Posted on 06/25/2025 1:51:49 PM PDT by Twotone
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA is moving to assist the New Jersey farmer whose 175-year-old family farm is facing seizure by local government through eminent domain.
Rollins posted on X that she had spoken directly with the farm’s owner, Andy Henry, after Cranbury Township approved a plan to take his 21-acre property for the development of affordable housing.
“The city govt has approved seizing his 175-year-old family farm via eminent domain for affordable housing units,” Rollins wrote. “Whether the Maudes, the Henrys or others whom we will soon announce, the Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over. While this particular case is a city eminent domain issue, we @usda are exploring every legal option to help.”
Rollins also posted a link to the USDA Lawfare Complaint Form, a web portal for “potential farmer, rancher, and USDA customers who have fallen victim to unfair and politically motivated lawfare originating under the Biden Administration.”
Henry’s farm, located on South River Road in Middlesex County, has remained in his family since 1850, surviving generations of hardship and waves of nearby development. It is now the last working farm in an area overtaken by industrial warehouses and distribution centers.
“My family sacrificed on this land for 175 years,” Henry said, according to AgWeb. “All the other farms disappeared. We did not. We will not.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thepostmillennial.com ...
Good! I hope, in this case, the Feds are successful.
I doubt the USDA will find any solid legal options since this is clearly a local matter. Too bad for the family if it does occur.
I remember some years back that a substantial number of homeowners along some beach area were evicted so the town could build a tourist resort, which would supposedly bring in more tax dollars to the benefit of the area. I wonder whatever happened with that abuse of "eminent domain"?
We discovered the rare stilted tree frog on the property. We must study the situation a bit. Shoud take about 50 years.
Private farms are disappearing. Socialists and communists hate them.
Small farms are disappearing because it’s almost impossible for them to generate enough revenue to pay the operating costs. Most farms in my area are run as a side business by families with other bigger sources of income.
Eminent Domain was meant to serve all people....like roads...not for “business” interests.
I worry about govt regs on farms & milk production where I am...it breaks my heart everytime a family goes out of business
Would federal money be involved in financing the purchase, building, and/or rent/lease payments?
Don't know, of course, but these are reasonable questions.
The Supreme Court allowed it and then after the houses were torn down, it was never developed to this day.
rare stilted tree frogs can suddenly be discovered (so can rare purple striped butterflies and rare polka dot blossomed weeds)
its amazing how quickly endangered species can show up on endangered properties
smiles smiles
LOL. I sorta understand some of the environweenies complaints. However the abuse I stated above was very vocal about wanting more tax dollars, IIRC.
Remember when the US had to kill wolves? Now, they are being re-established in the same farm lands. Just another Dim/Socialist weenie that believes all the stupid crap of 70's and 80's. Can you say Global Ice Age?
That’s true, but mostly because of government interference. My grandparents ran a farm, and had to work like dogs from sun up til sundown and could barely make enough to pay for all the equipment they needed, plus the taxes and so forth. The banks got their farm, eventually.
“ We discovered the rare stilted tree frog on the property. We must study the situation a bit. Should take about 50 years.”
If you apply the Lacey Act and grow certain plants, the city cannot take your land.
There are plenty of slum areas in New Jersey; let the state condemn those and build there.
As for the farm, President Trump could do a friendly buyout as part of the national strategic grass preserve and lease it perpetually to the farm family. Dare the state to try to use eminent domain to take it.
Include provision if the national strategic grass preserve is ever ended the property reverts back to the farm family.
Thank you. Do you remember that town/city, or have a link?
I was so opposed to that situation.
That was the case in New London, CT too. A disgrace.
SOMEONE REMIND THE DEMS ABOUT THE KELO DECISION
Agree. The problem is that it is within the local City, County, and State laws that vary so much. As much as I prefer the Fedgov not get involved, these different laws could warrant Congressional statutes making them uniform and more difficult to achieve.
Sorry to hear that.
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