KINZERS, Pennsylvania - February 18, 2010 - U.S. Food and Drug Administration agents, without either a search warrant or court order, have illegally and unconstitutionally demanded to inspect a Pennsylvania farm described by its owner as private, arguing, "You have cows. You produce food for human consumption."

The confrontation developed just days ago at a farm near Kinzers, Pennsylvania, belonging to Amish farmer Dan Allgyer.

According to a report from the National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association, the agents were Joshua Schafer and Deborah Haney from the federal government agency's Delaware office.

The agents "drove past Allgyer's 'No Trespassing' signs and up his driveway almost to his barn, where Allgyer happened to be outside," the report said. "Allgyer approached the car, the agents got out and Allgyer asked them why they were there. They produced a piece of paper, asked Allgyer if he was Dan Allgyer, which Allgyer confirmed, asked him his middle initial and phone number, entered the information on the paper, told Allgyer they were there to do an inspection."

The report from NICFA, which was based on information provided by Allgyer, said the agents then "started reading the paper to him, saying it gave them jurisdiction to be there."

"You produce food for human consumption," an agent stated, according to the report. "You have cows. You cannot be consuming all the milk you produce. If you get a milk truck in to move all this milk you sell milk to the public, therefore we have jurisdiction."

After Allgyer said, "This is a private farm, I do not sell anything to the public," the agents accused him of refusing an inspection.

A spokeswoman for the FDA's Philadelphia office, which has jurisdiction over the region, confirmed the incident occurred, although she did not have details.