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Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 2

3/27/2023

Our little survey results are in - evidently folks are bit passionate about this subject (see the Blog below this one "Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 1")

By comparison, we launched into a similar subject, pre-2021 and it would have been more interesting to watch paint dry on a cold winter day.

But now... Wow, watch out!

You folks are fired up! (the comments on the survey were amazing)

I just cant think of a major world event that might have happened in the last few years that would change peoples opinions about their personal health - hmm... let me think.

Huh? Sorry, nothing comes to mind.

Anyway. I'd like to address in a webinar (my fancy word for a Zoom meeting) this week, the questions we received in the Raw Milk survey.

I don't have all the answers, because this project is still in it infancy, but thought I might address the below listed questions, yarn a few stories about Eve's health recovery and the role that Raw Milk played in her life and then open it up for questions.

If you can't join us at the appointed place and time, I will record the mayhem and post it right here.

If you want to join in, please be sure to enter your information below and we will contact you with all the details.

Thanks,

Douglas Lindamood
Chief Piglet Chaser, Chicken Whisperer and Calf Wrangler
SonRise Ranch

Question: Would all the milk be A2?

Question: How long would it take to transport the milk from the cow to oceanside?

Question: Dear Chicken Whisperer, if your chickens only eat what they find outside, I would be interested in eggs as well.

Question: I've never had raw milk. It scares me for no good reason. I know commercial milk isn't the best for me because it's heated but it tastes soooo good. I'm interested in this plan. I'm 68 years old and have averaged a half gallon a day for decades. But I know despite it's amazing flavor I need to start drinking healthier milk.

Comment: I drink 1-1/2 gallons of milk per week but don’t believe raw milk is better for me than homogenized/ pasteurized milk.

Question: How soon do you anticipate providing the cost of buying in?

Question: When the cow is done producing milk, will the owners have the opportunity to purchase a portion of of processed cow?

Question: I purchased raw cream (Organic Pastures company) from Sprouts store before, it had stinky smell, pretty off-putting smell, like a vomit smell, although it tasted fine, just smelled bad, and I was not able to use raw cream for my coffee even though I wanted to. Is this normal for raw cream?

Question: Can you comment at all about your antibiotic use in your cows?

Question: How long would it take to get such milk from Wyoming to California? How would that affect the "best by" for the milk?

Plus your questions

Join our Webinar on Raw Milk, April 6th at 12 Noon (PST)

Oops - too late, you missed it, but we recorded it for you and posted it below...

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Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 1

3/25/2023

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As many of you know, we recently acquired a Ranch in Wyoming - one of the most "food freedom" honoring states in the US. We have a guest facility there, perfect for the Carbon Vault school that teaches young, energetic Interns and students how Regen AG works.

You may also know, that the dying conventional milk industry is on life support. This is not a new thing as US dairies have been perishing for years now. It used to be a substantial industry, but with the Farm Crisis of the 80's (read Harvest of Rage, by Joel Dyer), the expansion of Government Subsides (yes, that actually hurts small farms like ours) and the general de-population of youth from rural areas, the industry is almost non-existent anymore.

Dairy farmers struggle with the low compensation they receive for their milk compared to the estimated cost of production, which can range from $1.90 to $2.50 per gallon according to industry sources. In February 2023, the average price farmers received for milk in the United States was approximately $1.58 per gallon, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

That is astonishing - if we take the lowest estimated cost of production of $1.90 per gallon and the average price received by farmers of $1.58 per gallon, the gross margin is -$0.32 per gallon, which means that farmers are losing approximately 32 cents for every gallon of milk produced.

To combat this, the dairy industry has tried to prevent competition thru legislation. One of those rules is the prohibition of inter-state commerce of Raw milk.

Yes, that is a rule.

At the Federal Level, you cannot ship milk for sale from an outside state (i). Each state is different, but for the most part, according to the FDA, crossing state lines to sell milk, somehow, magically makes it suddenly poisonous.

But... and here is a big "but" - the transportation of your personal groceries is not prohibited at the state level, by FDA, or any other dictator, tyrant or potentate.

