, Canada, and internationally. This included helping farmers optimize their raw milk production, overcome problems in their milk systems and testing, and learn more about successful business practices.  This mentorship benefited farmers in the following locations:

RAWMI LISTED Farms

RAWMI LISTED farmers are dedicated to producing clean, safe raw milk. The RAWMI listing process involves the development of individualized Risk Assessment and Management Plans (RAMPs) for managing the health and hygiene of each unique farm. RAWMI LISTED farms submit test data monthly to show that they are in compliance with RAWMI Common Standards, which target a rolling three-month average of <5,000 standard plate count (SPC) and <10 coliforms per ml of raw milk.

In the last year, RAWMI LISTED the following five farms:

• De Melkerij in Harlan, Iowa

• Milk House Farm in Corunna, Michigan

• Seven Seasons Farm in Oxford, North Carolina

• Dancing Feathers Farm in Bloomingdale, Michigan

• Wildflower Raw Milk in Avon, Montana

To-date, RAWMI has LISTED 34 farms, and there are currently 27 active LISTED farms in the United States and Canada.

RAWMI provided continuing support to all LISTED farmers to enable sustained excellence in low-risk raw milk. This included quarterly meetings for LISTED farmers, which allow the farmers to stay up-to-date on the latest lessons learned for safe raw milk, exchange ideas for improvements, and collaborate with the RAWMI Board of directors.

Raw Milk Immediate Help Hotline

RAWMI provided immediate support for numerous farmers in need. This included helping farmers troubleshoot elevated bacteria counts, equipment problems, unexpected test results, etc.  This service was provided to farmers across the USA and Canada, including in Oregon, Iowa, Virginia, Wisconsin, Amish communities, and more. 

Raw Milk Research and Science

RAWMI’s mission includes supporting raw milk research and science. Through this work, RAWMI helps raw milk become safer and more accepted by regulatory agencies.

Raw Milk Bacterial Test Data

RAWMI LISTED farmers test their milk at least monthly for coliforms and Standard Plate Count (SPC). These tests provide a way to measure the amount of bacteria present in the milk, as well as providing a measure of the overall hygiene and cleanliness of the milk. Monthly testing serves as a useful confirmation step for ensuring that raw milk is being produced in a way that discourages pathogen growth and is therefore low-risk.

Test data from LISTED farms is submitted to RAWMI monthly. RAWMI amassed over 1,100 test data from RAWMI LISTED farms over the last year.  Below are averages of all RAWMI data amassed thus far.

This data can be used for raw milk research and demonstrates that low-risk raw milk is achievable on both small-scale and large-scale raw dairy farms.

International Milk Genomics Consortium

RAWMI attended the 19th International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC) conference at UC Davis. The IMGC provides access to the most leading-edge studies on milk genomics from PhD researchers across the world.

Development of On-Farm Pathogen Testing Technology

On-farm pathogen testing for raw milk has been considered too risky due to the potential for cross-contamination and inadvertent pathogen release.  However, researchers from Spectacular Labs are developing new technology for rapid on-farm pathogen testing. RAWMI continued collaborating with Spectacular Labs towards the development of pathogen tests that could be used on-site by farmers as part of an overall risk reduction strategy.

Raw Dairy Legalization and Support

RAWMI worked towards increased legal access to raw milk in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Canada.  This included providing references, support, training, and advocacy for proposed legislation in conjunction with lawmakers and farmers. RAWMI also collaborated with the Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance, who is working towards legalization of raw milk in Canada.

Raw Dairy Educational Outreach

RAWMI created educational materials and articles for raw milk consumers and the general public. The following four articles were published in Graze magazine. This will help RAWMI’s training reach farmers who do not utilize the internet, such as Amish farmers.

• Managing the Conditions for Low-Risk Raw Milk

• Udder Preparation for Low-Risk Raw Milk

• Rapid Chilling of Raw Milk Lowers Pathogen Risk and Improves Shelf-Life

• Milk from “Fresh Cows” Presents a High Risk of Pathogens

RAWMI published the following articles and videos to the RAWMI website and social media:

• Video: On-Farm Raw Milk Testing with Charm Sciences Peel Plates

• Low-Risk Raw Milk for Montana

• A Caution About Bleach and Chlorinated Sanitizers for Milking Equipment and Bottles

• How to Clean Your Milking Equipment for Low-Risk Raw Milk

RAWMI also began work on two books about raw milk, one focused on risk management and the other as a children’s book about Henry Coit’s contributions to safe raw milk.  

On-Farm Lab Training and Sponsorships

Frequent bacterial testing of raw milk is one of the pillars of producing low-risk raw milk. However, milk testing costs can be an ongoing financial burden which make small-scale farmers hesitant to test their milk often. On-farm testing is a great solution to this dilemma.

