Orange County NC Website
January 18, 2012 Draft Meeting Summary 2 <br />McPherson Farm for inclusion in the County’s Voluntary Agricultural District program and the first Enhanced <br />VAD. Green seconded the motion. The APB voted unanimously to recommend the McPherson Farm to the <br />Board of County Commissioners for inclusion as the first Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District in the <br />Orange County Voluntary Agricultural District program. <br /> <br />b. Potential Topics for Legislative Agenda <br />APB members have discussed a number of different topics over the last several months, including a couple <br />that seemed appropriate for consideration for the BOCC’s annual legislative agenda. At the December <br />meeting, David Stancil, the DEAPR Department Director, offered a brief explanation of the legislative agenda <br />process and offered suggestions for the APB to assemble a memo in support of its concerns. Green offered <br />to prepare a draft memo regarding two areas of “missed opportunities’ for local farmers: the on-farm sale of <br />raw milk and the production of renewal energy. Green worked with staff to prepare a memo in time for <br />inclusion in the agenda packets. Staff revealed that it appeared that a few of Green’s edits did not make it <br />into the memo included in the packets and asked Green to summarize his comments for the APB’s <br />consideration. <br /> <br />Green reviewed the memo outlining a request for the BOCC to support two bills (HB495/SB473 and SB694) <br />to increase the demand for renewable credits—credits could be used by farmers to supplement their income. <br />The memo also requested that the BOCC support the sale of unpasteurized milk and dairy products for <br />human consumption. Woods expressed concern that the risks associated with unpasteurized milk are still <br />too great to support on-farm sales and recommended that the request for the sale of raw milk be omitted <br />from the memo at this time. Green reported that 35 states currently allow the sale of raw milk and related <br />dairy products and questioned the source of Woods’ data. Wood reported that 70% of all milk-borne illness <br />is related to unpasteurized milk, explaining the nature of milk and its potential as a host for bacteria <br />particularly if allowed to get warmer than 40 degrees. Wood also reported that the majority of food-borne <br />illnesses were linked to the 35 states where unpasteurized milk was allowed. <br /> <br />Batts asked if there are standards for raw milk, if the 35 states which allow the sale of unpasteurized milk <br />have standards. Woods reported that some do, but that even the states with standards have problems with <br />illness. Green noted that farms are currently allowed to sell raw milk for animal consumption. Since there <br />isn’t any way to enforce the human consumption of the milk, once off farm, it would be safer to allow human <br />consumption and then regulate the milk and the herd to certain standards through inspections. <br /> <br />Staff indicated that if there enough controversy over the sale of raw milk, the BOCC might pull the topic. In <br />that case, the APB may wish to remove the topic from this year’s legislative agenda, and spend a year <br />researching the topic, perhaps even preparing a white paper addressing concern, and submit the topic to the <br />BOCC for next year’s legislative agenda. <br /> <br />McAdams made a motion that the APB forwards the memo with the recommendations for renewable energy <br />opportunities, (only), to the BOCC for inclusion in its 2012 Legislative Agenda. Woods seconded the motion. <br />The APB voted 5-1 in support of the motion. (Ayes: McAdams, Woods, Walters, McGarry, Batts. Nays: <br />Green) <br /> <br />Green asked Woods to email him some of her information about the potential problems associated with raw <br />milk. Staff asked Green for information on the state, closest to North Carolina that allows the sale of raw <br />milk? South Carolina. Staff reported that a few years ago, the APB brought in an expert from Duke <br />University to discuss the pros and cons of genetic modification in agriculture. It turned out to be a very <br />good discussion. Perhaps the APB could find another expert or couple of experts who could speak to the <br />pros and cons of unpasteurized dairy products? McAdams suggested maybe the Farm Bureau would have a <br />representative. Woods offered to research and report back. <br /> <br />ITEM #7: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION <br />a. Updates & Information Sharing <br />1. 2012 Agricultural Summit <br />Members were encouraged to take advantage of the off meeting month and attend the Agricultural Summit <br />if at all possible. Staff noted that the Ag Summit will be held at the “Big Barn” in the Daniel Boone complex <br />in Hillsborough. This is the first time the Ag Summit will be held at this venue. Staff also noted that there