ND Legislature Threatens to Ban Cow-Share Dairies

We spent the end of our spring break at the North Dakota Legislature testifying in favor of keeping access to raw milk legal.

One day before the hearing, Bartlett Farm received a letter from Dairy Director Wayne Carlson, saying he intended to offer an amendment the next day (3/14/13) to Senate Bill 2072 that will make cow-share dairies illegal in ND. The amendment read, "It is unlawful for any person to own, operate, organize, or otherwise participate in a cow-share program where the milk producing hoofed mammal is located in North Dakota." (view a copy of the letter)

The ND House Agricultural Committee received more emails on this issue than any other they have dealt with this year, thanks to social media and passionate raw milk drinkers in North Dakota. 

Here is the video of the ND Dairy Director in favor of banning cow-sharing:

Here is what Peter and I shared with the committee in response to the above.
Peter Bartlett Testimony (.pdf)
James Bartlett Testimony (.pdf)

There were about 9 other testimonies in support of keeping cow-shares and raw milk access legal in North Dakota. There is also some action toward making it legal to buy direct from the farm.

What do you think?  Should the government protect people from themselves?  What is the appropriate biblical response to this amendment? How would you vote or edit the amendment if you were on the ND House Agricultural Committee?

"Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." II Kings 6:16