On-farm lab testing is a powerful tool for raw milk farmers.  It allows for frequent testing, so farmers can better identify issues before they turn into big problems, and it also helps immeasurably with troubleshooting when needed.  On-farm labs require an initial investment of $800-$1,000, but once the lab is in-place the cost per test is only $1-$3.

With RAWMI’s sponsorship, the following twelve additional farms were able to build their own on-farm labs for testing coliforms and Standard Plate Count.

• Alaska – Rady Family Farmstead

• Iowa – De Melkerij

• Michigan – Dancing Feathers

• Minnesota – Fiat Farm

• Montana – Wildflower Raw Milk

• North Carolina – Seven Seasons Farm

• Tennessee – Whispering Willows

• Texas – CT Ranch

• Texas – Hebrews Farm

• Texas – Hoof and Feather

• Utah – Briar Patch Creamery

• Vermont – Between the Trees

• British Columbia Canada Farm

A Caution About Bleach and Chlorinated Sanitizers for Milking Equipment and Bottles

Sanitization can be an important part of an overall cleaning process for raw milk equipment, bulk tanks, and bottles. This is because bacteria growth can occur in milking equipment during the time between milkings.  These bacteria can contribute off flavors to the milk, shorten shelf-life, and in rare cases they can contribute to pathogenic illness when the raw milk is consumed.  The use of a sanitizer can help by reducing the bacteria load in milking equipment.  

Simple bucket milker systems and pipeline systems being used more than once per day may not need be sanitized prior to milking, and this can be confirmed with the use of bacterial tests. However, pipeline systems, and especially pipeline systems being used only once per day, may necessitate the use of a sanitizer rinse just prior to milking in order to lower the level of bacteria in these systems. Additionally, some states (such as Vermont) require that a sanitizer be used on milking equipment just before milking. 

Bleach and chlorine-based sanitizers are readily available and widely used for milking equipment.  However, when bleach or other chlorine-based sanitizers are used, special attention needs to be given to ensure that the amounts of sanitizer being used are carefully controlled.

Harmful By-Products from Chlorine Sanitizers

Although chlorine is quickly inactivated by contact with organic matter, chlorine is also known to create disinfection byproducts that can be toxic including trihalomethanes such as trichloromethane (i.e. chloroform). These toxic byproducts are formed when the acetoin, diacetyl, and other methyl ketones in milk react with chlorine [1].  

Trihalomethanes and chloroform have been shown to increase the risk of cancer, liver damage, fertility problems, and miscarriages [2]. Chloroform is categorized by the USA Environmental Protection Agency as a Probable Human Carcinogen.

Harmful Chlorine Byproducts in Milk

Studies, including those shown below, have shown that when chlorine-based sanitizers are used in greater-than recommended amounts, there can be unhealthy levels of sanitizer residues and toxic byproducts in the milk.  

• Volatile Organic Compounds in Foods: A Five Year Study [3] – In this study, the highest levels of chloroform in foods in the USA were found in dairy products.

• Chloroform in milk and dairy products B: Transfer of chloroform from cleaning and disinfection agents to dairy products via CIP [4] – This study found that the use of chlorine-based sanitizers in a Clean-In-Place (CIP) milking system can result in chloroform formation and contamination in the raw milk.  Chloroform was also found to concentrate in the milkfat, and therefore the levels of chloroform in cream, butter, and cheese were greater than the amounts in fluid milk.

• Evaluation of Trichloromethane formation in Cow’s milk from chlorine-based cleaning and disinfection agents [5] – This study found that “Increased chlorine concentration in the detergent and reduced rinse water volume resulted in increased TCM [trichloromethane] concentrations in milk, while the addition of chlorine to the rinse water also increased milk TCM.”

• Strategy for the reduction of Trichloromethane residue levels in farm bulk milk [6] – This study found that the ‘first milk’ that was collected in a milk pipeline system was likely to have higher concentrations of chloroform than milk which was collected subsequently.  Increasing the volume of rinse water in the pipeline resulted in a decrease in the amount of chloroform in the milk.  When chlorine-based sanitizers were used in recommended amounts, the total level of chloroform was found to be below the acceptable limit.

Acceptable Limit Standards

The USA Environmental Protection Agency sets an acceptable limit for chloroform and other trihalomethanes in drinking water at 0.06-0.08 mg/L [7]. The European Union (EU) sets the acceptable limit for chloroform and other trihalomethanes in drinking water at 0.1 mg ⁄kg [5]. Both of these standards are well below the concentration that would be considered carcinogenic.

The USA and EU have not published regulations on the acceptable limits for chloroform and other trihalomethanes in food.  However, in Germany 0.1 mg/kg has been set as the acceptable limit for chloroform and trihalomethanes in food, and target levels of <0.03mg/kg for butter and <0.002 mg ⁄kg for milk have been recommended [5].

