At issue is a dairy farm located at the Morses Line crossing station. The farm is operated by the Rainvilles, who have had the property located near the Canadian border in their family for three generations. The government wants to upgrade the crossing, part of which involves purchasing 4.9 acres of land from the family.
However, the selling price the government is demanding is far below what the family feels it actual worth. The Department of Homeland Security wants to buy it for $39,000, and the paper said the government will use eminent domain if the Rainvilles refuse to accept that price.
"They are trying to steamroll us," Brian Rainville told the paper. "We have a buyer holding a gun to our head saying you have to sell or else."
The problem for the family is especially pronounced since the dairy industry has seen tough times as of late. Recently, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy joined 22 senators in asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use all of its resources to help struggling dairy farmers.
