Two B.C. dairy farmers found guilty of selling raw milk

Jun 07, 2013

Two B.C. dairy farmers found guilty of selling raw milk

Two Chilliwack, B.C. dairy operators have been found guilty for ignoring a court order to stop distributing raw milk.

Raw milk advocate Michael Schmidt and Gordon Watson - joint operators of the dairy, were told by a B.C. Supreme Court that if they continue to distribute raw milk they will be sent to jail for three months.

The dairy cooperative produces unpasteurized (raw) milk for people who own shares in the dairy cows. While it is legal in B.C for farmers to drink their own raw milk, it is illegal for Canadian farmers to sell raw milk to the public. Watson argues that since the people own shares in the herd, they can legally use their own raw milk products.

Canadian law requires all milk sold in Canada to be pasteurized, as raw milk can contain harmful bacteria including salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. Raw milk opponents claim that pasteurization kills on the health benefits of milk.

Michael Schmidt has been charged with similar acts in Ontario.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.