Subject: September news: More Farm Bill action, an opportunity to engage with congress, and more

Dear Friend,

Fall has just started, and a lot is already happening. A flawed Farm Bill recently advanced out of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and its future remains uncertain. We also have an invitation to meet with Congress from home, two special notices for our members, and two amazing events you don't want to miss.

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 Status

On September 16, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a markup of its version of the Farm Bill that is still flawed in many aspects, including the failure to address the LOCAL Foods Act that we and our coalition have been championing (more on that below), the failure to reverse deep SNAP cuts, and the failure to adequately address conservation funding.

This bill will now move to the Senate floor, though the timeline for that vote is uncertain. The House passed its own version of the Farm Bill in April, and both versions must be reconciled before Congress can pass a full 5-year bill and send it to the president. The current Farm Bill has been extended through September 30 but will most certainly require additional extensions.

Update on the LOCAL Act ("The Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local" Foods Act):

As noted above, this bill did not appear in the Senate version of the Farm Bill that passed out of committee last week, but there remains an opportunity to add it as an amendment when the Farm Bill hits the Senate Floor for debate. Urge your Senators to support on-farm processing in the Farm Bill by adding the LOCAL Foods Act and voting "yes" on a LOCAL Foods Act amendment.

As a reminder, the bill seeks to clarify the personal-use exemption for on-farm slaughter to include joint and community ownership of livestock, making it easier for families and communities to purchase meat directly from local farmers. The effort aims to update the personal-use exemption in the Federal Meat Inspection Act to align with modern USDA standards and clarify that non-farmers can legally buy a share of live animals and then hire someone as their agent to process them on-farm. It will protect the rights of livestock owners, producers, and itinerant slaughterers, helping smaller-scale local meat economies thrive.

Find your senators and their contact information here.

November Virtual Meetings with Congress

Our good friends at the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (“FARFA”) have invited FTCLDF and its members to join them in a Virtual Fly-In on November 10, bringing farmers, advocates, and partner organizations together for online meetings with congressional offices without requiring any travel to D.C.

The meetings will heavily focus on building support for the EGG Modernization Act (which seeks to expand retail opportunities for ungraded eggs), while also advocating for the LOCAL Foods Act (on-farm processing for personal consumption), the PRIME Act (allows custom-processed meat to be sold by the cut in-state), and protections for conservation funding.)

In these sessions, participants will meet with congressional offices as part of a group, share their firsthand experiences, and help lawmakers understand how federal policy affects farms and communities back home. These meetings are an effective way to bring farmers' challenges, stories, and concerns directly to the legislators crafting the laws that affect our nation’s farms. No prior advocacy experience is necessary; FARFA and FTCLDF will provide preparation, talking points, and support throughout the process.

If you are interested in participating in these meetings, please email us by clicking the button below. As November approaches, we will share additional information. Thank you as always for your support and willingness to advocate for food freedom!

Learn More

Upcoming FTCLDF Member Webinar

Our next webinar will take place Thursday, October 8 at 12:00 pm CT / 1:00 pm ET, where we’ll provide an overview of Right to Farm (“RTF”) laws in every state.

Our legal team will discuss how we have successfully used RTF as a defense in nuisance cases brought against our members (i.e., complaints about farm odors, noise, etc.), and what these laws can and cannot protect against.

Keep an eye out for more details soon on how to register for this useful educational resource!

Go paperless with us

We are inviting members to rely on emailed renewal notices and opt out of mailed dues notices. If you choose to opt out of mailed dues reminders, you will still receive all email communications as usual.

We are also taking this opportunity to ask a few quick questions about your needs as a member — your answers go directly into your member profile and help us serve you better. Take the survey and update your preferences by clicking the button below.

Share your feedback

Upcoming Events

FTCLDF will be represented at two additional conferences this year. We've just returned from Farm Aid and will be at the conferences below. We hope to see you at one or both events!

The Wise Traditions Conference takes place October 16–18 in Washington, D.C. FTCLDF will be hosting fundraising breakfasts at the event. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at farmtoconsumer.org/sponsorship.

Later in October, FTCLDF Board President Peter Ruddock will be presenting at the REGENERATE Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 28–30. His workshop, "How to Respond Effectively to Direct-to-Consumer Regulatory Notices," takes place on Wednesday, October 28, from 2–3 PM. Workshop Day is a standalone event, and many presentations are free of charge. Register and see the full speaker lineup at regenerateconference.com.

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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www.farmtoconsumer.org | 703-208-FARM (3276) | info@farmtoconsumer.org

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Subject: September news: More Farm Bill action, an opportunity to engage with congress, and more

Upcoming FTCLDF Member Webinar