Legal Niches

Headlines

Posted on January 16, 2009

NE Headlines

Posted on January 13, 2009

Roundup

Posted on January 12, 2009
Here are the Nebraska Headlines from 1/6/2009 and 1/8/2009.Here is Ross Pifer's update.

AALS Conference Wrap Up

Posted on January 12, 2009
The papers presented by Professor Kershen and Professor Schneider will be published in forthcoming issues of the Agricultural Law Update, available from the AALA. Below, I've included a set of opening remarks that I refrained from giving at the last minute in the interests of time...

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Dairy Farming - One of the Worst Jobs in America

Posted on January 08, 2009
At least according to cnbc. The photo is a silly representation of the modern dairy industry, but if the data are correct, then I wouldn't want to be a dairy farmer. And I understand why my father got out of that business in 1987.

AALS Events to Attend

Posted on January 05, 2009
The Agricultural Law Section meets on Friday, January 9th, at 8:30 AM, in Cardiff, South Tower/Level 3, San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Here is the program description:The program this year will focus our section's attention on the definition of agricultural law...

Soil Loss, Perennial Crops, and the Future

Posted on January 05, 2009
Wendell Barry and Wes Jackson have this op-ed in the New York Times, calling for longer term policies in the ag sector.

Defending the Potato

Posted on January 04, 2009
Pity the poor, misunderstood potato that has become the symbol of our inactivity and downright laziness. How inappropriate!Consider instead that we just completed the International Year of the Potato, and just last month, the FAO released a 144-page illustrated book, New Light on a Hidden Treasure, which records the achievements of the celebration and promotes its message that "the potato is a vital part of the global food system, and will play an ever greater role in strengthening world food security and alleviating poverty...

Regulations Open for Comment and Some Observations

Posted on January 03, 2009
New regulations concerning payment eligibility and limitation are open for comment until January 28, 2009. The notice regarding the "interim rule" that "will apply to 2009 and subsequent crop, program, or fiscal year benefits" can be retrived here (search for volume 73, page 79267) or here and states that the rule is already effective, "but subject to modification after the consideration of comments...

WSJ on Food and Agriculture: A Contrast in Families

Posted on January 02, 2009
On December 30, the Wall Street Journal published an article evidencing the complex policy challenges facing agriculture and world food production. A striking contrast was presented in the article Two Families' Shifting Fortunes, a story of two families that exemplify the food crisis in Ethiopia and the prosperity experienced by many in China...

Commodities to Stablize, But Prices Could Stay High

Posted on December 30, 2008
Recall all the talk earlier this year about speculators and price volatility. The claim was that speculation was leading to extremely high costs. Although there was a some truth to that, those same speculators took a bath when costs dropped. As a recent AP article reported, "'People bought oil and commodities because they thought the rest of the world would continue to consume,' said Phil Flynn, senior energy analyst with Alaron Trading Corp...

Recent News

Posted on December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays.Here is an interesting story from the NY Times.

Revenue Needs, Ag Policy, and Taxes

Posted on December 18, 2008
Mr. Kristof has again hit on the food aspects of agricultural policy in the New York Times. a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/opinion/18kristof.html?_r=1amp;hp"Today/a, he makes some keen observations on Governor Paterson's proposal to raise revenue with "an 18 percent sales tax on soft drinks and other nondiet sugary beverages...

Vilsack Tapped for USDA Secretary

Posted on December 16, 2008
Story here.

The Mississippi River Partnership Project

Posted on December 15, 2008
Monsanto and a host of environmental groups are doing something to stem nutrient and sediment movement in the Mississippi River Basin. This page has the details. And hat-tip to Tom Redick and the ABA Ag Management Group listserve for bringing this to my attention...

Air Emissions

Posted on December 15, 2008
Just a short post that might further the conversation on Susan's last post:Let's suppose that existing production levels could be achieved through a different model. And let's call that model a small farm. Let's further suppose that those small farms are the quaint ideal that many people think of when they think of farms and farmers...

