Category Archives: Agriculture Law

A news release on Thursday from Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) stated that, “Today, [Sen. Booker] and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill that would reshape EQIP to be more efficient and effective. “Started in 1998, EQIP is a voluntary conservation program in the Farm bill that… Continue Reading

Deana Stroisch indicated this week at the Illinois Farm Bureau homepage that, “From dicamba to trade, America’s farmers could be affected by legal, policy and regulatory proposals pending across the country. “Speaking at Illinois Farm Bureau’s Governmental Affairs Conference last week, Harrison Pittman, executive director of the National Agricultural Law Center, outlined a number of… Continue Reading

Peter Whoriskey reported earlier this month at The Washington Post Online that, “Amid growing tumult over whether the ‘USDA Organic’ label really guarantees that a product is grown as advertised, Congress is weighing legislation that would roughly double the budget for the USDA’s oversight of the organic industry. “The bill, introduced by Rep. John J…. Continue Reading

Richard Rubin reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “U.S. lawmakers reached a last-minute deal to reverse an error in December’s tax law that was helping farm cooperatives and hurting their corporate competitors. “The agreement to alter the so-called grain glitch is attached to a must-pass spending bill slated to become law later… Continue Reading

Lee Rood reported last week at The Des Moines Register Online that, “Spring planting is underway inside the greenhouse at Dogpatch Urban Gardens, marking what should be the most hopeful time of year for owners of Des Moines’ only urban farm. “But when Eric and Jenny Quiner talk about all the changes they have to make this year on… Continue Reading

A news release on Tuesday from Sen. John Boozman (R., Ark.) stated that, “U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, introduced the Veteran and Beginning Farmers Technical Assistance Act. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program… Continue Reading

Erica Werner reported on Friday at The Washington Post Online that, “Republicans aiming to use an upcoming spending bill to fix a glaring problem with their recently passed tax overhaul are running into a wall with Democrats, who were shut out of the tax law process and now don’t want to cooperate unless they get… Continue Reading

A recent update from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) by  Hayden Stewart (“Shopping at Farmers’ Markets and Roadside Stands Increases Fruit and Vegetable Demand“) stated that, “Direct-to-consumer (DTC) outlets, such as farmers’ markets and roadside stands, have grown in number over the past few decades. According to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, 8,687 farmers’ markets operated in… Continue Reading

Frank Witsel reported on Wednesday at the Detroit Free Press Online that, “For the past few years, national media have touted Detroit’s comeback story: It endured dark days, went through the nation’s largest municipal bankruptcy, and is — literally, with the construction of a new skyscraper — on the rise. “The city is about to face a… Continue Reading

A news release earlier this week from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Kentucky stated, “According to court records unsealed today, a Paris, Ky. man was indicted on March 1, 2018, and charged with crop insurance fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering-related offenses. “A federal grand jury in Lexington returned the indictment… Continue Reading