Passage of the PRIME Act [H.R. 3187] would give states the power to legalize the sale of custom processed meat in intrastate commerce (i.e., meat from an animal slaughtered and processed at a facility where an inspector is not required to be present to observe the slaughtering and conduct an
Support H.R. 3187, the PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption)
White Paper on the PRIME Act [H.R. 3187] Prepared by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund
House Resolution H.R. 3187, the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, would give individual states the freedom to pass laws allowing the sale of custom
The Slaughterhouse Monopoly: How One Farmer Fights Back
As a farmer of rare and endangered livestock who cares about the animals as well as the consumers destined to enjoy the various products we raise, finding a slaughterhouse and processor is one of the most important aspects that most people fail to consider. Today, much like
Turning the Tables in Minnesota
From 2010–2014, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) did everything it could to put Gibbon dairy farmer Mike Hartmann out of business. Whether it was raiding Hartmann’s farm, impounding his truck, confiscating and destroying his products, embargoing his
Massie and Pingree Introduce Landmark Bill on Custom Meat Processing
Falls Church, Virginia—July 23,2015—Today, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced House Bill H.R. 3187, a bill that would significantly increase access to locally produced meat for consumers around the country. H.R. 3187, also known as the PRIME Act (the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act), would
FTCLDF Member Bavuso Wins Virginia Right to Farm Case
In a major victory for Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund member Anthony Bavuso, a York County Poquoson Circuit Court Judge has ruled that the Virginia Right to Farm Act and a state zoning law prohibited York County from requiring Bavuso to obtain a special use permit in order to conduct oyster
FTCLDF Case Updates
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund General Counsel Gary Cox provides updates on the cases he’s currently handling. Everyone represented in court by the Fund is a member of the organization.
Sixteenth Maine Town Passes Food Sovereignty Ordinance
Bingham, MAINE—July 10, 2015—On July 1, Bingham, Maine became the 16th town in that state to pass the Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance (LFCSGO) when its citizens voted to adopt the LFCSGO at a special town meeting by a ballot vote of 59-8. Under the ordinance, farmers
Attack on Small-Scale Dairy in Australia
A premier organic dairy farm in Australia, Elgaar Farm, was nearly put out of business for reasons that had nothing to do with food safety. Local authorities shut down the farm claiming its traditional time-honored methods of dairy processing weren’t up to government
FTCLDF Member Reaches Settlement in Overspray Case
NORTH DAKOTA—July 2, 2015—The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) has settled another case, this time on behalf of North Dakota farmer member Glen Philbrick, who was the victim of spray drift. Due to the drift of chemicals over his crops, he lost more than 4,000…