Subject: April Newsletter: Policy Updates, Farm Bill, and More

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Happy spring, friend! Welcome to the April edition of our newsletter.


As we head deeper into the growing season, our team has been busy on the legal and policy fronts, fighting for the rights of independent food producers across the country. Here's what's been happening.


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


In good health,


Alexia Kulwiec

Executive Director

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

POLICY UPDATES

April was an active month for food and farm legislation. Several states wrapped up their sessions with wins for independent producers, while others saw key bills fall short.


Wins this month:

  • Idaho expanded direct-to-consumer sales of homemade foods

  • Oregon expanded farm store allowances

  • Nebraska passed the Agricultural Data Privacy Act protecting farmers' data

  • Wisconsin eliminated the National Animal Identification Plan requirement for livestock owners

  • Alabama also sent two producer-friendly bills to the Governor

Mixed Results:

  • Kentucky passed two bills supporting cottage food and tallow-based cosmetics sales but lost its agritourism and poultry bills

  • Iowa has a promising bill moving that would expand raw milk and cottage food sales to grocery stores.

Disappointing outcomes:

  • Georgia ended its session without passing three bills that FTCLDF was tracking: organic sourcing and small dairy regulation

  • Mississippi saw all eight tracked bills die in committee


FTCLDF continues to monitor Ohio's HB 406 on raw milk; we expect it will not progress, but we are watching closely. 


Members can find full details and additional tracked bills in our Policy Tracker.

 
LEARN MORE
 

FARM BILL UPDATE

The current Farm Bill expires this September, and the stakes are high for small and independent food producers. From meat processing and pesticide labeling to SNAP cuts and PFAS contamination, our Policy Manager Christine Dzujna breaks down the key provisions our members need to know about.

 
DIVE DEEPER
 

HOTLINE BLOTTER

Q1 was a busy one for our legal hotline. Our team assisted members across the country facing inspections, regulatory pressure, and questions about herd share agreements. Here are a few highlights:

Kentucky: Several members contacted us about visits from the department of health regarding raw milk for pet food sales. Officials indicated they were enforcing a "new interpretation" of existing requirements that prevented those sales in retail settings. We are working with the members and the state to make sure the law is being properly applied.


North Dakota: A member called immediately after an inspector visited and raised concerns about non-USDA inspected meat sales. We provided guidance and offered to prepare animal share agreements for any non-USDA meat the member planned to distribute going forward.


Kansas: A member received an email from the department of health raising questions about raw milk herd shares available for pick up at a local health store. After guidance from our team, it turned out that drop offs are allowed under certain conditions and the state's only real concern was whether the milk was properly labeled. The matter was resolved satisfactorily.

 
READ MORE

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

When you join FTCLDF, you don't just protect your farm. You help protect all of them.

This Spring, we're growing our community of farmers, ranchers, homesteaders, artisans, and food lovers who believe in the future of small farms and real food. Membership gives you access to:

  • Customized legal research and advice. 

  • Our 24-hour emergency legal hotline. 

  • Policy advocacy initiatives tailored to your needs.

New members who join in April or May are eligible to win Mother Earth News Fair publications. Share this with your farmer friends, neighbors, and food-loving community.

 
JOIN TODAY
 
 

To encourage new folks to join, our partner Mother Earth News Fair is offering two sets of publications. FTCLDF will draw from its new members who join in April or May to award them these exciting prizes. Mother Earth News will provide a "Best Of Mother Earth News Fair" issue and one "Collector Series" to lucky new members. 


And that's not all — we also have a nifty flash drive to add to the prizes for one lucky new member! Share this with your farmer friends, neighbors, and food-loving community.

SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING

The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in Monsanto Company v. Durnell on April 27, 2026. You can review court documents here.


Studies have established that glyphosate, commonly used in pesticides such as Roundup, may harm human health and cause cancer. Well over 100,000 lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto (now Bayer), leading to proposed settlements totaling approximately $7.25 billion.


Monsanto (Bayer) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that, as long as it satisfies the labeling requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), it cannot be held liable for failure to warn of cancer risks under state law.


Farm-to-Consumer will continue to monitor this case and report on its findings. Please note that those in Washington, D.C. plan to rally on the date of the arguments.


You can read more about this case in this article from The Guardian.

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

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