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Could the public uproar over the FDA sting against the Amish farmer in Pennsylvania be influencing other raw milk cases around the country? A raw milk dairy farmer in Wisconsin was raided back in 2010 shortly after then Governor Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that had passed the Democratic controlled legislature to permit some raw milk sales in Wisconsin. Officials claimed the raw milk dairy farmer was operating without proper licenses. The farmer, Vernon Hershberger, continues to sell raw milk under a new farm management where his customers lease the cows. No further action has been taken against Hershberger, and it would seem that state officials want nothing to do with the case, accusing each other over who is now responsible for handling it! Hershberger states: “The way it looks to me, they can’t find anybody to file charges.” Read the story below.
by TIM DAMOS
Wisconsin State Journal
LOGANVILLE – Nearly a year after a state agency made headlines by executing a search warrant on a raw milk distributor, authorities have not yet taken any legal action in the case and he is working around the order to stop sales.
The June 2010 raid on Vernon Hershberger’s organic dairy farm came weeks after then-Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that would have allowed limited sales of raw milk. State officials denied the raid had anything to do with the controversy over raw milk. They said Hershberger was operating without proper licenses.
But more than 11 months later, Hershberger is still distributing raw milk and dairy products through his shop, Grazin’ Acres in Loganville, about 50 miles northwest of Madison. He said he hasn’t heard from state officials since last summer.
“They haven’t been in contact since July 8, the last time they were here,” Hershberger said Monday. “The way it looks to me, they can’t find anybody to file charges.”
Hershberger continues to sell dairy products under a new arrangement in which members lease farm animals. He said he no longer needs a dairy license, because his customers had become part owners of the animals that produced their dairy products. State officials disagree with his interpretation of the law.
A official with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said the agency forwarded its investigative report to state and county prosecutors last September.
Sauk County District Attorney Patricia Barrett disputed that: “Nothing has been referred to my office for action.”
State Department of Justice officials, too, said they were unaware of any action against Hershberger to date.
Read the Full Article here: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_07edf1e8-80d2-11e0-bf3c-001cc4c03286.html
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Behind America’s Emerging Battle Over Food Rights
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