Dear Friend,

We hope your summer is wrapping up well. There's a lot to catch you up on: the Farm Bill heading toward a September deadline with the LOCAL Foods Act and PRIME Act still in limbo, a major win as the Treasury permanently revoked the Corporate Transparency Act's beneficial ownership reporting rule, a spotlight on the consumer members powering our movement, and a chance to sponsor our fundraising breakfasts at Wise Traditions this October.

If you want to make your voice heard on the Farm Bill, now is the time to reach out to your senators while they're home for recess. Details and links below.

Thanks for reading and for your steadfast support of our mission.

In good health,

Alexia Kulwiec

Executive Director

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

Farm Bill Update

As you may have heard, the Senate Ag Committee failed to advance its version of the Farm Bill in a committee markup session earlier this month (see the Committee's Agricultural Act of 2026 here).

The extension on the current 2018 Farm Bill ends at the end of September, and Congress is currently in recess for the remainder of August, so time is running out for the House and Senate to reach a compromise before funding expires.

Regarding the portions of the Farm Bill we have been following most closely, the LOCAL Foods Act (seeking clarification regarding on-farm slaughter rules) and the PRIME Act (which seeks to allow in-state sales of meat slaughtered at custom-exempt facilities) are both in limbo.

Although the House draft included a pilot program for the PRIME Act and an amendment adding the LOCAL Foods Act was introduced before the Senate markup session, neither progressed past the Senate committee’s session.

The Committee will conduct another review of the Farm Bill in September, so you still have time to make your voice heard. While your Senators are away from D.C., you have the opportunity to connect with them closer to home. So reach out in person, by phone, email, and other means to share your concerns and opinions about how you want them to act on your behalf on the Farm Bill, especially by including the LOCAL Foods Act and the PRIME Act.

You can find your senators and their contact information here.

Senate Agriculture Committee information is located here.

Corporate Transparency Act

On August 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a final rule permanently removing the requirement for U.S. Companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. In 2024, a federal court issued an injunction stopping this disturbing rule, and in 2025 the agency issued an interim rule. The policy has now been permanently revoked.

Learn More

Business harmed without evidence and without due process

Here at FTCLDF, we have been very concerned lately about farm and food producers being shut down or having their business severely harmed, without any evidence of wrongdoing, often simply through a press release or press article.

If the federal, state, or local government acts against a farm, ranch, or food producer that harms their business, the government would need to provide due process, allowing the producer to speak to an alleged violation before suffering from government action. Yet we have witnessed government agencies simply state a conclusion without issuing any notice of violation against producers or seeking any action from them.

When the press publicizes this action, the farm or food producer may suffer extraordinary losses through no fault of their own.

Read the full article

Consumer Member Spotlight

This month we would like to spotlight the importance of our consumer members! We recently heard from Logan in Tennessee who shares:

“I learned about FTCLDF in the spring of 2025 and found that my desire to protect Food Freedom aligned with the work that you all do. I have been a raw milk herdshare owner and also visit a local community farm store to buy fresh farm foods. While I am still a bachelor with a great girlfriend, I hope that the Food Freedom movement continues and becomes stronger so that when I become a father, I will be able to provide really great food to sustain my family.” — Logan, TN Consumer Member

A consumer membership is $60 annually.

Learn more about consumer member benefits here.

While school is starting and our nation is having a big conversation about industrial food production and ultra-processed foods, our consumer members have nutrient-dense food on their shopping list, not ultra-processed “food.” Consumer members and followers also help to advance expanded Food Freedoms in their local communities, states, and at the federal level.

If you are not a consumer member, we invite you to join. Join as a consumer if you do not have legal needs as a producer. If you would consider pairing a membership with a one-time or recurring donation, please do!

I am reminded that Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

If you have any questions about your membership status, please submit a contact form, and we will connect with you! If you are not a member, we look forward to hearing from you!

Join now

Support FTCLDF at Wise Traditions

FTCLDF is hosting fundraising breakfasts at the Wise Traditions Conference in Washington, D.C., October 16–18, 2026.

Sponsorships include breakfast tickets, recognition in our menus, placement on the FTCLDF website and social media, and banner placement at the breakfasts.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please click the link below.

Learn More

That's all for this month! Feel free to reach out if you need anything, and as always, we appreciate your support.

DONATE

www.farmtoconsumer.org | 703-208-FARM (3276) | [email protected]