Late last month, Reuters writer Jarret Renshaw reported that, “A U.S. biofuels trade group asked a federal court on Wednesday to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from giving refiners new waivers from the country’s biofuels law until the agency reverts to the tougher criteria it used to assess applications before Donald Trump’s presidency, according to… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Keith Good
Advanced Biofuels Association Files Court Action Regarding EPA Biofuels Waivers
Posted in Agriculture Law
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Turn to Organic Comes as Overall Number of Farms Declines
Bloomberg writers Shruti Singh and Michael Hirtzer reported this week that, “With crop prices stuck in a multi-year rout, more farmers are chasing price premiums by turning to organic crops. “Higher-value farm products such as organic allow farmers to boost returns over conventionally grown crops. While the number of farms overall in the U.S. from… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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Workers Getting Hired Through Apps Considered Independent Contractors, Labor Department Says
Wall Street Journal writer Eric Morath reported this week that, “Workers lining up jobs through smartphone apps and websites such as Handy and Angie’s List are independent contractors and not employees of those platforms, the Labor Department said in a letter Monday. “An unidentified ‘virtual marketplace company’ sought clarification on whether service providers hired through… Continue Reading
Posted in General Interest
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USDA Announces New Decision Tool for New Dairy Margin Coverage Program
A news release today from USDA stated that, “Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. “The 2018 Farm Bill authorized… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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USDA Extends Deadline for Certifying Crop Production for MFP
A news release today from USDA stated that, “USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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Existing Home Sales Sputter in March
Wall Street Journal writer Laura Kusisto reported earlier this week that, “Sales of previously owned U.S. homes sputtered in March, failing to build off strong gains in February, despite lower mortgage rates and a strong job market. “U.S. existing-home sales fell 4.9% in March from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of… Continue Reading
Posted in Real Estate Law
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Iowa’s New Ag-Gag Law Challenged in Court
Earlier this week, Des Moines Register writer Donnelle Eller reported that, “Iowa’s second attempt to make it a crime for animal welfare activists, journalists and others to go undercover at meatpacking plants and livestock facilities will face a legal challenge. “The ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the state’s new ag-gag law, saying it’s unconstitutional, chills free speech… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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Farm Property Taxes Issues
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported earlier this week that, “The big fight in the Nebraska Legislature this year is over plans to reduce property taxes, which has the state’s farm lobbies pushing lawmakers hard for some relief. “Numbers taken from the 2017 Ag Census show Nebraska farmers have more reason to complain about… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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Gauge of Home Building Projects Declined in March
Wall Street Journal writers Sharon Nunn and David Harrison reported last week that, “A gauge of U.S. home building and approvals for new projects declined in March, continuing a recent weak stretch for new housing construction. “So-called housing starts fell 0.3% in March from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.139… Continue Reading
Posted in Real Estate Law
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Delgado Leads Bipartisan Bill to Ease Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Rules Amid Farm Economy Slump
A news release last week from House Ag Committee member Antonio Delgado (D., N.Y.) stated that, “On Thursday, [Rep. Delgado] led House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Reps. TJ Cox (D-Calif.), Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), in introducing the bipartisan Family Farmer Relief Act… Continue Reading
Posted in Agriculture Law
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