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In North Carolina, Not All Milk Is Created Equal
North Carolina became the first state to pass legislation that would prohibit the use of the term “milk” for non-dairy products with Senate Bill 711, also known as the North Carolina Farm Act of 2018. Under the bill, only beverages that come from “hoofed animals” will be allowed to use magic word: milk. If more than 10 states in the Southern Dairy Compact agree, the law will go into effect across much of the south. Currently, 15 states including North Carolina are onboard, according to North Carolina's Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. But Senate Bill 711 is not just about the dairy industry. The bill makes it harder for those living closest to the farms to hold industrial agriculture accountable for the pollution spilling into their backyards.
Words by Sentient Media
North Carolina became the first state to pass legislation that would prohibit the use of the term “milk” for non-dairy products with Senate Bill 711, also known as the North Carolina Farm Act of 2018. Under the bill, only beverages that come from “hoofed animals” will be allowed to use magic word: milk.
If more than 10 states in the Southern Dairy Compact agree, the law will go into effect across much of the south. Currently, 15 states including North Carolina are onboard, according to North Carolina’s Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. But Senate Bill 711 is not just about the dairy industry. The bill makes it harder for those living closest to the farms to hold industrial agriculture accountable for the pollution spilling into their backyards.
North Carolina has become a petri dish of laws put in place to support industrial agriculture across the nation. To understand why first you have to account for the massive growth of the state’s hog industry—and the healthy dose of politics pumped into it all. Read the Sentient Media exclusive here.
FAQ. What gives farmers the right to farm? We’ve got you covered.
Your Five-A-Day
- 💉 Trace amounts of ketamine were found in U.S. meat. While most levels of the drug were far below the standard set by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, some exceeded the threshold but went unnoticed because they surfaced in an “unconfirmed screening.” [Consumer Reports]
- 🐮 Texas farmers and ranchers lost 600,000 heads of cattle in 2010 when the state experienced the driest year on record. Texas has the largest cattle herd in the nation. [Texas Monthly]
- 🤑 Canadian dairy farmers just received $250 million of stimulus in preparation for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The agreement eliminates 98% of tariffs between Canada and the European Union. [Global News]
- 🥛 The dairy market is getting more competitive—because it’s shrinking. Nut- and plant-based milk now controls 16% of the milk market. [Farm Bureau]
- 🌾 Agribusiness is dumping $3 million into a water bond campaign in California that will determine how water is distributed throughout the state. So far, top contributors include the American Pistachio Growers ($160,000) and California Fresh Fruit Association ($155,000). [Red Green and Blue]
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