In Wyoming, the sale and distribution of raw milk is legal, but it is subject to certain restrictions. Specifically, raw milk can only be sold on the farm where it was produced. (ii) In California, the sale and distribution of raw milk is also legal, but it is subject to stricter regulations than in Wyoming. Raw milk can only be sold on the farm where it was produced or at certified farmers markets, and the seller must obtain a permit from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.(iii)

The cost to obtain these permits and be inspected could run north of one million dollars.

So, given these restrictions, let me ask you some basic questions?

1. Is it legal to hire someone to "board" a that Cow you personally own?
2. Can more than one person own a Cow?
3. Can you hire someone to milk a Cow for you?
4. Can you consume Raw milk from a Cow you legally own?

If you answered yes to all four of those questions, you might be a candidate for a "Raw Milk Cow Share".

A "Raw Milk Cow Share" typically refers to an arrangement where individuals collectively own a cow (or cows) and hire a farmer or other individual to care for and milk the cow(s) on their behalf. Each member of the cow share typically pays a fee to purchase a portion of the Cow and cover the cost of the cow's care, and in exchange they receive a share of the raw milk produced by the cow.

From a legal perspective, a raw milk cow share is generally considered a private contractual arrangement between the cow owners and the farmer, rather than a commercial sale of raw milk. This is because the raw milk produced by the cow is not being sold on the open market, but rather is being consumed solely by the owners of the cow share.

A cow share agreement is generally considered a private contractual arrangement between individuals for the purpose of obtaining raw milk for personal consumption, rather than a commercial transaction. As such, the transportation of raw milk in a cow share agreement would typically fall under the jurisdiction of state and local regulations regarding raw milk, rather than federal regulations.

At our first Ranch, located in California, we offered "Raw Milk Cow Shares" on our five Jersey Cows. Jersey's are a heritage breed Cow with exceptional Milk quality (up to 25% Cream was common). Each Cow had five owners on it, plus our majority share (51%). We had first right to buyback if someone wanted to sell their share. We were members of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund to protect us in the event a helicopter hovered over our Ranch to deploy a SWAT team and take out our milk supply.

Unfortunately, we did not continue this program, as it was very cumbersome to deliver the product. However, now the world has changed. We could easily overcome that obstacle with the technology and services we have today.

This might be the perfect solution to our ranch dilemma. We want to train our Interns and Students on milk cows, but don't want to dump the milk out. The ranch in Wyoming is incredibly remote, but with good, high quality grass, that milk cows need. The surrounding population is sparse and would not support the milk herd.

We envision a system, like we piloted in California where we board and milk your Cow for a fee. We could bottle your property in clean glass bottles and send out on the next truck. Each time you empty a bottle, send it back in the insulated shipper. We will sterilize and refill for the next recipient. Maybe in the future we could include cream and butter. The fees would likely include...

A Cow Purchase Fee w/contract
A Cow Maintenance Fee w/contract
A Bottle Deposit and Cap Fee
Shipping

Expect the total price to be competitive with other Raw Milk Suppliers (when you calculate out the price per Gallon)
And, it's a system that actually works - plus it is legally protected (so far).

What are your thoughts on this?

To help us understand the general desire and demand for something like this, would you be kind enough to complete the survey below?

PS - I will post the results to the Survey in a few days.

Thanks,

Doug Lindamood
Chief Piglet Chaser, Chicken Whisperer and Calf Wrangler
SonRise Ranch

Endnotes:
(i) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established regulations that prohibit the interstate transport of raw milk for human consumption. These regulations are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Section 1240.61 (21 CFR 1240.61)

(ii) Wyoming: Statutes Title 35, Chapter 11, Section 101 outlines the requirements for the sale and distribution of raw milk in Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Agriculture has also established rules and regulations regarding raw milk sales, which can be found on here.

(iii) California: CA Health and Safety Code Section 11380-11391 outlines the requirements for the sale and distribution of raw milk in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has also established rules and regulations regarding raw milk sales, which can be found here.

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Snow Grazing and Cold Weather work with Cows for Regeneration

3/8/2023

1 Comment

With all the snow stories lately - I thought I'd share some cattle wisdom with our readers. One of the toughest challenges Ranchers face is how to feed cattle during the winter months. Cattle were created to be natural wanderers, traversing great distances in search of food and water. In the past, during winter large herds would migrate from northern areas to the south in search of more favorable grazing conditions.

