What Makes Ag Data "Ownership" Unique

What Makes Ag Data "Ownership" Unique

The concept of ag data “ownership” is not recognized by United States law.  Farmers like to say “I own my ag data.”  Ag technology companies like to say “the farmer owns their data.” And the industry representatives like to say “the farmer should own their data.”  But the reality is that “ownership” is a legal principle that must be recognized by courts or a law, and that has not happened yet in the United States.

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Janzen Ag Law's Year in Reverse

Janzen Ag Law's Year in Reverse

As 2015 comes to end, here is a look back at the top five stories from the Janzen Ag Law blog over the past year.

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The Janzen Ag Law Blog 3.0

The Janzen Ag Law Blog 3.0

Five years after I started the Janzen Ag Law Blog, I decided it was time to take a look back at what led to this point.  This post looks at the evolution of the blog.

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Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data

Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data

It has been nearly a year since American Farm Bureau Federation led a consortium of interested ag technology providers (ATPs) and industry stakeholders in an effort to bring some standards to the growing ag data field.  I thought it was worth taking another look at the result of these efforts, the Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data.

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House Ag Committee Holds Hearings on Farm Data

House Ag Committee Holds Hearings on Farm Data

The US House Ag Committee recently held hearings on farm data issues, including privacy, security, use and control.  

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Four Takeaways from the Ag Data Platforms Conference

Four Takeaways from the Ag Data Platforms Conference

I recently attended the Precision Ag Data Platforms conference in Champaign, Illinois.  Here are my reflections on the state of the ag data platforms industry.

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My Top 10 Farm Data Posts

My Top 10 Farm Data Posts

This recaps ten of my most popular posts about the legal issues surrounding farm data.

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FAA Issues $1.9M Fine Against Drone Operator

FAA Issues $1.9M Fine Against Drone Operator

On October 6, 2015 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an enforcement letter to SkyPan International, Inc. assessing a $1.9 million dollar civil penalty for flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) without permission. 

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Does Your Lease Address Farm Data?

Does Your Lease Address Farm Data?

I've drafted and reviewed dozens of farmland leases over the years, but I've yet to see a lease that addresses the issues associated with ownership and transfer of farm data. As farmers embrace new data storage and analytic tools, it’s time to modernize the traditional farm lease to address farm data. 

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Is Farm Data a Trade Secret?

Is Farm Data a Trade Secret?

Is a farmer's farm data their trade secret?  Is is protected under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act?

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Ag's Junk Data Problem

Ag's Junk Data Problem

The rise of farm data collection programs in the last year has been amazing to watch, but I keep wondering whether some ag technology providers are collecting data regardless of its usefulness.

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Does Your Co-op Own Your Farm Data?

Does Your Co-op Own Your Farm Data?

Recently I was asked this question:  When a farm cooperative (a “co-op”) does work for a farmer and in the process generates agronomic data, does the co-op own that data or does the farmer?   Many in the ag industry like to say “the farmer owns the data,” but the co-op’s generation of farm data presents a more complicated problem.

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