08/08/2025
Let's talk about PMA's & Raw Milk.
First, it's imperative that you understand YOUR State Laws regarding raw milk.
Some states allow the sale of raw milk right off the farm, some States DO NOT.
In Virginia (our state) Raw Milk, sales are illegal. However, under a herdshare, the person consuming raw milk owns an interest or stock if you will in the cows' milk. Just like if you buy stocks in Home Depot, it doesn't mean you own the company. 😉
If Raw Milk sales are illegal in your State, you have a few options.
1️⃣ Herdshares.
2️⃣ PMA (Private Membership Association).
✅️ So which is best?
This depends on your state regulations.
How to determine which way to go?
1️⃣ Look up your States raw milk regulations. Does your State allow herdshares?
If Yes, go the herdshare route.
If No, create a PMA.
2️⃣ Herdshares: Is an agreement between the farmer, aka agister (one caring for and milking cows), and the herdshare member. We highly suggest Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund
There is a yearly membership fee with them, which includes a team of attorneys who will write up your Farms' herdshare agreements.
3️⃣ If herdshares are illegal in your State, your next best option is setting up your Farm as a PMA.
You don't have to hire a company and pay thousands of dollars to set up your PMA.
Most people set up a corporation or an LLC for their farms. A PMA doesn't file any paperwork with the States Division of Corporations. When you set up a Corporation or LLC, you're basically asking the State for permission to run your farm company. Farm PMA's don't ask for permission to operate.
The key differences:
✅️ A corporation sells to the general public. (Raw milk sales are illegal to the general public) in some states.
✅️ A PMA sells to private members not to the general public.
✅️ Keyword: General Public.
We get asked does a PMA protect your farm from State Laws. This is a tricky question. You have to understand what YOUR state laws are in order to operate within the rules of your state.
Meaning: if you're in a state where raw milk sales are illegal to the general public, then you would create a PMA, and are protected as your farm isn't selling an illegal product to the general public but offering a product to private members.
We will go over step-by-step how to create your PMA over the next few days.
Our farm had two PMA's if you will. We had a Private Dairy Club & a Private Meat club.
We had signs in the store on the Fridge & Freezer stating (STOP) 🚫 MEMBERS ONLY. Products weren't for sale but only available to Private Members.
Our local Dairy Inspector and Beef/Meat Inspectors got a kick out of the signs and told us they couldn't do anything or go after us because (All food products) were labeled For Private Members Only. ❤️
Basically (in a nut shell) a business of any kind (within legal limits) can become a PMA. When we say legal limits, you can't sell drugs under a PMA, as its a product that intentionally harms people. Your product (line of business) can't be something that harms or is illicit.. Though Raw Milk safety can controversial depending on who you ask. 😉 A PMA is like minded individuals evoking their constitutional rights to enjoy products they believe are beneficial to themselves and or their friends and family. ❤️
📣 Disclaimer:
We aren't attorneys. This isn't legal advice. We are simply offering information from our own experiences with owning a micro raw dairy and how we legally offered our farm products. 📣
