
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 4, 1994                   TAG: 9402040071
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MILK HORMONE ON SALE TODAY; PROTESTS, MILK-DUMPING BEGIN

Dairy farmers across the nation, worried that the wrong decision will cost them dearly and destroy their reputation with consumers, are debating whether to use an artificial hormone to boost milk production. With the hormone becoming available today, others took it a step further.

Opponents in Wisconsin - including some dairy farmers - went to federal court to halt production of the hormone. Legislatures in Wisconsin and Vermont, two of the largest dairy producers, are considering proposals that would allow the public to find out which producers are using the hormone. New York state's consumer protection chief wants all hormone-boosted milk sold in his state labeled.

"Farm products are nothing without consumer confidence," said Vermont state Rep. Robert Starr, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. "If the consumer has the perception you're doing something wrong, you're not going to sell that product.'

On Thursday, farmers and consumer advocates dumped milk at rallies in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Washington and several other cities to call attention to the hormone debate.

Carrying signs that read "Cows just can't say no," about two dozen people gathered at the New York protest.

"This is not a food scare," said protester Kris Ebbert. "This is a consumer right-to-know issue."

The hormone is naturally produced by cows. Monsanto Co. has developed a chemical equivalent that boosts milk production more than 10 percent.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of bovine somatotropin, or BST - also known as bovine growth hormone, or BGH - on Nov. 5, ending nine years of government scrutiny.

The FDA concluded that the drug is safe for humans and animals, despite an increase in udder infections common among lactating cows. But Congress, responding to the fears of some farmers and consumer groups, imposed a moratorium on the hormone's sale, a moratorium that ended Thursday. Monsanto intends to begin selling it today.

Other companies aren't waiting for legislative or court action.

The premium ice cream maker, Ben & Jerry's, plans to label its ice cream and frozen yogurt "hormone free" before shipping the cartons to stores nationwide. The company sells 12 million gallons annually.

"We feel a need to advance the notion that BGH is a bad thing for farmers, for dairy animals and therefore in a very real way for consumers," company spokesman Alan Parker said.

Opponents fall into two camps: those who think its use will cause consumers to stop drinking milk because of doubts about its purity, and those who fear the hormone will so increase production that the price will fall.

Donald Uelmen, general manager of Farmers Union Milk Marketing Co-op, the nation's largest dairy co-operative with more than 10,000 members in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, predicted it would hurt sales and force milk prices down.

"Monsanto has gained, but it sure as hell isn't going to be farmers that gain out of this thing," Uelmen added. "A five-letter word describes it - greed."

"The controversy is from a segment of society that thinks we should all be eating soybean," said East Montpelier, Vt., dairy farmer Brian Stone.

by CNB