Agricultural News
Measure Would Ensure Farmers Could Advertise Raw Milk Across the State
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:25:15 CST
In the near future, Oklahoma's dairy farmers might soon be able to advertise sales of raw milk beyond their immediate farmland.
House Bill 2595, by state Rep. Ken Walker, would loosen current restrictions on the advertising of raw milk sales. Currently, it is legal for a farmer producing raw milk to advertise it for sale alongside a road that borders their farmland. Under the provisions of HB 2595, a farmer would be able to advertise raw milk sales anywhere he desired.
"I am for the small farmer," said Rep. Walker, R-Tulsa. "I am for making it easier for them to market their products to consumers. This bill would change state law to where our state's farmers can advertise the sale of their raw milk product wherever they want. Oklahoma is blessed to have a wealth of small farms and family farms which are backbones of our rural communities. To not allow them the ability to advertise a product of theirs wherever they please is beyond restrictive and serves no real purpose. These farmers should be able to advertise a product that consumers are interested in buying - plain and simple."
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in knowing where consumable products come from, Rep. Walker said. The measure does not change how raw milk is purchased and consumers would still need to pick up raw milk from the producing farms.
"I believe this measure will allow our farmers more flexibility to sell their product to consumers that would be interested in purchasing it," Rep. Walker said. "Raw milk producers should not be penalized for creating a product which has a market. The key here is allowing them an easier path to those markets via advertising without restrictions such as geography."
HB 2595 passed out the Public Health Committee and will next receive consideration on the full House floor.
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