Category Archives: Agriculture Law

Earlier this month, Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reported that, “President Donald Trump’s $16 billion bailout package for farmers hurt by the trade war with China unfairly benefits the South at the expense of the North and wealthy producers over smaller farms, Democratic senators concluded in a report released [on November 12th]. “The report, one… Continue Reading

Bloomberg writers Lydia Mulvany and Isis Almeida reported yesterday that, “The American beef industry, wary of the vegan-burger craze that’s sweeping the nation, is trying to scrub its image as a greenhouse-gas-emitting machine. “With big retailers and investors pressing companies to improve their footprints, giants like Tyson Foods Inc. and Cargill Inc. are promising ambitious… Continue Reading

Earlier this week, Bloomberg writers Deena Shanker and Matthew Boyle reported that, “Visitors to Seattle-area Kroger supermarkets next week will be able to walk out with fresh parsley, cilantro and other greens grown in the store, the latest example of grocers bringing the farm right to their aisles. “Kroger’s deal with German startup Infarm includes… Continue Reading

Laura Reiley reported on the front page of today’s Washington Post that, “The next big thing is here, all girders and concrete pads, glass roofing and gravelly dirt. Viraj Puri, co-founder of one of the nation’s largest indoor farm companies, walks through the construction site, and even without the luminous frills of thousands of butter… Continue Reading

An update Friday from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the second 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 the week before Thanksgiving. Producers of MFP-eligible… Continue Reading

DTN writer Todd Neeley reported this week that, “A federal court on Tuesday dismissed one of several lawsuits challenging the EPA’s granting of small-refinery exemptions. “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in an order the Advanced Biofuels Association did not identify a final agency action in its lawsuit filed… Continue Reading

A news release today from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “[RMA] today announced it will continue to defer accrual of interest for 2019 crop year insurance premiums to help the wide swath of farmers and ranchers affected by extreme weather in 2019. Specifically, USDA will defer the accrual of interest on 2019 crop… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported yesterday that, “A former North Dakota grain trader who admitted to bilking farmers, elevators and commodity brokers out of millions of dollars was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in federal prison. “U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, who imposed the prison sentence, also ordered Hunter Hanson to pay $11 million in restitution…. Continue Reading

Last month, DTN writers Katie Dehlinger and Todd Neeley reported that, “Tight profit margins are likely here to stay, and that could create challenges for producers, especially if land values stumble or interest rates rise above their current historically low levels, according to bankers and economists at two separate events on Tuesday. “A group of farm credit… Continue Reading

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported late last month that, “Some cattlemen groups often don’t agree on much, but they can agree the word ‘beef’ should only come from cattle, and not a plant-based or lab-grown alternative. “Both the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association praised the introduction of the Real… Continue Reading