Our 21st century United States’ “news” culture is moving inexorably into a world of Deep State disinformation, algorithmic censorship, filter bubbles, behavioral micro-targeting, sock puppets, and predictive TV programming delivered by bobble-headed actor/anchors performing scripts handed to them by corporate HQ.

Here in Vermont, meanwhile, we are pleased to report that investigative journalism is alive and well.

Consider this fantastic example of REAL news – “storied” information that is recent, relevant, reliable, historically grounded, hegemonically hop, and harmonious –  from our neighbor Paul Heintz at Seven Days this week.

Vermont’s dairy industry has struggled for decades, and Heintz takes us on a provocative tour.

Here’s Regeneration Vermont‘s Michael Colby speaking uncomfortable truths in this story:

“[Vermont’s] dairy model is dead. We need to come to grips with that,” he said. “This model’s not working for the farmers. It’s not working for the cows. And it’s not working for rural communities, which are being hollowed out. The only ones benefiting are big ag and big dairy.”

Colby takes particular issue with large-scale farms that rely on genetically modified feed and antibiotics to enhance milk production in sedentary cows. The resulting waste, he argues, is a “disposal nightmare.”

Indeed, a new study released last week by UVM found that annual milk production increased from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds per cow between 1925 and 2012. In that same period, livestock density jumped by 250 percent as farms increased in size, consolidated their operations and kept their cows confined in barns.

Colby believes the solution is grass-fed, organic milking operations. But while a quarter of Vermont dairies have gone organic, even that market has tanked in the past year, as supply has outstripped demand. Wagner, the Enosburg Falls farmer who sold his herd in February, was two years into the three-year certification process, but he lost confidence that organic would be his salvation.

“There was just too much uncertainty for us,” he said.

The way Colby sees it, Large Farm Operations — defined by the state as those with 700 or more cows — have no place in Vermont.

“I don’t think there is a humane or environmentally sustainable way to operate a dairy LFO,” he said. “It’s constant confinement — and that can’t be done humanely.”

Read the whole article. And Plan ‘V’ right here, while you are at it. Free Vermont!