Protecting Property Rights: the Conservancy District Version
/
The Court of Appeals recently handed down a win for our clients and for personal property rights in a conservancy district case.
Read More
The Schroeder Ag Blog addresses issues facing farmers, ranchers, and businesses involved with crops, livestock, dairy, and meat production.
Persistence Pays Off: Indiana Dairy Wins Zoning Case at Court of Appeals
/
In the waning hours of 2025, the Indiana Court of Appeals handed down an important victory to an Indiana dairy farm, affirming the dairy’s zoning approval and allowing construction to proceed.
Read MoreWho Decides if a County Solar or Wind Ordinance is Valid?
/
Two recent Indiana Supreme Court cases shed light on how the utility regulatory commission could, in the future, decide that county solar zoning ordinances are unreasonable and therefore void.
Read MoreNo Deference to the Agency? Environmental Appeals in Indiana have Changed.
/
A new 2024 law changes the way people challenge administrative decisions, especially IDEM appeals.
Read MoreFederal Court Rules on Iowa and Arkansas "Ag Gag" Laws
/
The First Amendment does not protect all speech. A federal appeals court just ruled it does not give a person the right to gain access to a farm by “false pretenses.” On the other hand, the court held the First Amendment does protect certain false statements made as part of an employment application.
Read MoreDicamba Confusion
/
On June 3, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the EPA registration of three dicamba herbicides. After five days, the EPA issued a cancellation order for the chemicals. The agency will permit growers and commercial applicators to use existing stocks of the herbicides.
Read MoreZoning: Neighbors Do Not Have Automatic Standing
/
The Indiana Court of Appeals just issued an opinion holding that a neighbor did not have “standing” to appeal variances because he did not show he was “aggrieved.” This case could be important for farmers whose neighbors want to appeal a zoning approval.
Read MoreDoes Running a Dairy Farm Violate Your Neighbor's Religious Rights?
/
On January 16, 2018, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a county decision to allow a dairy to build a new farm in rural Rush County. The Court rejected arguments made by a nearby camp that the dairy's special exception would violate its religious rights.
Read MoreIndiana Farm Store May Sue Michigan Customer for Unpaid Seed
/
The Indiana Court of Appeals recently affirmed that a northern Indiana feed and farm supply store can sue a Michigan man in Indiana court for unpaid seed bills. The Appellate Court ruled the court in LaGrange County has personal jurisdiction over Harold Walters, who lives just over the border in Michigan.
Read MoreThe Perils of Representing Yourself Before an Administrative Agency
/
Livestock facilities must go through numerous steps in order to operate, including state permit approval and county siting approval. State permit appeals in Indiana are heard by the Office of Environmental Adjudication. Permittees may represent themselves before the OEA, but they do so at their peril.
Read More
USDA may have pulled the plug on the Climate Smart Commodities grants that were funding many climate change programs, but there are still a number of private industry offerings on the market. How can you sort through the various programs to pick one that is right for your farm?