Last month, I moderated a Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) webinar for the American Bar Association (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s (“GP Solo”) Agriculture Law Committee titled “Renewable Energy Law for the Agriculture Industry”. It discusses solar leases, solar power purchase agreements, wind energy leases pipeline and transmission easements, and tax initiatives for renewable energy. You can purchase …
Attending American Agri-Women Convention
I’m blogging today from my iPad at the American Agri-Women Convention in Niagara Falls. As I type this, I am listing to Tami Forero speak on “How to Build the Business that Creates the Life You Want.” She is speaking later this afternoon on “Delegating: A Guide to Higher Profits for Control Freaks” (fun title). It’s always inspiring to be …
Mediating the Divorce Involving Livestock and Pets
I recently co-authored an article on divorce mediation with companion and farm animals along with Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton that was published in the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation‘s quarterly publication. You can find the history of The Report online here. I posted the article on my JD Supra page. I am a trained divorce mediator and am …
Counseling the Local Food Movement (Part II)
I will be presenting to Lawline on Monday, November 18th at 4pm on “Counseling the Local Food Movement.” It will be Part II of the 2 part series on local food law. In this presentation, I will be covering the Food Safety Modernization Act Exemptions, National Organic Program, Urban/suburban agriculture, land use law, agriculture districts, the Right-to-Farm law, labor law …
Survey of Technology Used in the Food and Agriculture Law Office
I’m speaking tomorrow at the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Annual Meeting at the Technology Roundtable along with Robert Moore in Ohio. I took a survey last month regarding the use of technology in the food and agriculture law practice. The below slideshow discusses the results from that survey. If you are at AALA, please swing by the Technology Roundtable. …
Free CLE: Counseling the Local Food Movement (Part One)
I gave this presentation to Lawline last Thursday. It was the first part of a two part series on “Counseling the Local Food Movement.” I discussed the history of direct farm marketing, current trends, cottage food operations (i.e., home based food processing), liability and insurance. You can listen to my presentation and get a FREE CLE by clicking here. …
Laws Regulating Pesticides and Chemicals in New York
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) administers the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”). It is designed to control the sale, use, and distribution of pesticides. FIFRA requires that all pesticides used in the United States be registered and licensed by the EPA. All registered pesticides must be properly labeled with usage, storage, and disposal specifications. It is unlawful to …
Guide to Urban Farming in New York
As this post is published this morning, I will be lecturing at New York University on land use law, the Right-to-Farm, and urban agriculture to my undergraduate food law class. I assigned the Guide to Urban Farming in New York by Cornell Cooperative Extension Small Farms Program and finally had a chance to review the publication in detail. The summary …
Best of the Barns Competition Nominations
Ranch House Designs, Inc. is currently taking nominations for its annual “Best of the Barns Competition.” I have won the Best Livestock Lawyer for the last two years. If you’re a fan of this “Food, Farm and Family Law Blog” and Rincker Law, PLLC, I would appreciate your nomination for the award. Best of the Barns is currently taking nominations …
Common Agriculture Contracts
I’m speaking today from North Carolina on common agriculture contracts, including agriculture production contracts, custom feeding arrangements, farm leases, farm machinery leases, animal leases (such as bull and horse leases) and partnership agreements. My presentation is below: [slideshare id=26801973&doc=overviewofcommonagriculturecontracts-131002165536-phpapp02] I will be tweeting from the conference today so follow me live! Share this Article
Stocker Cattle Contracts
There are several issues to consider when a cattle producer hires a stocker feeder after the progeny are weaned. Besides the payment terms and term, example issues include the following: 1. Feed and nutrition (including pasture quality and supplemental vitamins and nutrients); 2. Animal health (including vaccinations, veterinary care, deworming for internal parasites); and, 3. Control of pests (e.g., insecticides, …