This migration, combined with a rest period for the northern pastures, created a mutually beneficial cycle that allowed the soil to support more plants and resources for summer grazing. As a result, the animals were able to put on weight and require fewer calories during the winter.

One of the primary ways ranchers prepare their herds for winter is by checking their backs for snow retention after the first snowfall of the season. Good, fat cows will carry snow on their backs for most of the day following a light dusting, thanks to the insulative properties of their back fat. This helps us determine if our cows are ready for the winter season. If not, we usually sell them off before the harsher winter weather arrives and their condition deteriorates.

Two, hard working SonRise Ranch horses during a recent snow storm. Horses should be prepared for winter too, as evidenced by the snow on their backs.

In nature, we can see evidence of the benefits of mob-stocking, rotational, and management-intensive grazing practices that promote carbon sequestration. The cows themselves provide historical evidence of their preferred grazing patterns. However, many cattlemen today rely on selective grazing and continuous stocking techniques, which involve fencing in an area and leaving the cows to graze continually without any planned movement or management.

Despite the benefits that nature demonstrates, ranchers often deride these practices as "too much work." It is important to recognize that what is declared normal and beneficial by nature should be a guiding principle for ranching practices. By implementing these techniques, we can not only improve the health of our cattle and the land, but also promote more sustainable and profitable operations in the long run.

Snow pack can be a problem for grazing. We use the bail method to overcome this allowing us to intensify grazing in a an area that need special regeneration.

A recent temperature reading on SonRise Ranch's Wyoming Outpost this winter.

The key concept to remember here is that there is no such thing as a free lunch - we must invest energy into our food supply. However, this investment does not require 100% of our effort. In the past, there were likely times when humans had to work hard simply to survive. But with our brains and opposable thumbs, we have the ability to optimize our resources for maximum efficiency.

That being said, we must be careful not to become so complacent that we damage the soil and overuse or misuse resources, leading to unforeseen consequences. By practicing responsible agriculture and sustainability, we can ensure that our land and resources remain healthy and productive for generations to come. So while we should strive for efficiency and optimization, we must also remember to work in harmony with the environment, rather than at its expense.

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Carbon Vault and the E2RP program

3/2/2023

1 Comment

"Carbon and the who'd 'a whatty?"

That's what I thought you'd ask.

Some of you might remember back to spring of 2022 - if our email's and announcements from the Ranch were not getting sent to your spam folder, you might have received a quick newsletter from us that spoke of a Government Funded Project we had applied for to help change agriculture for the future - it was called the Climate Smart Commodities Grant. We asked for letters of support, from you, our customers.

Well, moral of the story is that we had proposed to change, in effect, the way America Ranched, from conventional to regenerative, starting with a small, seed group of trainees under my tutelage, that would eventually grow into 700+ regenerative ranchers within the first five years - we called the company "Carbon Vault" and the concept E2RP.

Here is a quick summary of our E2RP concept;

"Transitioning to regenerative ranching is not easy, especially for small-scale ranchers and herd managers who may lack the resources and knowledge to implement these practices. This is where the Carbon Vault's Erosion and Ecosystem Rapid Repair Protocol (E2RP) comes in.

E2RP is a process that leverages mismanaged land and animal potential with unique, measurable, carbon-sequestration training, techniques, and implementation for underserved ranchers or herd managers. Its goal is to accelerate regenerative results, enabling swift conversion from conventional to regenerative agriculture with minimal economic and life disruption.

The foundational understanding of E2RP is built upon the premise that erosion starts at the highest point in an ecosystem. Grazing area peaks suffer the most damage under conventional practices, as cattle instinctively seek high ground for protection, causing significant harm. To remedy this, project participants will learn to focus on soil rather than animals as a resource by developing a Holistic Management® Context and Grazing management plan that limits grazing time, allowing plant systems to regenerate and grow.

But a greater problem remains: how is growth propagated at higher elevations again if nothing, but bare soil remains? This is where E2RP applies a beneficial growth medium to promote and restart seedbed activity, a critical component of regenerative agriculture.

Once growth takes hold and plant roots promote water infiltration and retention, other plants can propagate, leading to the reintroduction of cattle through controlled, holistic planned grazing within a holistic context - first at lower elevations, and then gradually at higher elevations as the plant systems regenerate and grow."

