I made it safe and sound to Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Annual Convention and Trade Show. I will be at Cattlemen’s College today and this tweet-up this evening with these awesome ag tweeps. Tomorrow afternoon and evening I will be at the Young Producer’s Council (“YPC”) (@YPCBeef) meeting and reception. I’m also on …
Taking a Moment to Tout the New York Peace Institute
Each time I fly over New York City, I’m reminded how many people really live here. I’m just one little light in this big ol’ city full of millions of little lights. It’s quite beautiful to me, actually. However, when so many people live in a densely populated area, there are bound to be a few disagreements. That is where …
Reminder To Register For Upcoming Crop & Livestock Insurance CLE
Dear Fellow Agriculture Attorneys (and Law Students): This is a friendly reminder to register for the crop and livestock/equine insurance law CLE that is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The CLE is hosted by the American Bar Association (“ABA”) General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee. If you cannot attend the live webinar, a recording can …
Thank You To My Beloved Readers (and Voters!)
A big thank you goes out to everyone who took the time to vote for this blog in the ABA Journal’s Top 100 Blawg List Competition. If you haven’t done so already, I would visit the ABA Journal’s Top 100 Blawg list. Food and agriculture law overlaps with almost every area of law. Although I think this blog is pretty …
2012 NYSBA Committee on Animal Law Student Writing Competition
The New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals and the Law will be having its 5th Annual Student Writing Competition. Papers must be postmarked no later than June 29, 2012 and cannot be more than 25 pages, including footnotes. One hard copy and one electronic copy must be submitted to Kim Hojon, New York State Bar Association, One Elk …
Overheard at a Bar on the Upper West Side
Last night, I was having dinner at a bar on the Upper West Side. I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation from the table next to me. The gentlemen were (civilly) discussing a business partnership that had gone bad. They had a “handshake” deal that started out with great dreams together (“You used to say ‘our’ and ‘we.’”) and somehow …
Winner of the Best of Barns Competition for Best Agriculture Attorney
Wow. 2011 was a great year (indeed). I hope that my readers had a wonderful New Year’s celebration with their family and friends. I wanted to share some (more) exciting news: I won Best Agriculture Attorney in the 2011 Best of Barns Competition. Thank you to those of you who nominated and/or voted for me — I’m very humbled (and …
Last Chance to Vote For Your Favorite Blawg
I had some exciting news at the beginning of the month: the ABA Journal selected this Food and Agriculture Law Blog in its Blawg 100 List. It has been taking votes on the Top 100 Blawgs during the month of December. If you have not voted yet, please do so today. Registration only takes 30 seconds and you will find …
Reminder About Working With A Veterinarian
I was reading the November/December 2011 Issue of the New York Beef Producer from the New York Beef Producers’ Association today. Ron Kuck, a New York Dairy/Livestock Extension Educator with Cornell had a nice article on page 28 regarding the importance of working with your herd veterinarian. Kuck suggests working with a veterinarian to develop a “health management strategy and …
Looking For New Year’s Resolution? How About Disaster Preparedness
Okay, so it’s not the most exciting New Year’s Resolution but it may be a whole lot more doable than dropping 30 pounds in 2012. On page 5 of this month’s Grassroots newspaper by New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB”) includes a nice submission by A. Edward Staehr of NY FarmNet about coping with a disaster (including grief counseling, recreating lost …
Thinking About the Next Generation
The National Agriculture Law Center has reported that approximately 90% of agricultural operations do not survive the transition to the next generation. I have to say- that statistic is a bit alarming. The primary reason for this is poor succession planning. Estate planning is just one part of workable succession plan. Estate planning focuses on asset distribution while succession planning …
Would You Like To “TurboCharge” Your Office in 2012?
This month’s American Bar Association (“ABA”) GP Solo magazine is all about “turbocharing your law office.” Many of these articles may also be useful to farms and agri-businesses who are thinking about taking their technology up a notch in 2012 whether you have a larger or smaller budget. This article highlighted some of the technology used here at Rincker Law, …