Once a year, every dairy farmer submits to a state inspection. An inspector comes to the farm, and the barn and milkhouse get thoroughly examined and dissected.
This is to ensure the farmer is taking care of business in a clean, orderly manner. All dairies need to maintain a good, sanitary environment in their barns as well as in the milkhouse, and there are rules we must follow or suffer the consequences.
If the inspector finds too many infractions, the farmer may be issued a notice that the farm will undergo an inspection once every six months, or once every four, depending on the number and/or severity of the violations.
If a dairy farmer wants to be classified as a Grade A milk producer, he must adhere to all rules and regulations set forth by the state, meeting stringent health and sanitation requirements.
If a violation has occurred, the farmer does have time to rectify the offense. If he does not, he may be liable for a suspension of license or declassify to Grade B, which brings the price down that he’d get paid per hundredweight of milk.
When the inspector comes out to the farm, he follows a form as he goes from check-point to check-point. It’s called a Milk Producer Farm Inspection form. One copy of the document is left on the farm and is placed in a clear, plastic sleeve to keep it moisture-free and legible. If the inspector has any concerns he makes a check mark, and if there is more explanation needed, fills in a space at the bottom for “Remarks.”
The less check marks the better, and a blank “Remarks” section are all good news for the farmer. This means a good job has been done all year long. We can assume no news is good news as they do not tend to pat one on the back too readily.
The farm inspection form follows several categories, and within those categories are divisions. All of these have certain guidelines that must be adhered to. For example, under “Cows” there is a section for “Abnormal Milk.” It states, “Cows secreting abnormal milk milked last or in separate equipment.” Another check-point is, “Abnormal milk properly handled and disposed of and proper care of abnormal milk-handling equipment.”
For example, this means if a cow has been treated with antibiotics the animal must be milked with a separate milker and that milk must be discarded properly. This equipment is separate from the milkers that are used for the rest of the herd.
Other categories are, “Milking Barn, Stable, or Parlor.” “Floors, gutters and feed troughs made of concrete need to be in good repair. Wall and ceilings should be smooth, painted or finished adequately. Separate stalls or pens for horses, calves and bulls, no overcrowding, adequate natural or artificial lighting, proper ventilation.”
The list of categories and consequent divisions take up an entire page. They are, “Milkhouse or Room,” “Toilet and Water Supply,” “Utensils and Equipment,” “Milking,” “Transfer and Protection of Milk,” “Personal,” “Cooling,” “Insects and Rodents.”
The “Personal” category states that “proper hand-washing facilities must be convenient to milking operations, wash and rinse vats are not to be used as hand-washing facilities.” Under “Transfer and Protection of Milk” there is a stipulation that all drugs need to be properly labeled with the directions for use, cautionary statements and active ingredients legibly displayed. Cleaners and sanitizers must be properly identified as well.
Under “Cooling” it states exactly what temperature the bulk tank needs to maintain the milk at and also, making sure the automatic bulk tank washer is operating at peak efficiency. Under “Insects and Rodents” it stipulates that all milkhouse openings be effectively screened or otherwise protected; doors tight and self-closing; screen doors open outward, milkhouse free of insects and rodents, approved pesticides used properly, equipment and utensils not exposed to pesticide contamination, surroundings neat and clean, free of harborages (hiding places) and breeding areas.
All of this is set in place to keep a farm operating within the guidelines that have been clearly set before us. We know what we have to do to maintain a clean and orderly operation. It literally pays to do it right. Taking pride in our work, keeping the farm, milkhouse, barn and animals as clean as possible is all part of being good stewards of what we’ve been blessed with.
(“God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.” Genesis 2:15, The Message Bible)
Categories
