At a hearing for Gibbon dairy farmer Mike Hartmann, Sibley County District Court Judge Erica H. McDonald dismissed five of six criminal charges brought by the state against Hartmann for violations of the Minnesota food and dairy code. Two of the charges arose from evidence seized during a December 4, 2012 stop of Hartmann’s vehicle by a state trooper; the other three came from the execution of a search warrant by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials on
State News
Swine ISO Lawsuits Boxing Michigan DNR In
Heritage breed hog farmers Mark Baker and Brenda Turunen will be having their day in court after judges in their respective cases denied motions to dismiss their lawsuits challenging the swine Invasive Species Order (ISO) issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A trial date has
South Dakota Raw Milk Supporters Push Against Proposed Rules
Third Raw Milk Rules Hearing Report
On October 9, 2013, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture held its third raw milk rules hearing since June, for the same set of rules proposed at the July 26, 2013 hearing. Over 600
Minnesota Jury Convicts Peaceful Farmer on Five Charges
Alvin Schlangen sentenced to fines, 1-year probation and 90 days in jail suspended
Stearns County, MN—(August 19, 2013)—Long-time farmer, Alvin Schlangen, was convicted by a jury of 6 on five charges related to feeding his community. The conviction came on August 15 after a
Rancher Threatened with Second Jail Sentence
Archuleta County, Colorado rancher Stephen (Steve) Keno, who has already served one week in jail and been fined $1,000 on a contempt of court charge related to allegedly grazing his sheep illegally, is now facing a