Category Archives: Agriculture Law

A recent news update from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “The [RMA] today announced a new crop insurance pilot program, Nursery Value Select (NVS), for crop year 2021. NVS is another crop insurance option for nursery crop producers, including those growing hemp, in addition to the Nursery crop insurance program. “NVS is available… Continue Reading

An update yesterday from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “The [USDA] reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup that there is less than two weeks before the enrollment deadline of February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling… Continue Reading

DTN writer Todd Neeley reported last week that, “Environmental groups challenging EPA’s repeal of the 2015 waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule have asked a federal court to stay the case. “In court documents filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, the groups, led by the… Continue Reading

Wall Street Journal writer Jacob Bunge reported on Saturday that, “A jury ruled against Bayer AG and BASF SE in a crop-damage case, awarding $265 million to a Missouri peach farmer who claimed the companies encouraged farmers to irresponsibly spray a hard-to-control weedkiller. “Peach farmer Bill Bader sued the pesticide-and-seed makers after he said thousands… Continue Reading

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported today that, “Two years after discovering the ‘grain glitch’ in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, leaders at farmer cooperatives are still trying to get Treasury officials to reinstate provisions of Section 199A to the way the tax deduction worked before the 2017 tax law passed…. Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from Rep. Cindy Axne (D., Iowa) stated that, “Today, the House unanimously passed legislation led by [Rep. Axne] to protect our nation’s pork supply and the Iowa pork industry from the threat of deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) through expanded agricultural inspections. “The Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act authorizes U.S…. Continue Reading

Doyle Rice reported in today’s USAToday that, “Climate change contributed to drastic declines in the population and diversity of bumblebees across North America and Europe, according to a long-term study of more than 60 bee species published [on Feb. 6th] in the journal Science. “Researchers discovered bumblebees are disappearing at rates ‘consistent with a mass extinction.’… Continue Reading

A news release today from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “The [USDA] today announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters.  A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown… Continue Reading

Last week, DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported that, “EPA has finalized its interim registration decision on glyphosate, once again stating the herbicide poses no risk to human health and can be used safely with certain drift mitigation requirements. “The agency first proposed this interim decision in April of 2019 and accepted public comments until the… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from USDA stated that, “At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin… Continue Reading