Government Abandons Attacks Against Michigan Family Farm Due to Public Pressure

Health Impact News Editor Comments:

In a stunning reversal of events, Jill Baker is reporting that the Michigan DNR has suddenly declared that all their pigs are “legal,” and that they are now free to resume their heritage hog operation after two years of persecution by government officials in Michigan.

The Michigan DNR put many small-scale family farms out of business in 2012 by ruling that their heritage pigs were “feral” and illegal, by adopting a new definition of “feral.” This new definition of “feral swine” adopted by the DNR in 2012 came directly from the commercial pork industry, which raises all commercial pork indoors in confinement. Most farms complied and killed off their herds, rather than face criminal prosecution.

Mark Baker and Bakers Green Acres family farm resisted and fought a long costly legal battle for two years, while losing their hog business as the USDA refused to process their pigs. Their meeting in court this week was attended by many supporters, as their story had national exposure. We have covered this story since its inception in 2012, and you can read the background here.

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