We invested over 400 hours writing that proposal. It had a 35 page line-item budget, alone. The proposal had been read by experts in numerous fields from finance, to technology to Agriculture. It was the second most intense academic project I had ever worked on.

After Ranching all day, running the company and being a world class grandpa, I came home, lit the midnight candle and hammered away at research, spreadsheets and curriculum.

Later that summer, we took on three interns. They were awesome! Each stayed on our Ranch in Wyoming, ate with us, worked with us and learned from us. I had not yet heard back on the Carbon Vault proposal, but was absolutely sure that the Government would want my idea. I was, after all, proving we could do what we proposed.

So, what happened?

…drum roll please...

It was rejected.

No explanation, no advisory notes, nothing. Zip. Zero. Not even "Hey, hippy-rancher-dude, your idea sucks, come back later when you learn to write"

Well, then, who did get the money?

You guessed it... Big Ag, Big Pharma and Big Ed.

The three evil twins of conventional farming. That's right folks, were not only going to ask the inmates to run the asylum, we're going to fund them too...

So, what do we do?

Well, I spent 12 months licking my wounds. And, now, I am healed. Next item on the agenda...

Yep, you guessed it...we'll go it alone.

That right. We're going to fund Carbon Vault and Rancher "U" to teach E2RP on our own. Oh, not to the tune of millions of dollars (at lest not yet) but to the tune of six lovely, hard-working, dedicated David's who are crazy enough to think they can toss a rock at Goliath.

(by the way, to give you an idea of the demand for this, for those 6 spots, we had over 50 applicants!)

We have recently closed our 2023 Internship Applications - we carefully selected six for this summer. We look for kids with heart, soul and integrity (the things we can't teach) so that we can show them soils, animals and skills (the things we can teach).

We plan on doubling our interns each year and will close our guest Ranch for the summer (crazy huh?). We plan to become a 90-day intensive, regenerative agriculture powerhouse.

Here's the catch. We do this for free. The selectees this summer will stay on our Ranch, eat on our Ranch and learn on our Ranch. While we are closed to the public. It will be teach, teach, teach.

My curriculum is not yet fully tested - so these first, lucky few will be the guinea pigs. And, at no out of pocket cost to them.

But, next year - we are asking for your support.

Yep, you read that right. We are looking for sponsors for our interns. We will be launching a website with their biographies, once selected, then you'll be paired one-on-one with each intern. You can offer to sponsor the total cost of the summer or $10 bucks - it doesn't matter to us. Each intern will communicate directly with their sponsors, in video, writing weekly concerning what they are learning, and hopefully, stay in touch after the program.

Our goal is lofty - we estimate that we'll need $18K per intern to keep them on the Ranch at full speed for the summer. SonRise Ranch, INC is going to cover $6K per student and I will donate all my labor and teaching. This leaves a funding gap of $12K per intern.

Its a huge ask, I know. But I also know how you folks are. How many of you stood in the rain at Farmer's Markets to keep us going during our start up. We just want to see that grow. We've got the knowledge, the kids have the desire, we just need the bridge between the two.

Next year, in 2024 - we will have a perfected syllabus a summer's worth of class room and academic teaching experience and our Ranch to launch the first ever, regen Ag school.

But, we've got to start somewhere.

So, if this thrills you, stay in touch. We are not accepting donations as of yet, but we will be for next summer's "school-tern-ship" soon.

In the mean time, pray for us. This is a huge undertaking and we want to be sure it succeeds.

Thanks for all your support.

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Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 2

Join our Webinar on Raw Milk, April 6th at 12 Noon (PST)

Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 1

Raw Dairy Survey

Snow Grazing and Cold Weather work with Cows for Regeneration

Carbon Vault and the E2RP program

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Archives

Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 2

​Join our Webinar on Raw Milk, April 6th at 12 Noon (PST)

Raw Milk, Raw Butter, Raw Cream and Raw Nerves - Part 1

Raw Dairy Survey

Snow Grazing and Cold Weather work with Cows for Regeneration

Carbon Vault and the E2RP program

Tags

Archives

Join our Webinar on Raw Milk, April 6th at 12 Noon (PST)