Category Archives: Agriculture Law

A news update yesterday from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “The [USDA] will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural disasters. “USDA’s [FSA] is reopening the application period for two disaster assistance programs in response to… Continue Reading

Erin Grace reported this week at the Omaha World-Herald Online that, “Want to buy an Iowa farm? “The nonprofit owner of a 53-acre Loess Hills farm for sale east of Omaha is looking for prospective buyers who would do three things: put up a reasonable financial offer; pledge to farm the land in a sustainable… Continue Reading

Wall Street Journal writer Valerie Bauerlein reported yesterday that, “The linchpin of 500 legal complaints against Chinese-owned pork giant Smithfield Foods Inc. headed to federal court Tuesday, part of a historic challenge to North Carolina’s $2.9 billion hog industry. “A Raleigh-based jury will determine whether a 4,700-hog farm run by a Smithfield contractor, with open… Continue Reading

An update last week from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) indicated that, “The [OTA] on Thursday [May 24th] announced the kick-off of a groundbreaking pilot project by the organic industry to prevent and detect fraud in the global organic system. “The far-reaching three-month pilot project was initiated by the Global Organic Supply Chain Integrity (GOSCI) Task… Continue Reading

Bloomberg writer Alan Bjerga reported yesterday that, “Beekeepers in the U.S. reported an increase in honeybee deaths over the last year, possibly the result of erratic weather patterns brought on by a changing climate, according to the scientist leading an annual survey on the insects. “U.S. beekeepers said 40 percent of their hives, also called… Continue Reading

Nick Babcock and Carl Bednarski indicated recently in an opinion column posted at Michigan Farm News Online that, “When soldiers who’ve fought for their country return to the Land of Opportunity, too often they find uncertainty. New legislation introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Pat Roberts will give them a better chance to continue serving… Continue Reading

Bob Tita and Allison Prang reported on Friday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Deere & Co. is raising equipment prices this year to protect profit as costs rise. “The maker of farm and construction machinery said on Friday that profit was up 50% and equipment sales up 34% annually in its latest quarter, though… Continue Reading

DTN writer Katie Dehlinger reported this week that, “Implement dealers and input suppliers are taking on an increased role in funding farm operations, and a new study published on the FarmDoc Daily blog finds that in 2016, implement dealers issued $11.2 billion dollars of debt to farmers with the vast majority of it — $10.72 billion… Continue Reading

An update this week at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Blog noted that, “Dairy producers have until June 1, 2018, to register for the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which provides protection to dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices. “To help raise awareness of recent changes to the program,… Continue Reading