Wichita Food Co-op local growers of organic produce and livestock

By Tim Carpenter
April 2, 2009 - 5:01pm

The Senate adopted a bill Thursday sought by large Kansas dairy producers requiring new disclaimer labels on milk containers touting the virtue of drinking milk from cows not injected with artificial hormones.

These containers of milk would have to say federal researchers found no significant difference in nutritional value of milk from cows injected with rbST or rBGH to stimulate production and from cows not given artificial bovine growth hormone. All milk contains naturally occurring growth hormone.

Sen. Mark Taddiken, R-Clifton, and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the supplemental labeling would balance claims of “niche” milk bottlers that hormone-free milk was better.

“The Food and Drug Administration has found there is no significant difference,” Taddiken said. “It levels the playing field for all dairy producers.”

Under the bill sent to the House, Kansas dairy plant operators would have to verify claims that milk was free of artificial hormones with an affidavit from the milk producer. Dairy operations certified as organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be exempt from the new labeling provisions.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture would administer the labeling regulations.

Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, was the lone source of vocal opposition to the bill. She said businesses operating in Kansas would face added costs from the new marketing mandate. Cows injected with hormones may suffer a series of health challenges, she said.

It was that last point by Francisco that brought Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, a Grinnell Republican who grew up on a dairy farm, out of his chair.

“I take offense to that,” Ostmeyer said. “Those cows are pampered.”

Ostmeyer said the Kansas dairy industry was struggling through the recession. It’s cruel to raise questions about safety of the milk supply at this time, he said.

“They are struggling,” he said. “They don’t need a discussion like we’re having on the Senate floor.” Supporters of the labeling requirements included the Kansas Dairy Association, Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Agribusiness Association. Opponents of the bill were the Kansas Sierra Club, Kansas Rural Center and Kansas Farmers Union.

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