Practical Advice for Raw Milk Farmers

We know that the use of no-rinse chlorine sanitizers in greater-than-recommended amounts can result in harmful levels of toxic byproducts (including chloroform) in the fluid milk.  

These issues would be lessened somewhat with the use of simple bucket milker systems as opposed to milk pipeline systems (wherein the milk flows over greater lengths of sanitized surfaces and cleaners can concentrate in low points in the pipeline system).

factors that make it more likely that sanitizers will be needed:

• More complex milking systems, such as pipeline systems,

• Milking only once a day instead of twice a day, and/or

• Hot or humid climates which can contribute to bacterial growth and prevent dairy equipment from drying properly between uses.

guidelines for using bleach or chlorinated dairy sanitizer as a no-rinse sanitizer:

• By federal regulations, bleach needs to be used at a concentration of no greater than 200 ppm, which could generally be achieved by using no more than 1 Tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water (assuming the bleach has a content of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite).

• Alternatively, chlorine test strips can be used to verify that the chlorine concentration is correct. 

• Be aware that some bleaches (such as Clorox Disinfecting Bleach) have a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite and therefore need to be used in smaller amounts.

• When using chlorinated dairy sanitizer, make sure to carefully measure the amounts of sanitizer and water to ensure that the concentration of sanitizer is no greater than recommended.

alternatives to using chlorine-based sanitizers include the following:

• A pure water rinse can be performed after the use of chlorine-based sanitizers, just prior to milking or bottling.

• Hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizers can be used instead of chlorine-based sanitizers.  Hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizers do not create toxic byproducts.

• Acid-based sanitizers can be used instead of chlorine-based sanitizers. Beware that some acid sanitizers may not have a long enough time of action to be sufficient for milking systems that are only used once per day.

• Sanitizers may not be needed, depending on the complexity of the system, frequency of milking, and climate.  For instance, some farms using bucket milkers have had success in achieving low bacteria counts with the implementation of alkaline and acid cleaners without using a sanitizer. Testing for coliforms and Standard Plate Count can be used as a confirmation step to verify that the use of a sanitizer is not needed. Ideally, this testing should be performed throughout the year to ensure that a sanitizer is not needed regardless of weather factors (such as humidity and heat).

NOTE: Care must be taken with both chlorine-based and hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizers to ensure that they are never mixed with acid cleaners or vinegar.

References

1.       Coura, Fernanda & FERREIRA, F. & Barbieri, Jonata & PACIULLI, S.. (2020). QUEIJO MINAS ARTESANAL PRODUZIDO NA REGIÃO DE CANASTRA: CARACTERÍSTICAS DOS PARÂMETROS DE PRODUÇÃO, QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA E DOS QUEIJOS. Ars Veterinaria. 36. 78. 10.15361/2175-0106.2020v36n2p78-87. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342483080_QUEIJO_MINAS_ARTESANAL_PRODUZIDO_NA_REGIAO_DE_CANASTRA_CARACTERISTICAS_DOS_PARAMETROS_DE_PRODUCAO_QUALIDADE_DA_AGUA_E_DOS_QUEIJOS/citation/download

2.       Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Chloroform.  https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/chloroform.pdf

3.       Fleming-Jones, Mary & Smith, Robert. (2004). Volatile Organic Compounds in Foods: A Five Year Study. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 51. 8120-7. 10.1021/jf0303159. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8947382_Volatile_Organic_Compounds_in_Foods_A_Five_Year_Study/citation/download

4.       Resch, P. & Guthy, K.. (2000). Chloroform in milk and dairy products B: Transfer of chloroform from cleaning and disinfection agents to dairy products via CIP. Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau. 96. 9-16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287869065_Chloroform_in_milk_and_dairy_products_B_Transfer_of_chloroform_from_cleaning_and_disinfection_agents_to_dairy_products_via_CIP

5.       Ryan, Siobhan & Gleeson, David & Jordan, Kieran & Furey, Ambrose & Brien, A. (2012). Evaluation of Trichloromethane formation in Cow’s milk from chlorine-based cleaning and disinfection agents. International Journal of Dairy Technology. 65. 498-502. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0307.2012.00858.x

6.       Ryan, Siobhan & Gleeson, David & Jordan, Kieran & Furey, Ambrose & O'Sullivan, Kathleen & O'Brien, Rebecca. (2013). Strategy for the reduction of Trichloromethane residue levels in farm bulk milk. The Journal of dairy research. 80. 1-6. 10.1017/S0022029913000113. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235894115_Strategy_for_the_reduction_of_Trichloromethane_residue_levels_in_farm_bulk_milk/citation/download

7.       National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations