Category Archives: Agriculture Law

Wall Street Journal writers Ruth Bender and Sara Randazzo reported yesterday that, “A jury Wednesday awarded $80.3 million in damages to a California resident the jurors found contracted cancer from exposure to Bayer AG’s Roundup weedkillers. “The San Francisco jury’s finding that Monsanto Co.—now owned by German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer—acted negligently in failing… Continue Reading

Greg Stanley reported recently at the Minneapolis Star Tribune Online that, “Homeowners who replace traditional lawns with wildflowers, clovers and native grasses in an effort to slow the collapse of state’s bee population could soon get assistance from the state of Minnesota. “Under a bill introduced by Rep. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, the state would set… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated that, “To help Iowan residents, farmers, and ranchers affected by the devastation caused by recent flooding, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed [USDA] to aid people in their recovery efforts. USDA staff in the regional, state, and county offices are responding and… Continue Reading

A news release today from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “[USDA] today announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity to participate in the Margin Protection Program for  Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up will take place March 25 through May 10, 2019…. Continue Reading

Earlier this week, Jodi Helmer reported at National Public Radio (NPR) Online that, “Nationwide, the number of farmers markets increased from 2,000 in 1994 to more than 8,600 in 2019, which led to a major problem: There are too few farmers to populate the market stalls and too few customers filling their canvas bags with… Continue Reading

Wall Street Journal writers Sara Randazzo and Ruth Bender reported today that, “A jury found that a man developed cancer from exposure to Roundup weedkiller he used in his yard, in the second case to go to trial over the alleged harms of the popular Bayer product. “The six-person jury in U.S. District Court in San… Continue Reading

Last week, Washington Post reported Laura Reiley reported that, “As organic food shifts from utopian movement to lucrative industry, a war is being waged for its soul. “Record organic sales in the United States totaled nearly $50 billion in 2017 according to the Organic Trade Association. Although organic food still represents only 5.5 percent of… Continue Reading

Bloomberg writers Alfred Cang and Lulu Yilun Chen reported yesterday that, “Streaming apps have taken China by storm with short videos of dancing teens, lip-syncing and all kinds of weird antics. Now traders are using them to predict the future of grain prices. “For example, a farmer in the rural northeast is using his phone… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported last week that, “Smithfield Foods was found responsible Friday for a fifth time for nuisances neighbors suffered from waste generated by thousands of the company’s hogs. Jurors determined the pork giant should pay $420,000 after four previous juries awarded nearly $550 million in penalties. “Most of the damages awarded were intended… Continue Reading

Des Moines Register writer Stephen Gruber-Miller reported earlier this week that, “With Iowa’s controversial ‘ag gag’ law on appeal in the courts, lawmakers are considering a narrower bill that would create a special trespassing crime for agricultural facilities. “Supporters say the law is necessary to protect farmers from people who intend to hurt their industry… Continue Reading