Consumer Demands are Changing Livestock Farms
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Consumers have an endless variety of options at the grocery store these days. How are consumer demands impacting livestock farms?
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The Schroeder Ag Blog addresses issues facing farmers, ranchers, and businesses involved with crops, livestock, dairy, and meat production.
Refresher Course: Indiana Right to Farm Act
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I spent some time on a college campus recently teaching an Ag Law class about the Indiana Right to Farm Act. This was a good chance for me to think about the Act in a new light and reminded me of two key facts about the Act.
Read MoreWOTUS Rule Back On (For Now)
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In the constant back and forth of numerous court cases across the country, regulatory action, and congressional posturing, it can be hard to keep track of what waters the EPA has jurisdiction over any more. Most recently, a federal district court in South Carolina issued an order striking a rule that would delay implementation of the 2015 WOTUS definition.
Read MoreZoning: Neighbors Do Not Have Automatic Standing
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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 MoreIndiana Wine and Grape Growers: Handshakes and Heartbreaks
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Last week I drove to beautiful Monroe County, Indiana to present at an Indiana Winery and Vineyard Association annual meeting. We met at Creekbend Vineyard, Oliver Winery's commitment to producing wine from Indiana-grown grapes.
Read MoreCrop Share Agreements
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Crop share agreements are more flexible than the fixed cash rent lease. There are benefits and drawbacks to this type of farm contract, including tax liability and risk allocation.
Read MoreCash Rent Agreements
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A cash rent lease is a fixed agreement in which a landowner receives a fixed payment from the farmer to rent the farmland. There are pros and cons to this most widely used farm lease.
Read MoreFarm Leases and Rented Farmland
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I gave a presentation about farm leases this week to a national group of attorneys. I'm sharing some of my presentation here on the blog in case it can help our clients and friends when negotiating their own leases.
Read MoreGrape Growers and the FSMA Produce Rule
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As of 2018, grape growers are required to adhere to the Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA") Produce Rule if they sell grapes to wineries. However, most grape growers will qualify for an exemption.
Read MoreWhat does the $50M hog farm verdict mean for livestock farms?
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On April 26, 2018, a North Carolina jury awarded 10 plaintiffs a total of $50 million in punitive damages and $750,000 in compensatory damages for damages allegedly caused by a nearby hog farm. What does this mean for other livestock producers?
Read MoreOmnibus Bill Removes Livestock Air Emissions Reporting Requirement
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The 2018 federal omnibus spending bill fixed the problem caused by a federal court regarding air emissions reporting requirements for livestock operations.
Read MoreZoning: The "You Can't Do That" Edition
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Recently we've seen a few counties consider blocking livestock development. But barring the construction of of livestock farms in rural areas often is legally suspect.
Read MoreReturn of the Local Butcher: Meat Class
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I recently attended a whole hog butchering class here in Indianapolis, which closed the gap between farmer, butcher, and consumer.
Read MoreFake Meat: When "Beef" Isn't Beef
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The U.S. Cattlemen's Association recently filed a petition asking the USDA to issue a formal definition of "beef" as meat derived from cattle. This has set off a battle over labels with makers of lab-grown "clean meat" and plant-based meat substitutes. So just what is "beef"?
Read MoreHop Farm Checklist
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Specialty crops, like hops farms, deserve special attention. This post explains three important tasks a new or established hops farm should complete to ensure it is well-protected.
Read MoreUpdate: Court Grants Another Delay of Air Emissions Reporting Requirement
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On January 19, 2018, the EPA requested another 90-day delay to the federal air emissions reporting requirement under CERCLA. The Court granted the request, extending the effective date of the mandate until at least May 1, 2018.
Read MoreDoes Running a Dairy Farm Violate Your Neighbor's Religious Rights?
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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 Challenges Massachusetts Livestock & Poultry Law in U.S. Supreme Court
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Indiana is leading a group of states in a lawsuit against Massachusetts over a new livestock and poultry law requiring any pork, veal, or eggs sold in the state to be derived from animals raised with space to turn around and lie down without touching an enclosure.
Read MoreWhat are Others Saying about Air Emissions Reporting?
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A federal court stayed the mandate requiring many livestock producers to report air emissions from manure until January 22, 2018. We are awaiting further guidance from EPA. In the meantime, here is what others are saying.
Read MoreLivestock Air Emissions Reporting: What's Next?
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Livestock producers are not yet required to report air emissions under the Clean Air Act, but that will soon change. On January 22, 2018, this new obligation for farms is expected to take effect.
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We opened our office ten years ago. Here’s a short look at how agriculture and the practice of law have changed during that time.