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
Search Results for: raw milk
Another Crack at the Ban
In March 2012 Federal District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) and eight of its members against the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the federal regulations banning raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce. The judge dismissed the suit for lack […]
Stop New Mexico Senate Bill 286
Bill Attempts to Ban Retail Raw Milk Sales Senator Pat Woods (District 7) expects to present Senate Bill 286 to the Conservation Committee on Thursday afternoon or evening, February 28th. The Senate Conservation Committee is chaired by Senator Peter Wirth (District 25). SB 286, as written, calls for a ban on the sale of retail […]
FTCLDF 2012 Summary
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (the “Fund”) continued its work in 2012 to establish the rights of farmers to direct market the products of the farm and the rights of consumers to obtain the foods of their choice from the source of their choice. We achieved several successes, with the
New Trial Date for Hershberger Case
The criminal trial for Amish dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger of Loganville, Wisconsin has been rescheduled for May 20 at the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo. The trial is slated to run five days; it had been scheduled to start on January 7. A pre-trial hearing in the case has been set for May 7. The reason for the postponement was
Jury Vindicates Farmer of Criminal Charges Related to Minnesota Food Buying Coop
A significant court victory was won for food rights on September 20, 2012 when a Minnesota jury found farmer Alvin Schlangen not guilty on all three criminal misdemeanor counts for violations of the state food and dairy code. The case was referred by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and brought by
Herdshares Victorious in Wyoming
An attempt to ban herdshares by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture has resulted in Governor Matt Mead ordering the department to issue a rule expressly legalizing herdshares. Here’s a report from FTCLDF member Frank Wallace, whose sister is state representative Sue Wallis. We have a win in Wyoming!
Jury Trial for Local Farmer – Alvin Schlangen
The Minnesota trial for Alvin Schlagen on four misdemeanor charges is set to begin today. Here is the press release: This week in a Minneapolis courtroom, Alvin Schlangen, a farmer from Freeport, MN, hears from a jury if he will serve jail time for connecting people with nutrient-dense foods. Alvin and other volunteers are
FDA’s Vendetta Against Estrella Family Creamery in Washington State
Might the FDA, In Its Vendetta Against a Raw Milk Cheese Maker, Possibly Stub Its Toe By Interfering with Local Production? At first glance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s two-year legal assault on Estrella Family Creamery in Washington state appears entirely vindictive. The FDA seems intent on using its enormous enforcement powers to cruelly […]
FTCLDF to Represent Hershberger
Falls Church, Virginia (August 28, 2012) — Wisconsin dairy farmer, Vernon Hershberger of Loganville, has retained the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) to represent him in his upcoming criminal trial on four misdemeanor counts for alleged violations of the Wisconsin food and dairy code. The trial was originally supposed to take place on September 25