Farmer Acquitted by Jury Now Threatened with Jail by DOJ
Baraboo, Wisconsin—June 3, 2013—Less than a week after the jury acquitted him of three criminal charges, Eric Defort and Phillip Ferris, attorneys for the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), move to have the judge revoke the
Michigan Adopts Policy on Herdshares
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has adopted a policy officially recognizing herdshares in Michigan and letting them operate unregulated. MDARD issued the document (Policy # 1.40) on March 12, 2013 – a key point in the department’s new policy states that
Vernon Hershberger Trial Verdict: Acquitted on Three of Four Charges
In what Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund vice president Elizabeth Rich called a victory for the food rights movement, a Sauk County jury acquitted dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger on three of four criminal charges for violations of the Wisconsin food and dairy code after
The Vernon Hershberger Trial Begins Today
After months of contentious wrangling between attorneys for the state and the defense, the trial of the Loganville dairy farmer for four criminal misdemeanor violations of the Wisconsin food and dairy code begins today at the Sauk County courthouse in Baraboo with the selection of of the jury. Circuit Court Judge Guy Reynolds has
Episode 9: Farmer Vernon Hershberger’s Upcoming Trial
Episode 9 of the Food Rights Hour podcast is about the case of Amish dairy farmer, Vernon Hershberger. During this episode, host Kimberly Hartke talks to several of Vernon’s club members, folks who know firsthand the value of the farm-to-consumer relationship. We also hear from FTCLDF President, Pete Kennedy, about the case and from Co-Founder of Farm Food Freedom Coalition, Liz Reitzig, about the events surrounding the upcoming trial that begins on May 20th.
Farmer Faces Jail for Feeding Community
Customers and Other Supporters to Attend Court with FarmerFood rights activists from around North America will meet at the Sauk County Courthouse in this tiny town on May 20 to support Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger and food sovereignty. Hershberger, whose trial begins that day, is charged with four criminal misdemeanors that could land this husband and father in
Dan Brown Hearing in Maine Food Sovereignty Case: Judge Finds Raw Milk Not a ‘Local Food’
In an incredible decision rendered on May 1st, the Hancock County Superior Court ruled against farmer Dan Brown on his motion for summary judgment. The Court instead granted summary judgment in favor of the State of Maine and issued an injunction enjoining Mr. Brown from selling raw milk and other
Canada: Shropshire Sheep Case
Michael Schmidt and Montana Jones face substantial jail time for allegedly violating a quarantine order on sheep that were no threat to the public health. Here is an account of the case.
Shepherdess Montana Jones began accumulating her flock of rare Shropshire sheep in 2000. Once an extremely popular breed due to their high productivity, their hardiness, and their ability to thrive on grass, Shropshires had
Colorado Authorities Arrest Nursing Mother for “Grazing Animals in the Municipal Right of Way”
On Sunday, April 7, Colorado farmers Ethan and Renee Abbott were sitting down to dinner with their two children, ages 7 and 4 months. Their family dinner was interrupted when some 15 law enforcement officers from Weld County showed up to handcuff and
Keep Aspartame Out of “Milk”! Action Alert
Dairy industry petitions the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve aspartame as a hidden additive in milk, yogurt, eggnog and cream.
The integrity of our food supply is poised for another blow with citizens petition submitted to FDA by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). These industry groups are asking the FDA to alter the definition of “milk” to include