state legislation Archives - Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

Introduction to the FTCLDF Custom Slaughter Map

By Farm-to-Consumer | May 2, 2017

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

Berglund Appealing Case to Minnesota Supreme Court

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | March 30, 2017

Dairy farmer Dave Berglund of Lakeview Natural Dairy in Grand Marais has filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to hear his case after an appellate court ruled that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Herd Shares in Virginia: The Stumbling Beginnings

By Christine Solem | March 15, 2017

In 1975 when I first started milking goats on my small ten-acre farm near Charlottesville, I was besieged by persons allergic to pasteurized cow milk and/or just wanting to consume raw milk. Not knowing the law but having heard

Breakthrough on Custom Slaughter in Tennessee

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | March 2, 2017

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

State Raw Milk Bills – 2017 Update

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | February 24, 2017

Forty-two states currently allow access to raw milk through statute, regulation, or policy. In the 2017 session, legislators have introduced raw milk bills in several states where any raw milk sales or distribution is illegal; in addition, a number of other states have introduced legislation that would

Heather Retberg Wins FTCLDF Activism Award

By Farm-to-Consumer | February 2, 2017

Falls Church, VA—February 2, 2017—The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is proud to announce that Maine farmer Heather Retberg is the winner of the second annual Gravel Road Gang Activism Award

Reclaiming Our Traditional Foodways

By Farm-to-Consumer | January 27, 2017

For the majority of this country’s history, unregulated farmer-to-consumer direct commerce was the norm in most of the United States. Consumers could even purchase meat, a food heavily regulated today, from farmers that were not

Michigan MDARD Seeks Destruction Order for 18 Oatmeal Cookies and 17 Apple Muffins

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | January 4, 2017

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has filed a complaint with the Livingston County Circuit Court asking that the court order the destruction of, among other foods, 18 homemade oatmeal cookies and 17 homemade apple muffins. MDARD seized the cookies

Wisconsin DATCP Shuts Down Mobile Slaughter Business

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | December 22, 2016

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP, pronounced “dat-cap”) is commissioned by the state legislature to promote the interests of Wisconsin agriculture. With Congress’ repeal of

Wild Day in Michigan: A Court Victory and A Raid

By Pete Kennedy, Esq. | December 13, 2016

FTCLDF member Joe Golimbieski got some good news Monday morning when his attorney Michelle Halley called to report that Judge James Jamo denied the request of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development