Chavez threatens to expropriate farms, milk plants

President Hugo Chavez threatened Sunday to take over farms or milk plants if owners refuse to sell their milk for domestic consumption and instead seek higher profits overseas or from cheese-makers. With the country recently facing milk shortages, Chavez said "it's treason" if farmers deny milk to Venezuelans while selling it across the border in Colombia or for gourmet cheeses. "In that case the farm must be expropriated," Chavez said, adding that milk plants could also be taken over. Addressing his Cabinet, he said: "If the army must be brought in, you bring in the army."