The raw milk trial for a Durham area farmer has been postponed.
Michael Schmidt was supposed to go to trial in Newmarket this week to face 20 charges laid by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The charges stem from his production, storage and distribution of raw milk.
At a pre-trial hearing Friday, the trial date was adjourned to the fall on consent of all the parties.
Schmidt says the postponed trial opens the door for dialogue to look at the basic constitutional issue.
He says its an issue of individual freedom against the responsibility of government regulations.
Schmidt says the MNR has also indictated that they are willing to return his processing equipment which was seized during a raid on his farm in 2006.
He says this is a nice jesture for starting a dialogue in order to work on a solution.
Schmidt says he has never hidden the fact that he has been distributing raw milk from Glencolton Farms for more than 12 years.
Schmidt plans to represent himself at the trial — he claims its his right to distribute raw milk and that the current laws around mandatory pasteurization are unconstitutional.
He says the government is infringing on his personal freedom by preventing him from selling milk straight from the cow.
Schmidt says the issue will not go away, adding there is growing support for his position.
