Elliott's Emerald Acre

06/18/2016

Hey folks, I know I haven't been on here in a long time. I have stopped doing business entirely, because my life has taken some new turns and my days of keeping livestock are coming to an end very soon. I'll still post interesting articles and news to this page as I come across them. Maybe someday in the future I will get back to owning livestock and selling my surplus eggs and milk. For now, I'm in a different season, a different chapter, in this thing we call life.

01/25/2016

Just want to give an update. My cow, Emmy, gave birth on New Year's Day. Since I had such a long dry period, I allowed my license to sell to expire, so I need to have the vet out to do a tuberculosis test and update my license before I can sell again.

The warehouse in Eagle where I used to get my milk jars has closed down and I do not have another source for milk containers to sell yet. So even if I update my license, I still have a container problem. I have looked online for a few options, but have not found anything that is affordable and suitable yet.

Also, I'm in school full-time and expecting a new baby of my own around March time frame. Most of the milking is being done by my children because of my busy school schedule and being very pregnant, and when I'm selling milk I prefer to keep a closer eye on how the milk is handled so I can sell a top-quality product.

For all these reasons I am not selling at this time. Sorry to disappoint. The Idaho department of agriculture has a list of all sellers of raw milk and their milk quality test results free to the public. All you need to do is ask. I encourage you to find another source for the time being. I hope to eventually get all my ducks in a row so that I can sell again, but now just isn't the right time for me. Thank you for your support and understanding.

01/25/2016

Introduction Vegans may have had it right all along… While raw, organic milk offers numerous health benefits, a Harvard researcher and pediatrician argues that conventional milk and dairy products alike are a detriment to your health – thanks to added health-compromising sweeteners. David Ludwig As…

09/06/2015

A new study may reveal one mechanism behind the strange allergy immunity of kids raised on farms.

08/13/2015

As a farmer I feel frustrated. Consumers want farmers to practice good animal husbandry and at the same time they want milk and meat to be produced without the use of antibiotics. How can I give my cows the best care possible if I cannot help them when they are sick?

When your child is sick, you take him/her to the doctor and use antibiotics for a speedy recovery. If your pet falls ill I bet you take him/her to the vet and use the antibiotics the doctor prescribes. It's no different with livestock.

Farmers work closely with a veterinarian and use antibiotics ONLY when necessary. They follow the label's instructions and make sure the drug is used properly. Why?
1. It's is the right thing to do.
2. Antibiotics are expensive!

So what's the deal? Are you worried about antibiotic residues reaching the food your family consumes? Did you know that there are withhold periods when using pharmaceuticals? Or that milk and meat is tested at various levels and is discarded if and when it tests positive for antibiotics...at the farmer's expense.

So I ask you, do you want products from farmers who give their animals the best care possible or milk and meat produced from farmers who don't use antibiotics, because I can't do both.

10/15/2014

Watch until the end. I think everyone can agree with this.

This forgotten Bill Nye clip is exactly what the GMO debate needs to see right now.

10/02/2014

Well, I'm glad to hear that the milk was okay, after all. I thought when they put a hold on milk sales they did so with actual evidence that the milk was the culprit. This action by the health department actually infuriates me. They caused a lot of fear when it wasn't even from the milk in the first place. I feel bad for the dairy, even though I've never liked any of their milk that I have tried.

PARMA — Raw goat milk tested at Treasured Sunrise Acres turned up negative for an illness that left two sick in August.

09/16/2014

Milk test results are in for September.

09/06/2014

To my awesome customers: My cow, Ruby, is drying off this fall. Her last milking week will be the week of Thanksgiving. Her production has already started to decline, and will drop significantly more after Halloween because I will only be milking her once-a-day then. She is pregnant and due with another calf the end of February, and needs a break. My other cow, Emmy (Emerald), is going to give milk all winter long, but doesn't produce as much as two cows. I will need to adjust and reduce some of my standing weekly orders from regular customers to accommodate Emmy's production. Hopefully we can all get by on a little less milk through the winter months. Ruby usually freshens with 6-7 gallons a day, so there should be PLENTY of milk after she has her calf. Thanks for your business and your understanding. :)

09/03/2014

This is some of my competition. In a personal communication with the producer I discovered their sell-by dates are 10-12 days from the day the milk is collected from the animal. That answered for me why it tasted so old and was bad even when freshly purchased. Now they are having problems with people getting sick on their milk. My monthly test results can be seen on my blog, ElliottsEmeraldAcre.blogspot.com . I post them every month because I want my customers to know exactly what they are getting. So far, my milk tests have been superb. If you want to know results from any producer in the state it is a matter of public record. Just call the dairy bureau to make your request.

08/08/2014

I am swimming in eggs right now, so I have decided to run a special price through Monday 8/11 of $2/doz when you buy two or more dozen in a single transaction. Sale price good while supplies last, no rain checks. Remember that for every 20 egg cartons you bring to me you can have a free dozen eggs.

08/03/2014

Tell me there is no corruption here.

Whoa. (via GMO Inside)