I recently wrote an article on confidentiality agreements for the agriculture community. It can be found on my JD Supra page here. I understand that Non-Disclosure Agreements (“NDA’s”) lack the “excitement factor” but a misappropriate of confidential information can have deleterious effects on a farm or agri-business. I encourage my readers to gain a cursory understanding in confidentiality agreements and …
Questions Farmers Should Ask When Reading Farmers’ Market Rules
As noted in my last post, I have enjoyed reading Prof. Neil Hamilton’s publication titled “Farmers’ Markets: Rules, Regulations and Opportunities.” He includes a nice list of questions for farmers/vendors to ask themselves when reviewing the Market Rules for a particular farmers’ market which include: (1) Who sponsors the farmers’ market? (2) How long as the farmers’ market been established? …
Legal Issues Pertaining to Farmers Markets and its “Market Rules”
I had a chance recently to review Prof. Neil Hamilton’s publication titled “Farmers’ Markets: Rules, Regulations and Opportunities.” Though it was drafted nearly a decade ago, he does a nice job highlighting legal issues relevant to todays’ farmers markets. As Prof. Hamilton states, it’s important for the farmer to clearly understand the “Market Rules” (or “Statement of Rules”) for each …
Local Food Law CLE at Pace Law School Rescheduled for Spring
The Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) seminar at Pace Law School giving a “Survey of Local Food Law” in New York has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2013. It was originally scheduled for October 29th — the day Hurricane Sandy decided to pay a visit to the East Coast. I hope that you will plan to attend the adjourned spring …
Land Use Tools for Promoting Urban & Suburban Agriculture
According to Dean Patricia Salkin in American Bar Association’s “Counseling the Local Food Movement” (May 2012), the following zoning tools can be used to promote small-scale agriculture production within city limits: Comprehensive Plans. This is the over-arching plan upon which land use regulations are adopted. It is important that the comprehensive plan itself emphasize the importance of small-scale commercial agriculture …
Succession Planning for the Family Farm
A few months ago, Feedstuffs magazine published an interesting article by Rod Smith discussing the obstacles that young farmers face. It reminded me of the importance of succession planning for the family farm. “More than a third of U.S. farmers are 65 years old or older, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture” — a statistic that many of us …
I Need Your Votes in the Best of the Barns Competition for “Best Livestock Lawyer”
It’s that time of year again when I asked my beloved readers to take a moment and show their support. Ranch House Designs, Inc. is having its annual Best of the Barns Competition and I have been nominated as the “Best Livestock Lawyer” (Question 18). Voting closes on the 30th of the month (one vote per email address). Last year …
My Presentation at AALA Regarding My Technology Choices in My Law Practice
I spoke at the American Agriculture Law Association‘s (“AALA”) Annual Agriculture Law Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee on my own technology choices in my law practice You can view my presentation below. [slideshare id=14673383&doc=mytechnologychoicesinmyaglawpractice-121010142927-phpapp01] In case you missed it, this article in the American Bar Association (“ABA”) GP Solo magazine gives a brief overview of my technology choices.
New York Office of Community Gardens
While reading this publication, I was reminded about the New York Office of Community Gardens with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets. Pursuant to NY Ag & Mkts Article 2-C, Section 31-h, the duties of the office are as follows: (1) identify vacant public land suitable for community gardens; (2) coordinate interested community groups with appropriate state or local …
Member of the Technology & Research Roundtable
Howdy! I’m in Nashville, Tennessee at the American Agriculture Law Association (“AALA”) Annual Meeting. I will be speaking tomorrow afternoon on technology in my food & agriculture law practice. If you are at AALA, please make sure to come by. You can find the full list of speakers here. In case you missed it, this article in the American Bar …
Video Presentation from Texas A & M University, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Award Presentation
I was in College Station, Texas last week at my alma mater receiving the Outstanding Early Career Award from Texas A & M University’s College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. You can see the video here. I’m very proud to have gone to a program that upholds integrity and a code of ethics in addition to intellectual horsepower and discovery. …
A Quick Review on Land Use Law
I have enjoyed reading through the Harvard Law School’s Food Law & Policy Clinic’s publication titled “Good Laws, Good Food: Putting Local Food Policy to Work for Our Communities.” Section III (beginning on page 30) does a nice job giving a cursory overview of land use law. As the article correctly states, the authority to regulate land use is derived …