FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Austin Bryniarski
Government Relations Coordinator
austin@nffc.net
(202) 543-5675
Bipartisan LOCAL Foods Act Introduced in House, Amplifying Direct Market Opportunities for Small-Scale Livestock Farmers
Washington, DC, September 22, 2025 – In a win for livestock farmers and their customers across the country, the National Family Farm Coalition commends Representatives Eugene Vindman [D-VA-7] and Jim Baird [R-IN-04] for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act (H.R. 5341) in the House on September 15. The LOCAL Foods Act protects the rights of livestock farmers, consumers, custom processors, and itinerant slaughterers to practice and benefit from on-farm slaughter of livestock. The Act was previously introduced in the Senate by Senators Peter Welch [D-VT], Bernie Sanders [I-VT], and Mike Lee [R-UT].
Currently, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) permits farmers to raise, slaughter, and butcher their livestock for personal use without inspection, but does not allow them to sell the resulting products to customers. The LOCAL Foods Act makes a simple update to the FMIA, protecting modern USDA guidance permitting the on-farm slaughter of livestock that a person owns. This important clarification allows non-farmer consumers to buy a live animal (in whole or in part) from local farmers, then hire an agent to complete on-farm slaughter.
“After speaking with a small, family-run farm owner in Culpeper, I knew we had to do something to make it easier to get meat from farm to table safely. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Baird on this commonsense bill that gives local producers the independence they’ve earned. Farmers are the backbone of our Commonwealth, and I’ll always fight to make sure they have the resources they need to thrive,” said Representative Eugene Vindman.
“Hoosiers producing meat for themselves and their families should not be forced to jump through burdensome regulations,” said Representative Jim Baird. “I’m proud to work with Congressman Vindman on this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to support Indiana’s farmers as well as give Hoosiers access to local meat and the ability to feed themselves and their communities, free from excessive government overreach.”
Protecting on-farm slaughter gives independent farmers the confidence to make forward-thinking business decisions and expand direct market opportunities, while also supporting increasing consumer demand for locally-sourced meat products. The LOCAL Foods Act is a crucial opportunity for Congressional action to support food access and farm business viability. NFFC and our farmer-members are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Vindman and Baird on this issue.
“As a small family farmer and agister of a herdshare operation for raw milk and halal meat, it is common practice for my clients to contract with us as owners who are purchasing livestock for their personal consumption,” commented Kenya Abraham, owner of SLAK Market Farm and Board Member of Community Farm Alliance in Kentucky. “Having this direct guidance and clarification is necessary to allow us a place to stand in agriculture. The LOCAL Foods Act gives freedom to family farmers and ranchers like me to feed ourselves and our communities in a way that is appropriately suited for the scale and intention of our operations, without going through the regulatory hoops that are required for the commercial meat industry.”
In addition to the National Family Farm Coalition, the LOCAL Foods Act has been endorsed by a number of food and farm advocacy groups, including Rural Vermont, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. Additionally, more than 600 signatories from across the country have supported updating the Federal Meat Inspection Act to support local meat economies.
“We are very gratified that both Senate and House sponsors have now stepped up to support this key legislation protecting food freedom.” said Christine Dzujna, Legal Services and Policy Manager of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. “The LOCAL Foods Act seeks to protect the rights of farmers to sell directly from their farm and the rights of consumers to access the foods of their choice from the source of their choice. This effort would meaningfully improve access to locally produced meat that so many desire for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Caroline Gordon, Legislative Director of Rural Vermont, added, “Uplifting guidance into law will give thousands of farmers the confidence and planning security they need to foster direct markets and will support a new generation of traveling butchers to learn essential skills and start their own businesses.”
Photo credit: Courtesy of National Family Farm Coalition
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Since 1986, the National Family Farm Coalition has been mobilizing family farmers and ranchers to achieve fair prices, vibrant communities, and healthy foods free of corporate domination. Today, NFFC’s 30 member groups span 44 states and represent family farmers, ranchers, and fishermen across the United States.