EPA on Air Quality Reporting for Livestock Operations

Posted on December 14, 2008
It hasn't received a lot of press, but industrialized animal agriculture operations have been fighting for an exemption from the air quality emissions reporting requirements that other businesses must follow. And, the Bush Administration's EPA has supported them...

Bill Moyers Interviews Michael Pollan

Posted on December 13, 2008
I missed this when it was first shown the night after Thanksgiving, but here is a link to the Bill Moyers interview with Michael Pollan. The topic of the interview is U.S. food policy, and it is a fascinating two part session that includes a short insert on urban farming.

Agricultural Law in Sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on December 12, 2008
Professor Fred Boadu of Texas Tech University posted the following announcement in the last issue of the Agricultural Law Update, the newsletter of the American Agricultural Law Association. As he explains, the development of an agricultural law framework will be critical to the success of the agricultural sector in developing economies...

Headlines

Posted on December 12, 2008
Seems to be a busy week for the Dept. of Ag's news collector. Here is Dec. 11.

Department of Food

Posted on December 11, 2008
Another call for a major shake up at the Department of Agriculture and a major change in the direction of our food system was published today.Nicholas Kristof called for Obama to appoint a Secretary of Food to focus American agriculture on the production of healthy food through sustainable practices...

Headlines

Posted on December 10, 2008
The Dec. 9 edition of Nebraska headlines is here. Notable developments include the possibility of farm bill reform (i.e., increasing loan rates) given current production conditions, public pressure on livestock production, and looming credit concerns for the more capital intensive sectors of the industry...

Store Wars - A Holiday Classic

Posted on December 10, 2008
This video was produced a long time ago, and I always make a point to show it in my Food Law & Policy class as a prelude to our discussion of the regulation of organic labeling. It is so amusing, and so well done - I am always amazed that there are many people who have not had the chance to see it...

"Sustainable Secretary of Agriculture"

Posted on December 08, 2008
Its all over the food and ag blogs today - as the New York Times Diners Blog reported in their post A Pitch to Obama on Food and Farming "nearly 90 notable figures in the world of sustainable agriculture and food sent a letter to the Obama transition team earlier this week offering their six top picks for what they called 'the sustainable choice for the next U...

Another Face of Farming

Posted on December 08, 2008
As noted in a recent post, Payment Limitations and Headlines, the GAO recently called out the USDA regarding abuses under the payment limitation provisions that are supposed to limit the amount of government payments that farmers receive under the federal farm programs...

Dioxin Contaminated Pigs in Ireland

Posted on December 07, 2008
My "food law" headlines pulled up the following story from Ireland. As we struggle with our food safety system here in the U.S., a problem with contaminated pig food is devastating the Irish hog industry.From Irish Times -An estimated 100,000 pigs will have to be destroyed because of the pigmeat crisis which has led to the recall of all Irish pork products in Ireland?s largest food scare since BSE...

Ag Headlines and Newsletter

Posted on December 02, 2008
Nebraska headlines from December 2nd are here. Of note are VeraSun's plans to reject forward contracts on corn, as well as a Canadian challenge to COOL in the WTO.And Ross Pifer's newsletter is here.

Farmers: Beware The Wind (Prospector)

Posted on November 29, 2008
With the prospect of carbon emissions legislation and renewable portfolio standards in place in more the half the United States, interest in wind energy continues to increase. Although the recent drastic reduction in oil prices seems to have tempered some enthusiasm, wind energy will have a significant role in the new energy mix...

First Impressions

Posted on November 25, 2008
In response to Dean Chen's inquiry, I offer the following:I still start with agraianism and its metamorphosis (or, perhaps, its decline). We don't read Kafka, but we do read Paarlberg, Soth, and Chandler (which are all 70s and 80s era pieces included in the original Thorson book)...

Payment Limitations & Headlines

Posted on November 25, 2008
GAO has weighed in on USDA oversight of AGI limitations put in place in 2002 and tightened in 2008. This report concludes that over $49 million was improperly paid to 2,702 individuals who should not have been eligible under the AGI limitation from 2003 through 2006...

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