U.S. Supreme Court has denied the petition for certiorari (a request asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision) filed by the Minnesota Deer Farmers in their case against the State of Minnesota’s DNR. While this decision is deeply disappointing, it is important to be very clear about what this does, and does not, mean.
A denial of certiorari does not mean the Supreme Court agreed with Minnesota, nor does it mean the Court ruled against Minnesota farmers on the merits of their case. In this process, we have learned that the U.S. Supreme Court denies the vast majority of petitions it receives each year. This decision simply means the Court chose not to take this case at this time.
That said, the danger exposed by this case remains very pertinent and real. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision now stands within its jurisdiction, asserting that farming is not a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution. That reasoning gives state governments broad authority to regulate lawful farming and ranching operations out of existence, determine who may produce food, and interfere with the ability to pass farming businesses on to the next generation.
This is not the end of the fight. We believe it is a turning point.
Here is Why We Believe This Isn’t Over:
- The Eighth Circuit ruling applies only to a limited group of states and does not create nationwide precedent.
- Other federal courts may rule differently in future cases, creating the kind of legal conflict that often compels U.S. Supreme Court review.
- Most importantly, Congress has the authority to act.
Where We Go From Here:
This denial makes one thing unmistakably clear: America needs federal legislative protection for the fundamental right to farm, ranch, and produce food.
State-level laws and existing “Right to Farm” statutes are not enough. They do not protect the occupation of farming itself. They do not stop governments from eliminating entire classes of food production. And they do not secure food independence or private property rights.
This case exposed a dangerous truth: If the right to produce food is not protected as a fundamental right in America, everything else is vulnerable and negotiable.
We are not walking away from this fight—we will be working to take it to the next step.
We urge you to join the fight and become a member of The Cavalry Group to support our efforts!
Mindy Patterson, President www.thecavalrygroup.com
Watch Steve Porter’s video regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Annoucement: HERE
