Trump admin saves 175-year-old NJ farm from being taken over for affordable housing

A nearly two-century-old New Jersey farm that had been targeted by its town to be taken through eminent domain for affordable housing has been saved after the Trump administration worked with the state to spare the farm from New Jersey’s affordable housing plans. 

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced on Friday that an agreement had been secured that would keep the Henry family farm from being taken away in Cranbury, New Jersey. 

"I am so pleased to announce that the Henry farm has officially been saved. God bless America," Rollins wrote. "After months of bipartisan, federal-state collaboration, the state of New Jersey has secured an agreement that would spare the 175-year-old Henry family farm from the state’s affordable housing plan. Further efforts are also underway by USDA and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to protect this prime farmland in perpetuity. I look forward to continuing the non-stop work with Andy’s team and the @NJgov administration to ensure these plans are fully effectuated."

The 21-acre farm, currently owned by Andy Henry and his brother, Christopher, had been bought by his maternal great-grandfather, Joseph McGill, in 1850.  "They survived hardship after hardship. In 1936, my grandfather died, leaving my grandmother and mother to run the farm. It was struggle after struggle, but they held on to the land, and again survived, leaving something for the next generation," Henry said in June.

In April, Henry received an official letter of notice from the Cranbury Township Committee listing his farm as an affordable housing site. The letter stated that if a price was not agreed upon, the land would be taken by eminent domain, Henry said. 

After the story went viral, Rollins announced that the USDA was working to help protect the property. “Whether the Maudes, the Henrys or others whom we will soon announce, the Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over. While this particular case is a city eminent domain issue, we @usda are exploring every legal option to help," Rollins wrote at the time.

Rollins said on Friday that "A war against Andy’s farm is a war against all farms. This is why USDA is finalizing plans to end systemic lawfare and weaponization of government against American agriculture. No more. His victory is more than one farmer’s triumph — it’s a reminder that rural America still stands tall, rooted in grit, faith, and the timeless bond between people and the soil."

She added, "To every farmer out there: hold fast. Protect your land. Preserve our way of life. The heart of the countryside beats because of you. And to Andy — what an honor it has been my friend!"

Speaking with Fox Business, Henry said he was surprised at the number of people nationwide who came to his defense. "It started in our own town with people doing social posts and getting together and inviting me to meetings like 'come on over, we’re gonna have a meeting about saving your farm.'"

"The news has just really helped us get the publicity and I do certainly want to thank Secretary Rollins and the working group she has, and it’s not just about saving our farm, it’s hopefully about helping other farmers preserve their farm as well."