Minnesota's decision last year to effectively ban deer farming has sent shockwaves through the deer farming community. Minnesota placed a ban on any new deer farms, and has prohibited any existing deer farm from transferring ownership (other thn a single time to one child, who is then not able to transfer it again). They also put new regulations in place that require significant investment from many farmers - investment in a business that now has no future.
In response there was a suit filed by a group of affected deer farmers, but that effort ended today when a federal judge dismissed the case, dealing what may be a final blow to the Minnesota deer farming community.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has imposed draconian regulations that have made deer farming nearly impossible. These new rules, which include double-fencing requirements, mandatory testing, and a ban on importing deer from other states, are supposedly designed to curb the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). However, for many in the deer farming community, this feels more like an unjust overreach than a legitimate public health measure.
The state has even gone so far as to implement a buyout program, offering to pay us to shut down our farms. But for most, this is not a fair compensation for the years of hard work, investment, family legacy and passion that we’ve poured into our businesses. Instead, it feels like a forced eviction, with the state using CWD as an excuse to eliminate an industry it doesn’t understand or value.
Misguided Concerns: The Truth About CWD
CWD is a serious issue, and no one in the deer farming community would argue otherwise. However, the portrayal of deer farms as hotbeds of disease is misleading and unfair. The majority have implemented rigorous biosecurity measures, often exceeding state requirements, to ensure the health and safety of our herds. Many have implemented newer innovative methods to control spread like supplementing humic acid and doing selective breeding for CWD resistance.
One farmer had the following to say:
"Nobody cares more (and has done more!) about stopping the spread of CWD than deer farmers.We care deeply about the animals we raise, and the suggestion that our farms are the primary threat to wild deer populations is both insulting and unfounded."
The science surrounding CWD is not as clear-cut as the DNR would have the public believe. While the disease is indeed a concern, its transmission is not limited to deer farms. Wild deer populations can and do spread CWD, and focusing solely on deer farms ignores the broader picture.
"The state’s decision to target us rather than addressing the issue more comprehensively is short-sighted and ultimately ineffective."
A Flawed Approach: Ignoring the Real Issues
What’s most frustrating about this situation is the state’s refusal to consider alternative solutions. Rather than working to implement more effective CWD management practices, the DNR has chosen to scapegoat deer farmers. This is not just bad policy; it’s bad governance.
There are better ways to protect Minnesota’s wild deer populations without destroying an entire industry. Instead, the state has taken the easy way out, placing the burden squarely on the shoulders of deer farmers while ignoring the broader environmental and economic consequences.
The Broader Implications: A Dangerous Precedent
Minnesota’s decision sets a dangerous precedent for how states handle agricultural industries. If the government can effectively shut down deer farming over concerns about CWD, what’s to stop them from doing the same to other livestock industries when the next disease threat emerges? This ruling could open the door to further overreach, putting countless other farming operations at risk.
It also raises serious questions about the role of government in regulating agriculture. Shouldn’t those of us who are directly involved in farming have a say in the policies that affect our livelihoods? The state’s top-down approach, with little input from the farming community, is a recipe for disaster.
The judge even acknowledged in that this would be the end of the industry, but that wasn't a problem. The direct text from his decision reading “the Minnesota Legislature passed the statute to prevent the spread of CWD, not to eliminate the white-tail deer farming profession. The eventual elimination of white-tail deer farming in Minnesota, while unfortunate, is incidental.”
Conclusion: A Fight for Our Future
A leading Minnesota deer farmer had this to say:
"As deer farmers, we’re not just fighting for our businesses; we’re fighting for our right to work, to provide for our families, and to continue a tradition that is deeply rooted in Minnesota’s history. The state’s decision to effectively ban deer farming is a betrayal of that tradition, driven more by fear and misinformation than by facts.
We deserve better. We deserve policies that are based on sound science and that consider the real-world impact on people’s lives. We deserve a government that works with us, not against us. The fight to save deer farming in Minnesota is far from over, and we will continue to stand up for our rights, our livelihoods, and our way of life."
