Sharing the Sun: Agrivoltaics
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“Agrivoltaics” means the simultaneous use of land for solar power production and some kind of agriculture. In other words, one space sharing the sun for two or more uses.
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The Schroeder Ag Blog addresses issues facing farmers, ranchers, and businesses involved with crops, livestock, dairy, and meat production.
New Plan for Meat and Poultry Supply Chain
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On January 3, 2022, President Biden announced his plan to create a fairer, more competitive, and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain. How will this plan impact integrators and farmers in the midwest?
Read MoreIs a Zoning Moratorium Legal?
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Agriculture, it seems, has a zoning problem. On top of the various state or federal permits a farm or agribusiness may be required to obtain before starting construction, local zoning ordinances can create yet another layer of red tape.
Read MoreNew Roadmap to Address PFAS
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This month, the Biden Administration announced a new plan to combat PFAS contamination. This federal roadmap will impact agricultural producers, especially dairy farms near military bases.
Read MoreCourt Rejects Novel Air Emissions Argument Against CFO
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An Indiana court recently rejected a new argument advanced by opponents of a CFO. I was happy to work with the state’s attorney to defend the CFO permit.
Read MoreFederal Court Rules on Iowa and Arkansas "Ag Gag" Laws
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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 MoreFive Keys to a Successful Feed Contamination Case
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We have successfully handled feed contamination cases and I’ve learned that there are five evidentiary keys to these disputes.
Read MoreMethane Gas and Livestock Farms -- a Win for Agriculture
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Dairy farms—and other livestock operations—can be a leader in the battle against climate change. Emissions from livestock farms should be measured differently than the emissions from fossil fuels.
Read MoreMississippi Court Protects Farmers' Deer Cannon Use
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The Supreme Court of Mississippi recently ruled that the state’s Right to Farm Act protected farmers’ use of cannons to scare deer away from fields where the farms had been in operation for more than one year.
Read MoreHow Will Indiana's Isolated Wetlands Act Impact Agriculture?
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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the controversial isolated wetlands bill into law on April 29, 2021. What, if anything, does that mean for agriculture?
Read MoreEnhanced Trespass or "Ag Gag" Litigation Updates
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Activist groups continue to challenge what they call “ag gag” or enhanced trespass statutes around the country, alleging the laws violate the U.S. Constitution. This post provides a national update on some of these lawsuits.
Read MoreQuestions to Ask Your Solar Tenant
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Five questions to ask your potential new solar tenant before negotiating the agreement.
Read MoreLitigating in the Age of Covid: Three Big Things (and the Cat Lawyer)
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As we approach the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 virus stopping the world in its tracks, my mind wandered to more superficial things this pandemic has changed. Namely—how we litigate . Three big changes jump to mind.
Read MoreMaking Agriculture a Part of the Solution
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Farmers are positioned to be the heroes—not the villains—of our country’s next chapter.
Read MorePredictions for WOTUS under President Biden
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We are about one month away from a change in presidential administrations. The Biden administration will likely bring many obvious changes to the federal government, but will it impact whether the government has jurisdiction over ground or waters on your property? In other words, will the Biden government seek to change the definition of WOTUS?
Read MoreZoning for Solar Farms
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Solar farms are the latest and hottest kid on the block when it comes to renewable energy in the midwest. This post addresses local government considerations as counties and cities welcome solar power.
Read MoreSmokeable Hemp - Off Again in Indiana
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The Seventh Circuit overturned an injunction meant to halt an Indiana law which bans smokeable hemp. This puts the law back in play unless and until a more narrow injunction is entered.
Read More"Open Fields" in Indiana: Can the Government Secretly Record Your Property?
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Here in Indiana, can the government secretly record you and your family while you’re in the fields? A recent Farm Journal article on the “Open Fields” doctrine shines a light on this very practice in Tennessee.
Read MoreThe Worst Hard Time: Wheat Farms Blown Away
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Sixty years ago today (July 7), Hugh Bennett died. He was the “father of soil conservation” and was instrumental in slowing the ravages of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. His ideas were radical then, but helped us overcome The Worst Hard Time.
Read MoreDicamba Confusion - Update!
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The EPA is defending its decision to allow farmers and commercial applicators to use “existing stocks” of three Dicamba products (XtendiMax, Engenia, and FeXapan) even though it recently cancelled the registration of those herbicides.
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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?