In a victory for Michigan’s heritage breed hog farmers, Marquette County Circuit Court Judge Thomas L. Solka has ruled that both the swine Invasive Species Order (ISO) and the Declaratory Ruling (DR) issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are unconstitutional. In his March 21
Food Rights News
Two Federal “Raw Milk Freedom” Bills Introduced
Another Crack at the Ban
WASHINGTON, DC—(March 27, 2014)—Congressman Massie (R–KY), Chellie Pingree (D–ME) and a bipartisan coalition of 18 other lawmakers introduced legislation on March 26 to improve consumer food choices and to protect local farmers from federal interference. The two bills—the “Milk Freedom of Act of 2014” and the “Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2014”—are the first in a series of “food freedom” bills that
Farm Bill Victories Worth Celebrating
It’s official, the Agricultural Act of 2014 (a.k.a. the Farm Bill – HR 2642; now Public Law 113-79) was signed into law on February 7, 2014 after more than two years of congressional debate. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the Farm Bill continues the same programs that favor large-scale, chemical-intensive, mono-cropping and commodity agriculture; however, there there is also some good news.
There are gains on these specific issues raised in various
Precedent Setting Agriculture Bill Signed by Governor Terry McAuliffe
“Boneta Bill” Cuts Regulations, Frees Family Farms Up to Prosper
Falls Church, VA—(March 10, 2014)—Virginia Senate Bill 51 (SB51), a landmark bill creating more economic opportunities and decreasing regulations for Virginia’s family farms was signed last Thursday by Governor Terry McAuliffe. The new law takes effect
After 2-Year Court Battle Baker’s Pigs Now Legal
Judge Orders DNR to Leave Farmer Alone
Lake City, Michigan—(March 4, 2014)—Two years after suing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over the legality of its swine Invasive Species order, Mark Baker is now free to raise and sell his hybrid heritage breed pigs. In a February 26, 2014 hearing, less than two weeks before a scheduled March 11, 2014 trial date, DNR