Heritage breed hog farmers Mark Baker and Brenda Turunen will be having their day in court after judges in their respective cases denied motions to dismiss their lawsuits challenging the swine Invasive Species Order (ISO) issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A trial date has
FSMA: Comment on FDA’s Proposed Food Safety Regulations by November 15 Deadline Action Alert
Food safety regulations proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pose significant problems for sustainable farmers, food producers, and food hubs across the country.
Under the proposed regulations, many farmers will be forced to comply with high-cost, industrial-scale regulations, and they will be unable to use traditional, sustainable growing practices. Food hubs and local food businesses will be forced to deal with costly and
South Dakota Raw Milk Supporters Push Against Proposed Rules
Third Raw Milk Rules Hearing Report
On October 9, 2013, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture held its third raw milk rules hearing since June, for the same set of rules proposed at the July 26, 2013 hearing. Over 600
Bio-Tech Food Opponents to Debate Mandatory GMO Labeling
Dr. Mercola and Joel Salatin Square Off at FTCLDF FundRAISER in Atlanta, Georgia
Falls Church, VA—(October 15, 2013)—The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to protecting the constitutional right of consumers to obtain
Paleo-Inspired Polyface Wrap Up
Good day to everyone out there in Paleoland. We are still knocking the cow poop off our boots from one amazing weekend in Virginia. There are so many things to talk about and emotions around our food, our health and our nation it’s quite hard to summarize it with one blog post. It has taken me several days to process everything. There may be some
Free Farm Consultant Services for Members
Are you in need of a (free) farm consultant?
Well, if you’re a member of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), you’re in luck. As one of the many member benefits, you receive access to Tim Wightman, an experienced farm, dairy and soil-to-table consultant, complimentary with
Speak Up for Pastured Egg Farms Action Alert
Comments Due Today (Sep. 23, 2013)
The FDA is yet again putting burdens on farmers who use healthy, sustainable practices, and justifying them with fear-based assumptions rather than data. The agency’s latest move is a draft guidance document that will make it all but impossible for farmers with 3,000 or more laying hens to keep the birds on pasture.
Polyface Farm: My Visit to Local Food Paradise
A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to visit ground zero of the local food movement in the United States: Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Polyface Inc. has been featured in Smithsonian, National Geographic, Gourmet and numerous other radio, television and print media. The farm achieved iconic status as the grass-based farm featured in
Ag Secretary Addresses Why We Need More Farmers: Cannon Fodder?
Farm-Raised Military Recruits
Why do we need more farmers? What is the driving force behind USDA policy? In an infuriating epiphany I have yet to metabolize, I found out Wednesday in a private policy-generation meeting with
Secret Planting?
GMO wheat used in field tests years ago was discovered earlier this year in an Oregon farmer’s field, raising questions over the source of the seed contamination as well as renewing concerns about . . .
Between 1856 and 1863 an Austrian monk, Gregor Mendel, cultivated and tested tens of thousands of plants, mostly peas, and