Our member survey consistently shows our 24-Hour Emergency Hotline is one of the services our members value most.
The member hotline is available in the event of a surprise visit, inspection, or short-term notice regarding a member’s farm or related farm business. We always have an attorney on-call who can be on the phone during a stressful, unexpected farm inspection or even seizure of product.
In the interest of keeping our members and supporters better informed, we provide a Monthly Hotline Blotter. While we will always protect the privacy of our members, we will provide a monthly summary of the type of legal challenges your fellow farmers, homesteaders, and cottage food producers are facing.
As one of our litigating attorneys Suzy Israel likes to say, “Prevention is the best cure” when it comes to dealing with local, state and federal regulators. It’s better to take steps to prevent problems and stay in compliance with farm and food laws in your city, county, or state!
In October and November, we fielded calls from all over the country regarding a number of farm and food business related issues. We feel providing a synopsis of the kinds of issues we assist with on a regular basis can give our members (and readers) an idea of the kinds of questions we regularly answer, and trends we’re seeing on the regulatory front.
FTCLDF October-November 2022 Hotline Blotter
State: Colorado
Poultry producer member needs assistance in interpreting federal and state avian flu requirements regarding outbreaks in the area and the potential impact on operations.
State: New Jersey
Member needs help to push back against a proposed town ordinance that will outlaw backyard poultry.
State: Michigan
Member being charged by local government for illegal act related to farming operation.
State: Wyoming
Member struggling with state Department of Agriculture licensing with regard to farmer’s market sales.
State: Kentucky
Member needs assistance due to flock destruction because of avian flu. May be entitled to compensation.
Besides calls to the FTCLDF Emergency Hotline, in October and November, FTCLDF attorneys provided legal advice, guidance, and documents to assist with additional member legal concerns:
- 41 requests for new dairy herdshare agreements in VA, TN, TX, NC, CA, HI, MI, PA, OH, OR
- 8 requests for revised dairy herdshare agreements in MI, OR, OH, IA, TN
- 4 dairy non-herdshare legal questions DE, TN, MI
- 1 request for meatshare plan in NV
- 9 calls with on-farm poultry processing questions in MS, OH, NC, KY
- Request for cottage food advice about selling in schools in TX
- Request for meat rabbit advice in NC
- Request for legal agreement to rent out chicken plucker in TX
- Request for livestock boarding agreement in PA
- Request for CSA cropshare agreement in TN
- Request for food club legal consult in NC
- Request for advice about selling raw milk for pet food in PA
- Request for advice on setting up grain processing and storage in KY
- Request for advice about repopulating poultry flock after euthanasia AZ
- Request for advice about zoning violation in CA
- Request for advice on selling poultry bone broth in WI
- Question about CSA delivery fee taxability in TN
- Question about conflicts with vendors at farmer’s market in NC
- Question about food safety training in OH
- Question about someone operating landowner’s existing LLC in CA
- Question about PMAs in OH
- Question about changing county regulations as a group in CA
- Question about feeding pigs poultry broth in OH
Nonmembers in Need of Legal Assistance
FTCLDF received 22 Calls in October and November from nonmembers with potential legal issues asking for assistance. Remember to join and renew your membership annually!
Please feel free to call our offices during business hours with your questions and concerns. Members have 24/7 access to our Emergency Hotline! Remember, we’ve got your farmer’s back!