This is Part 4 of a 6 Part Blog Series on “How to Make a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) Request“. Please stay tuned for the other blogs for the full picture! Step 4: Wait for Government Response Federal governmental agencies are required to respond to FOIA requests within twenty business days, excluding weekends and holidays, beginning from receipt of …
How to Make a Freedom of Information Act Request- Part 3
This is Part 3 of a 6 Part Blog Series on “How to Make a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) Request“. Please stay tuned for the other blogs for the full picture! Step 3: Draft and Mail Your Written FOIA Request Letter You cannot make a FOIA request to a federal agency over the telephone. All FOIA requests must be …
How to Make a Freedom of Information Act Request – Part 1
This is Part 1 of a 6 Part Blog Series on “How to Make a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) Request“. Please stay tuned for the other blogs for the full picture! Step 1: Decide If It Is Necessary To File a FOIA Request Not all agency records require a written FOIA request. In 1996, Congress passed the Electronic Freedom of Information …
Overview of FOIA for Food and Agriculture Businesses in New York
You may find a time when you want to see the documents available to the public about yourself or your food or agriculture operation. There are two main federal statutes that guide the process of obtaining information from the federal government: (i) Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and (ii) Privacy Act (“PA”). In New York, requests can be made to …
Outline on Various Local Food Law Issues
I am a panelist next month in Tennessee and “Agritourism, CSA’s and Direct to Consumer Sales.” This outline was prepared for this panel. It contains both New York and Tennessee nuances. It discusses statistics re local food from the USDA Census of Agriculture and delves into Community Supported Agriculture, Farmers’ Markets, Agrotourism, Volunteer Farm Labor and Employment Law, On-Farm Poultry Slaughter, …
Save the Date: Ag Law Webinar Series at Lawline
Save the dates for several upcoming agriculture law webinars at Lawline in Lower Manhattan. I will be giving live presentations for those of you around New York City. The recordings can be viewed afterwards. Each are 1 hour presentations worth 1 Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) credit in New York (CLE credits available in other states) Survey of Legal Issues Affecting …
New and Improved Kindle Version Available for NY Food and Agriculture Law Book
A new and improved, more user-friendly Kindle version of the “Field Manual: Legal Guide for New York Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs” is available on Amazon.com here for $9.99. If you purchase the hard-copy of the book, the Kindle version is only an additional $2.99 – a cheap way to make sure that the “Field Manual” is always with you… and your Kindle/iPad/Tablet.
Partnership Agreements for Farmers, Agri-businesses and Food Entrepreneurs
Farmers, agri-businesses and food entrepreneurs are highly encouraged to put the terms of an agreement in writing. Simple partnership agreements are also recommended for agreements to share ownership in one livestock animal, such as a bull, ram, boar, or show animal. Partnership agreements serve several purposes. First, absent a partnership agreement, the New York “default rules” will apply. Second, when …
Choice of Business Entities Blog Series: The Cooperative
I am oftentimes asked about the best choice of business entity for a farm/ranch, agri-business or food entrepreneur. There is no one-size fits all answer to that question as each type of business entity offers different strengths and weaknesses. It is important to pick the right business entity for your specific type of enterprise – the answer to that question …
Choice of Business Entities Blog Series: The Limited Liability Company
I am oftentimes asked about the best choice of business entity for a farm/ranch, agri-business or food entrepreneur. There is no one-size fits all answer to that question as each type of business entity offers different strengths and weaknesses. It is important to pick the right business entity for your specific type of enterprise – the answer to that question may …
Choice of Business Entities Blog Series: The Limited Partnership
I am oftentimes asked about the best choice of business entity for a farm/ranch, agri-business or food entrepreneur. There is no one-size fits all answer to that question as each type of business entity offers different strengths and weaknesses. It is important to pick the right business entity for your specific type of enterprise – the answer to that question …
Choice of Business Entity Blog Series: The “D/B/A”
I am oftentimes asked about the best choice of business entity for a farm/ranch, agri-business or food entrepreneur. There is no one-size fits all answer to that question as each type of business entity offers different strengths and weaknesses. It is important to pick the right business entity for your specific type of enterprise – the answer to that question may …