Dear Friend,

As we prepare to welcome a new year, we’d like to thank all Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) members, readers, and contributors for the work we’ve been able to accomplish together this year.

This is our final call for donations in 2022—if you are able, please consider providing a year-end donation to FTCLDF. If you have donated already, thank you! Your support allows us to provide emergency legal support that directly helps small producers (and their customers!) across the country.

Our Member Emergency Hotline is one of the services we offer that our members value the most, as reported by our annual member survey. The Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the event of a surprise visit, inspection, or short-term notice regarding a member’s farm or related farm business. We always have an attorney on-call who can be on the phone during a stressful, unexpected farm inspection or even seizure of product.

Your support helped FTCLDF meet the legal needs of its members in 2022.

FTCLDF legal work this year included:

• A number of hotline calls regarding numerous surprise visits from regulators, multiple accusations from local health departments, the need for advice on flock destruction, and local government prohibition on sales of locally produced goods.

• New or revised dairy herdshare agreements as well as meatshare agreements

• Liability waivers for slaughter and agritourism

• On-farm poultry processing questions

• Selling various cottage foods direct-to-consumer

• Neighbor complaints regarding noise or zoning

• Ordinances outlawing backyard poultry

• Insurance leads for various farming-related businesses

Your continued support will help FTCLDF expand its legal representation in 2023.

In 2023 we expect to work on:

• Providing dairy herdshare and meatshare agreements

• Policy work involving exemptions to the Federal Meat Inspection Act

• Potential litigation as states limit the use of agricultural land and sales of local food

• Legal representation involving poultry processing

• Standing up for food freedom

We’ve got your farmer’s back!

Thank you again for your support as we work together to improve our food system and the success of independent producers.

One last thing: In the new year, look for info about a FTCLDF member's meeting in early 2023!

In good health,

Alexia Kulwiec

Executive Director