Financial Times writer Gregory Meyer reported last week that, “Four US poultry executives have been indicted in the first criminal case to emerge from a years-long investigation into whether meat companies rigged the price of chicken sold to restaurants and grocers. “One of the defendants is the chief executive of Pilgrim’s Pride, a New York-listed… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Agriculture Law
Quality Farmland Prices Appear Steady
DTN writer Victoria Myers reported recently that, “As many land auctions have moved online over concerns of the spread of COVID-19, prices for quality farmland have appeared to remain strong. “Last week [May 4th], R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company based in Indiana, shared real-time sales results, to help indicate how… Continue Reading
Ninth Circuit Vacates Three Dicamba Registrations
DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported yesterday that, “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision Wednesday vacating the registrations of three dicamba herbicides, XtendiMax (Bayer), Engenia (BASF) and FeXapan (Corteva). The ruling does not appear to include Syngenta’s Tavium dicamba herbicide. “The ruling has enormous implications for farmers this summer, given… Continue Reading
USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
A news release today from the USDA stated that, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who have applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. FSA began taking applications May 26, and the agency has received over… Continue Reading
Bayer Reaches Deals on Share of 125,000 Roundup Suits
Bloomberg writers Jef Feeley and Tim Loh reported this week that, “Bayer AG has reached verbal agreements to resolve a substantial portion of an estimated 125,000 U.S. cancer lawsuits over use of its Roundup weedkiller, according to people familiar with the negotiations. “The deals, which have yet to be signed and cover an estimated 50,000… Continue Reading
FSA Expands Set-Aside Loan Provision for Customers Impacted by COVID-19
An update yesterday from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “[FSA] will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19, and are determined eligible, to have their next payment set aside. In… Continue Reading
USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
A news release yesterday from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this… Continue Reading
Meat Plant Sued Over Worker’s COVID-19 Death
Earlier this month, Bloomberg writer Millie Munshi reported that, “The family of a beef plant worker who died because of the coronavirus has brought a wrongful death lawsuit in a Philadelphia court against JBS SA, the world’s biggest meat company. “Ferdinand Benjamin filed the suit on Thursday after his father, Enock Benjamin, died of respiratory… Continue Reading
TODAY—USDA to Host Webinar for Producers Interested in Applying for Direct Payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
A news release this week from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) stated that, “The [USDA’s AMS] and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET, for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). “This webinar… Continue Reading
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Last week, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) indicated in a news release that, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories,… Continue Reading