A significant turn out is being expected for a public hearing on Wednesday in Eau Claire, on the issue of a bill that, if passed, would legalize the sale of raw milk in the State of Wisconsin.

It was previously reported that a hearing is scheduled for this Wednesday in Eau Claire, sponsored by state Rep. Chris Danou.

Rep. Danou, talking about the public hearing, said, "What I'll be doing along with Sen. Kreitlow is testifying on our bill, taking questions and basically making our case. Then the public will step forward to testify".

Danou was hopeful about the prospects of people turning up for the scheduled public hearing, saying, "I'm hearing that 300 to 500 people might show up. That's one of the reasons we chose the location. It's going to be in a big auditorium".

He said "Had the hearing gone on in Madison as originally planned (March 16), we would have had to hear it in one of the hearing rooms, and they are not very large".

Danou, talking about the Bill, said "One of the advantages to selling raw milk, particularly in today's economy in which milk prices are suppressed, is that farmers do not have to pay the wholesaler".

"It allows for capturing retail dollars at a level you don't ordinarily get", he said.

Wisconsin law, since 1957, has made it mandatory for milk to be pasteurized first, before it can be sold to consumers.