Crying Over Raw Milk: An Amish Farmer Confronts a Government Edict

The Complete Patient ^ | Feb. 16, 2007 | David Gumpert

[davidgumpert]

David Hochstetler is the Indiana Amish farmer at the center of a government campaign against cow share owners in Michigan. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just sent him a warning letter against sending his milk into Michigan or Illinois in violation of "interstate commerce." He expresses his sense of anguish about the government's move, including his worries about not being able to pass the farm on to his son and not being able to provide a powerful natural food to consumers desperate for it.

[davidgumpert]

David Hochstetler, the farmer, must decide how he is going to respond to the FDA. Initially, he plans to argue to the government that it doesn't have jurisdiction because he is distributing milk to cow share owners, and isn't engaged in "commerce." But if the government doesn't accept his rationale, the next steps aren't clear, since FDA warning letters don't allow for appeal. He's in a tough spot. His only hope may public exposure--the bureaucrats hate light shining into their schemes to screw the little guy, and all the other little guys who depend on this little guy.

[tranzorZ]

Good Lord all Mighty, picking on the Amish is low. I bet there are a lot of people who think they have it coming because they're "Jesus Freaks".

[WorkingClassFilth]

So what prevents this farmer from having his clients from coming and picking up their own milk? That's what is behind the idea of conscription farming.

[okie01]

David Hochstetler deserves our support.

BUMP!

[padre35]

The federal milk mafia at work again......

[olezip]

Not only are we concerned about the government's continued encroachment into private and personal lives, as our former country slips into socialism and one world government. But we are considering taking a cow share in order to get the raw milk I grew up on. No way can we handle up to ten gallons a day of cow milk. There are only two of us! The current administration is as worthless as the Democrats in supporting individual freedom that once characterized our once-great country. David Hochstetler's problem will be our problem if the FDA does not relent on this issue.

[ikka]

He might have a point if he says that the cow's milk, apportioned to the share owners, is the rightful property of the owners.

[Domandred]

David Hochstetler, the farmer, must decide how he is going to respond to the FDA.

I vote for telling the FDA to stuff it.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1572002/posts
Small dairyman shakes up milk industry

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1414369/posts
Dairy gets squeezed by the feds

[Calpernia]

ping

[Calpernia]

bump

[doc1019]

The whole world is going to hell in a handbaskit, and we are worried about the Amish!!!! Should we not be more concerned about the ROP and spend our resources on this problem more so than the Amish and their “milk” problem?

[Calpernia]

That is why the FDA was used. That argument may have worked if the USDA stepped in.

FDA has been doing the fall guy lately.

[muawiyah]

What's going on is that MOST states have laws in place that serve to keep the Amish out, and if the state laws don't do the deal, the bureaucrats with that assignment know they can depend on friends in the federal agencies to go after them.

Some states, Indiana for example, have laws that protect the Amish and similar religious minorities. Indiana also allows the sale of non-pasteurized milk products. You might have noticed the Amish cheese stores just inside the Indiana state lines.

Due to persecution in other states there's been a tremendous influx of Amish to Indiana over the last 50 years. This guy is simply trying to sell across a hostile stateline. He'd do better trying to peddle his milk solely within the Indiana market although he'll have substantial Amish competition.

[Calpernia]

All our food production is moving into a cartel. It isn't just an Amish problem.

[I still care]

I remember a while ago the Amish ran into trouble with the government because they used to apprentice their children at a young age to trades. The government said it was child labor.

[Duke Nukum]

If he shipped his milk to Mexico first and then smuggled it in over the border, he'd be kosher with the Bush admin.

[RobbyS]

This is like sending oil between tank farms by an oil company.

[dljordan]

"I vote for telling the FDA to stuff it."

Then you'd be on the receiving end of an FDA SWAT team. We have a BIG boot on our necks.

[dljordan]

"All our food production is moving into a cartel. It isn't just an Amish problem."

You mean like Monsanto and Cargill.