The South Dakota Senate Agriculture Committee has passed a bill authorizing the sale of raw milk directly from producers to consumers.

State Ag Secretary Lucas Lentsch led a raw milk workgroup that met for almost two years to come up with an acceptable compromise. He told the committee that the task force was productive…

 

Gena Parkhurst is a raw milk consumer, and was a member of the task force. She says the bill took a lot of work…

 

Justin Bellem, a Pierre attorney representing the South Dakota Medical Association, says they oppose the bill on the grounds that raw milk is a public health hazard…

 

The bill passed on a seven to two vote and now moves to the Senate floor.