Federal Showdown: How One New Jersey Farm Became Ground Zero in the Fight Against Eminent Domain
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Takes on Local Township as 175-Year-Old Henry Farm Faces Government Seizure for Affordable Housing
They came for Andy Henry's farm with legal papers instead of pitchforks, but make no mistake – this is a raid on American agriculture.
Right now, in Cranbury Township, New Jersey, a 175-year-old family farm sits at the center of an unprecedented federal-versus-local government showdown that could determine whether your land is truly yours or just on loan until bureaucrats find a "better" use for it.
The Henry family farm – 21 acres of prime farmland that's been feeding communities since before the Civil War – faces government seizure through eminent domain to build affordable housing in an industrial zone surrounded by warehouses.
But here's where it gets interesting: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has personally intervened, warning the township they may be violating federal law. She's handed Andy Henry her personal cell phone number, holds weekly strategy calls with his attorney, and reportedly donated $1,000 to his legal defense fund. When's the last time you saw a cabinet secretary go to bat like that for a family farmer?
This isn't just another David-versus-Goliath story. This is about whether regenerative farmers across America can hold onto their land when developers and government planners come knocking with "public good" justifications that smell more like public theft.
What's Actually Happening in Cranbury
The facts will make your blood boil, but let's lay them out clean:
The Setup: Cranbury Township needs to provide 265 affordable housing units by 2035 under New Jersey's Mount Laurel Doctrine. Fair enough – communities need affordable housing. But instead of working with willing sellers or using actual vacant land, township officials voted to seize the Henry farm through eminent domain.
The Land: This isn't some abandoned lot. The Natural Resources Conservation Service certified the Henry farm soil as "100% prime farmland" with specific federal protections. It's actively farmed, currently under lease for cattle and sheep grazing. The Henry brothers previously turned down developer offers worth $20-30 million because – get this – they actually want to keep farming.
The Plan: The township wants to hand 11.58 acres to the Walters Group, a developer specializing in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects, to build 130 affordable units. The location? Cranbury's "light industrial" area, surrounded by warehouses on three sides, far from town services and community amenities. Because nothing says "inclusive housing" like stuffing low-income families next to distribution centers, right?
The Resistance: Over $135,000 raised through GoFundMe. Township meetings packed with protesters. Community members dressed as cows in the Memorial Day parade. Former mayors speaking out. And now, the federal government is entering the ring.
Why This Fight Matters
This case is setting precedents that will ripple across every farming community in America. Here's what's really at stake:
The Farmland Protection Policy Act Has Teeth (Maybe)
Secretary Rollins is testing whether federal farmland protections actually mean something or if they're just suggestions local governments can ignore. The Farmland Protection Policy Act requires federal review before converting prime farmland – but Cranbury Township ordered property appraisals and pushed forward despite federal warnings.
If the feds can't protect certified prime farmland from seizure, then every acre you're regenerating could be one township vote away from becoming a shopping mall or housing development.
The "Public Good" Excuse Is Getting Wild
Cranbury's argument essentially boils down to: "We need affordable housing, this farm technically meets state requirements, therefore we can take it."
Think about that logic. Any "public good" – housing, solar panels, distribution centers, whatever politicians decide we need more of – could justify seizing productive farmland. They evaluated over 50 properties and somehow landed on active farmland as their best option? That's either incompetence or something worse.
Developer Influence in Government Decisions
Here's a detail that should concern every property owner: The Henry family's lawsuit alleges an "impermissible delegation of governmental process" where the Walters Group developer gained inappropriate authority over site selection while standing to financially benefit.
Translation: The developer who profits from this seizure may have had a hand in choosing which property to seize. If that doesn't scream "conflict of interest," I don't know what does.
The Secret Weapon: Farmland Preservation
While fighting the eminent domain order in court, Andy Henry played a smart card – he filed for farmland preservation with New Jersey's Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025.
This program would permanently protect the property from development while compensating the family based on development rights value. It's a win-win that keeps the land in agriculture while providing fair payment to the owners. Middlesex County has already preserved over 5,000 acres through this program.
The preservation application creates a race against time. If approved before eminent domain proceedings conclude, it would block the township's plans entirely and force them to find housing sites that don't require destroying farmland.
What Happens Next
As of August 2025, we're in a high-stakes waiting game:
The Lawsuit: Henry family's constitutional challenge to the eminent domain order remains pending in Middlesex County Superior Court. No final rulings yet.
Federal Pressure: USDA continues demanding compliance with federal farmland protection laws, threatening to freeze or claw back any federal funds involved in the project.
Farmland Preservation: The application could provide permanent protection if approved before seizure occurs.
Community Resistance: The GoFundMe keeps growing, meetings stay packed, and national attention intensifies pressure on township officials.
How This Affects Your Farm
Every regenerative farmer should watch this case like a hawk. Here's why:
Legal Precedent: If Cranbury succeeds in seizing prime farmland for housing despite federal protections and massive opposition, it opens the door for similar seizures nationwide. Your carefully rebuilt soil biology won't matter if townships can take land for any "public good" project.
Federal Protection Reality Check: This case tests whether federal farmland protections have any real enforcement power or if they're just paper tigers. Secretary Rollins' intervention could establish how seriously the USDA will defend farmland going forward.
Community Defense Models: The Henry family's multi-pronged defense – constitutional lawsuit, farmland preservation application, federal intervention, community mobilization, and crowdfunded legal support – provides a playbook for other farmers facing similar threats.
What You Can Do Right Now
This isn't just Andy Henry's fight. When the government can seize productive farmland for development, every acre of regenerative agriculture is at risk. Here's how to help:
Support the Legal Fight: The "Save Andy's Family Farm" GoFundMe continues accepting donations for legal expenses. Every dollar strengthens the precedent-setting legal challenge.
Contact New Jersey Officials: Out-of-state pressure matters. Let Governor Phil Murphy and state legislators know the nation is watching how New Jersey treats its farmers.
Spread the Word: Share this story in your farming networks. The more eyes on Cranbury, the harder it becomes for officials to quietly push through the seizure.
Check Your Local Laws: Research your state and local eminent domain laws. Know your rights before someone comes knocking.
Consider Preservation Programs: If your state offers farmland preservation, understand the process. It could be your insurance policy against future seizure attempts.
The Bottom Line
The Cranbury farm battle isn't just about 21 acres in New Jersey. It's about whether America still respects property rights, whether federal farmland protections mean anything, and whether productive agriculture can survive when squeezed between development pressure and government overreach.
Andy Henry and his brother could have taken $20-30 million from developers and walked away rich. Instead, they're fighting to keep farming land their family has worked for 175 years. They're not just defending their property – they're defending the principle that the government shouldn't be able to steal productive farmland just because bureaucrats think they have a better use for it.
Secretary Rollins said it best: "The Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over."
Let's make sure she's right.
The revolution starts with protecting every acre of regenerative farmland from government seizure. Today it's Andy Henry's farm. Tomorrow it could be yours.
Stay rebellious,
The Regenaissance
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Have a tip about farmland under threat? Email us at ryan@theregenaissance.co