I gave this Lawline lecture last December on New York farm animal welfare law. I first talk about animal welfare laws from the national perspective and then move into New York specifically. I think it helps to see the forest for the trees and better understand where New York fits in nationally with these issues. I discuss both misdemeanor and …
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.
Breaking Down the Basics – Some Farm Estate Planning Definitions
Knowing these basic estate-planning definitions may be helpful in any conversation you may have with an estate planning professional: A Last Will and Testament (usually just called a “will” for short), is a document that gives your directions on what to do with your property when you die. It takes effect only after you have actually died, and it must …
Keynote Speaker at the Cornell Southern Tier Agricultural Risk Management Conference
I’m super excited to be presenting at the Cornell Cooperative Extension this November, where I will be the keynote speaker. In my presentation, “The Broken Windows Theory and Your Farm: How the ‘Little Things’ with Risk Management Can Make the Big Difference,” I will talk about the “Broken Windows Theory” and explain how to apply this concept to farms in …
Upcoming Farm Commons Webinars for Farmers
Rachel Armstong of Farm Commons has put together a killer list of webinars on a myriad of legal topics important for farmers, among them include: – Overview of Farm Legal Issues – Community Supported Agriculture Legal Issues – Hosting On-Farm Events – Workers and Employees -Selling Products to Larger Buyers -Starting a Farm -Adding Value to Farm Products -Food Safety …
NY Ag Liens: Lien on Stray Animals
Under NY Town Law § 310, if a person has any strayed horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats or other livestock animal upon their property which is not adjoined to the livestock owner’s property (in other words, not your immediate neighbor), then that person may have a lien claim against the stray animals. The livestock must have caused property damage and …
Conversation Starters about Estate and Succession Planning for Farms
Don’t be afraid to have open and honest conversations with your family about estate and succession planning. “The only thing certain in life is death and taxes,” Ben Franklin famously said; so let us not make the topic taboo. In order for a farm or agri-business to successfully pass to the next generation (if that is what you want), …
Some Thoughts on Bull Leases
Here are some terms to think about in your bull lease between the bull owner (the lessor) and cattlemen who will be leasing the bull (the lessee): Term: The term of the breeding season should be listed (e.g., March 1 to June 30, July 1 to September 1). Number of Bulls: Note the number of bulls leased from the lessor …
New York Ag Lien For Service of Stallions or Bulls
Are you owed money from the service of a stallion or bull to another horse or cattle breeder? If you’re in New York, then this post is for you. Under Section 160 of NY Lien Law, the “owner of a stallion or bull shall have a lien on each mare or cow served together with the foal or calf of …
My Presentation on Local Food Law at Pace Law School
I gave the below presentation at Pace Law School last night. It was great being back at my alma mater. The recording is available for purchase from Pace Law School’s CLE program. Jason Foscolo handled the first part of the presentation speaking on direct marketing, food labeling, the Food Safety Modernization Act and raw milk. I touch upon several other …
Pace Law School: Survey to Food and Agriculture Law
Exciting news! I will be teaching a 1 credit summer course at Pace Law School, my alum, that will give a cursory overview of the laws regulating the U.S. food and agriculture system. The class will touch on the various practice areas affecting production agriculture and food entrepreneurs including farm programs, disaster assistance, environmental law, financing, right-to-farm, employment/labor law, livestock …