Category Archives: Agriculture Law

Sharon Nunn reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Two months of steep declines in sales of new homes across the U.S. haven’t persuaded many economists that the housing market is turning lower. “Purchases of newly built single-family homes—a relatively narrow slice of all U.S. home sales—fell 7.8% in January after dropping 7.6%… Continue Reading

New York Times writer Brian J. O’Connor reported last week that, “Critics of the estate tax like to call the federal levy on assets passed on by the wealthy to their heirs the ‘death tax.’ But the better nickname might be the ‘zombie tax.’ “Despite repeated attempts by conservative lawmakers to kill it — and… Continue Reading

Ruth Simon reported yesterday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “As business owners pore through the new tax law, many are asking themselves a fundamental question: Will changing how their company is structured cut their tax bills? “‘This is one of the most pressing issues for taxpayers and business owners,’ said Mark Everson, vice… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “Last year’s hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, devastated parts of the South, Midwest, Northern Plains, and California, and were a stark reminder that agriculture is an inherently risky business. Federal crop insurance indemnities for these disasters totaled more than $1 billion in 2017. “The… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reported recently that, “Tens of thousands of soybean and cotton farmers across the country are taking free but mandatory training in how to properly use a weed killer blamed for drifting and damaging crops in neighboring fields. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required the training and other restrictions last fall… Continue Reading

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “Congress may be close to an agreement to replace the Section 199A language in the new tax law to curb the advantages for farmers selling products to cooperatives instead of private companies. “Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters on Tuesday he understands a possible fix would… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported recently that, “A pair of U.S. senators is introducing legislation designed to improve organic farming research. “Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine say their legislation would reauthorize and incrementally increase funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. “They… Continue Reading

A news release yesterday from Culver’s stated that, “Culver’s is celebrating National FFA Week in a big way. Through its Thank You Farmers® Project, the restaurant will launch its fourth annual FFA Essay Contest on Feb. 19. The three winning essay writers will win $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, for their FFA chapters. “The FFA… Continue Reading