Happy New Year’s Eve! For those of you thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions for 2013, I recommending getting your estate planning in order. Kudos goes out to Daniel Timins, a law school classmate of mine, for putting together some excellent New York estate planning and medicaid presentations. This presentation gives a nice overview of New York Medicaid. The presentation …
My Presentation for Morrisville State College Equine and Dairy Students
I had a wonderful opportunity this week to speak to equine and dairy science students at Morrisville State College via Skype on a select legal issues affecting the New York livestock industry. I spoke about New York lien law, livestock animal cruelty law and business organizations. I have included the presentation below. [slideshare id=15486068&doc=nylivestocklaw2-121204102537-phpapp01] New York Agri-Women had its first …
Confidentiality Agreements for Your Farm or Agri-Business
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 …
I am Thankful for… My Agricultural Roots
I hope all my readers had a nice Thanksgiving holiday filled with good food, good friends & family and good memories. Thanksgiving is easily one of my favorite holidays of the year. I hope all my readers remembered to give #foodthanks to the people who toil the land and made our Thanksgiving meal (and every other meal) possible. This past …
Online Business Plan Course for NY Farms
I hope my readers had a fantastic Labor Day. I was beachside getting some R & R. Cornell Small Farms Program‘s Northeast Beginning Farmers Project will be offering an online course title “Planning for Sustainability – Writing Your Business Plan” where participants will hear from farmers, business management educators, and bankers about business plans. The course begins on October 4th and …
Would Love Your Recommendation for the ABA Blawg 100
To my beloved readers… It’s that time of year again when the American Bar Association (“ABA”) is searching for the best 100 law blogs (“blawgs”). Last year, I made the coveted list and would love to do again.. but can only do so with your help. If you are a fan of this Food, Farm & Family Law Blog please …
Estate Planning Isn’t Just For the Elderly
Let’s face it. Estate planning is easy to push off. What’s another week… another month… another year… another five years… After all, I’m healthy. My spouse is healthy. We don’t have kids. We don’t have a lot of assets. I don’t care if what-little-I-do-have follows the rules of intestacy (i.e., the “default rules” if you die without a Last Will …
My Presentation on Tradition and Technology in Agriculture
Last year, I spoke at the New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB”) Young Farmers & Ranchers (“YF&R”) Leadership Conference in Upstate New York regarding “Tradition & Technology” within the agriculture industry. I wrote this blog post last year summarizing my presentation; however, I thought I would revisit this topic today and post my presentation below. Regarding tradition, you might also like this …
Proud Supporter of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois
I was recently asked to speak in support of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois for a radio commercial. As many of you know, my father was an agriculture instructor there for nearly my entire life and I received my associate of science in agriculture there many moons ago. I have many found memories of my experience there. I am …
So What Are Some of Your “Food Rules?”
Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July! I just finished Michael Pollan’s book “Food Rules.” It’s an extremely quick read. I agreed with some and disagreed with others. It got me thinking: what are some of the “food rules” that my readers use? When I interned with the American Simmental Association (“ASA”) in Bozeman, Montana many moons ago, Dr. …
My Presentation on Sustainability in “Big Agriculture”
This is the presentation that I gave last month on sustainability in agriculture at the Association of the Bar for the City of New York. In case you missed it, you can also read my previous posts on the definitions of sustainable agriculture and “Big Ag.” [slideshare id=12960919&doc=sustainabilitydevelopmentsinbigagriculture-120516144621-phpapp01] Thank you to Red Letter Day Graphic Design for helping me with imbedding …
More Than a Handshake: Some Thoughts on Farm Leases
I make no secret on this blog that I believe farmers and ranchers should make sure to get contracts in writing, including farm or ranch leases. I want to stress that this is just as important for a family farm where the Landlord and Tenant may be family members. Even if the Landlord and Tenant are different entities (with the …