In October of 2024, one of our members reached out for help with a zoning notice she’d received from her Michigan city. The notice claimed she’d been raising chickens without a permit, violating the city’s chicken ordinance. The notice called for Kathy to remove her chickens from her property. The thing is, Kathy had a […]
Litigation
A Win for Michigan Right to Farm!
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is pleased to announce an important win on behalf of Michigan Right-to-Farm and FTCLDF members Cottonwood Farm/Morningstar Ventures, LLC. In an ongoing legal battle, the Michigan Appellate Court ruled in favor of Morningstar Ventures, LLC that the case is entitled to a Right-to-Farm defense. The matter involves a Washtenaw County […]
UPDATE: USDA-APHIS Order Unlikely to Include Federal Testing of Raw Milk for Human Consumption; State Testing Still May Occur
This is an evolving situation. FTCLDF will continue to monitor developments and post new information as it becomes available. FTCLDF reported on the December 6, 2024 that USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) issued and order that would apply to raw milk producers providing wholesome, raw milk for human consumption. It is now […]
USDA Announces Testing of Raw Milk
This is an evolving situation. FTCLDF will continue to monitor developments and post new information as it becomes available. On December 6, 2024, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) announced a new rule authorizing testing of raw milk for the H5N1 virus. The order specifies: “Upon request from APHIS any person responsible […]
Farm-to-Consumer Signs onto the LOCAL Foods Act to Benefit On-Farm Slaughter
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is one of dozens of organizations, and more than 600 signatories from across the country to support a petition by Rural Vermont to improve the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). Currently, FMIA only allows farmers to raise, slaughter, and butcher their animals without inspection for their personal use, not sold to […]