The Common Ground Vol. 6 Issue 2 Dec. 2012 | Page 10

Events & Products

10

Caprine Calendar

Feb. 9, 2013

Parasitism Workshop with Dr. Anne Zajac Harrisonburg, VA

Feb. 10, 2013

FAMACHA workshop, Blacksburg, VA

March 23, 2013

Shenandoah Valley Boer Goat Sale Rockingham Country Fairgrounds Harrisonburg, VA www.sarahsnaughtyboers.com

May 5-6, 2013

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Howard County Fairgrounds West Friendship, MD www.marylandsheepandwool.org

June 28- 30, 2013

VSDGA Show Clarke Country Fairgrounds Berryville, VA www.vsdga.org [email protected]

Oct. 5-6, 2013

Fall Fiber Festival Montpelier Station, VA www.fallfiberfestival.org

Raw milk has been a hot topic lately. Amish farmers have been taken to court for selling raw milk. The media have reported outbreaks associated with raw milk consumption. Citizens and farmers complain of unfair targeting and intrusion into their private lives. All of this has brought more attention to dairy producers and a higher demand for raw milk. Unfortunately, it has also resulted in more scrutiny of farmers offering goatshares.

Here are some tips to keep your operation on the right side of the law.

The law prohibits the sale of raw milk to consumers; however, a goat owner may drink raw milk from his own animal. This is why people buy shares rather than a goat. They get the benefit and pay the farmer to do the work.

All paperwork and practices should reflect that any money received by the caretaker is for the upkeep of the animal - NOT for milk.

For example, if your agreement is for a set amount of milk at a set interval for a set price, this looks more like a sale. If your agreement shows fluctuation in milk that corresponds to the natural fluctuation in production, this is an indicator of ownership.

Shared risk is another indicator of ownership. For example, if "your" goat gets sick, do all