While the House version of the Farm Bill remains in limbo after its defeat on the floor, the Senate is moving ahead with its own version. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) worked together and released a draft bill last…
TAKE ACTION: The Farm Bill
Every five years, Congress passes a Farm Bill—a massive piece of legislation that covers crop subsidies, food stamps, conservation, energy policy on ethanol and renewables, and more. Fundamentally, the Farm Bill is about continuing and promoting the current Agribusiness model, supporting…
Wisconsin DATCP’s Secret Rules
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is commissioned by the state legislature to promote the interests of Wisconsin agriculture. The DATCP’s mission statement describes their effort to “partner with all citizens of Wisconsin to grow the economy by promoting quality food, healthy plants and animals, sound use of land and water resources, and a fair marketplace.” However, as many of our Wisconsin members can attest, DATCP behavior is far from consistent with their virtuous mission statement…
PRIME Act Alert Update: Congressman Collin C. Peterson Signs as Cosponsor
Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), a ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, is the latest representative to join H.R 2657 as a co-sponsor. Peterson joins original co-sponsors: Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Justin Amash (R-MI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Garamendi (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Jared Huffman (D-CA)…
2017 Accomplishments
This has been quite the year for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). We would like to celebrate with you the many achievements we have made in the food freedom movement. It gives us great joy to continue to be involved in this movement and to fight for farmers, artisanal producers, homesteaders and consumers across the country.
Action Alert: Want local meat? Tell Congress to Pass the PRIME Act
High-quality local meat can be hard to find, and one of the main reasons is the shortage of inspected slaughterhouses that are accessible to small farmers in many parts of the country. Farmers often have to haul their animals several
State Meat Processing Regulations: Taking What the Feds Give
The Wholesome Meat Act of 1967, legislation passed by Congress giving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the jurisdiction over intrastate meat slaughter and processing, ranks as one of the worst pieces of food
PRIME Act Reintroduced in Congress; Bill Needed More Than Ever
FALLS CHURCH, VA—JULY 12, 2017—On May 25, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) reintroduced the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act
Introduction to the FTCLDF Custom Slaughter Map
In 1967 Congress passed the Wholesome Meat Act, Public Law 90-201, amending the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The act expanded the federal government’s authority over meat slaughter and processing to intrastate commerce but did
Breakthrough on Custom Slaughter in Tennessee
In a breakthrough for the local food movement in Tennessee, the state Office of the Attorney General has issued an opinion holding that “there is no limit on the number of owners for whom a custom slaughterer may