Part I of II: Maximizing Benefits and Protecting Interests in Solar Leases

Cari RinckerAgriculture Law, Energy Law, Food & Ag Law, Renewable Energy Law Leave a Comment

As a renewable energy attorney with  experience in solar energy leases, I understand the importance of maximizing benefits while protecting the interests of landowners. Solar energy projects offer landowners a lucrative opportunity to diversify their income streams. However, it’s crucial to navigate solar lease agreements with caution to ensure they adequately protect your best interests. In this blog, we’ll explore …

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Hear Cari Rincker’s Interview with Pace Law School

Cari RinckerBusiness/Commercial Law, Divorce Mediation, Family/Matrimonial Law, Farm Law, Food & Ag Law, Food & Ag Policy, Interviews, Teaching, Virtual Mediation Leave a Comment

What was your path to law school? Did you always want to be a lawyer? When I was a very little girl, I wanted to be a lawyer but the truth was, I didn’t know many lawyers and I didn’t understand what they did. It wasn’t until I lived in Washington D.C. and interned in Capitol Hill in agriculture and …

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Farm Succession and Estate Planning Tips

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Estate Planning, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

It was a pleasure to be interviewed for this Syngenta Thrive article speaking on an issue near and dear to my heart- farm succession and estate planning.  You can read more articles in the Thrive magazine here.

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Understanding Land Trusts: Conservation Land Trusts

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law Leave a Comment

While the word “trust” is often used to refer to certain legal instruments in the estate planning world, “land trust” is sometimes instead used to describe a nonprofit organization that holds an interest in land for conservation purposes or for the benefit of a certain community of people.  In this blog, I review the concept of conservation land trusts. What …

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Understanding Land Trusts: Title-Holding Land Trusts

Cari RinckerEstate Planning, Food & Ag Law, Property Law Leave a Comment

What is a land trust? The use of the phrase “land trust” can often lead to confusion, as it relates to a few completely distinct concepts.  On the one hand, a land trust may refer to an estate planning tool wherein title to the land is held by a trustee at the owner’s request.  On the other hand, a land …

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Pros and Cons of a Family Limited Partnership

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Estate Planning, Food & Ag Law Leave a Comment

Owning your own business or investment portfolio can be incredibly rewarding. However, to preserve the fruits of your labor and dedication, you must do everything you can to protect it. Whether you seek to protect yourself, your investments, and your family from taxes, creditors, or probate, a family limited partnership (FLP) is a strategy worth considering.  What is a family …

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Ask Ruth: How do you Terminate an Oral Farm Lease in Illinois?

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law 3 Comments

For years you and your tenant farmer have been working under an oral agreement regarding the farming of your real property. Now, for whatever reason, you need to terminate that agreement. How do you do this? Under Illinois law, farmland leases are subject to very specific rule. Whether leased on a crop share, livestock share, cash rent, or hybrid basis, …

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Five Issues to Address in Your Farm Equipment Lease Agreement

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law 2 Comments

What is a Farm Equipment Lease Agreement?  A farm equipment lease is a long-term rental agreement between the owner of farm equipment (the lessor) and an individual or company that wishes to use the farm equipment (the lessee) in exchange for cash rent.  Farm equipment leases are far from simple agreements.  A properly drafted agreement will navigate the following five …

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Episode 57 of Ag Law Today: Update on Animal Confinement Laws

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law Leave a Comment

I was excited to record this episode with Beth Rumley while I was in New York City a few weeks ago getting an update on where we are with animal confinement laws on this episode of Ag Law Today.  It was an update from Episode 46 found here.  I am an adjunct at Vermont Law School online and several of …

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Episode 56 of Ag Law Today: Agriculture Mediation

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law, Podcasts Leave a Comment

I feel blessed each time I get to talk to an ag lawyer rockstar like Paul Goeringer from the University of Maryland.  Hear us talk about agriculture mediation on this episode of Ag Law Today.

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Ask Ruth: Direct Beef Sales in Illinois

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law Leave a Comment

There are two major considerations when selling beef in Illinois direct to the consumer. The first thing farmers should consider is how they want to sell their beef. Do you want to sell a percentage of the live animal, a percentage of processed beef, or an individual cut of beef? Depending on how you wish to sell your beef will …

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Ask Cari: Custom Processing Agreements for Livestock Producers

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law Leave a Comment

Many livestock producers (like myself) sell meat directly to consumers.  One common method used by livestock producers is selling a whole head, half a head or a quarter head of beef, pork, goat meat, lamb, etc. directly to the consumer for custom processing.  I recently drafted a custom processing agreement for myself and this type of agreement can be useful …

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