Agricultural Labor
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—May 6, 2026
Dairy Policy: HPAI Testing Not Required for Dairy Cattle from Unaffected States 🌾
On April 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that the agency had issued an updated guidance document (PDF) on an April 2024 Federal Order, which required testing of lactating dairy cattle before interstate movement. According to the announcement, “effective immediately, lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from States with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) are no longer required to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 prior to […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 17, 2026
Webinar Programs This Month:
- Mar. 18 at Noon ET: Homing in on H-2A: An Overview of the Temporary Agricultural Program, Audry Thompson presents with the National Agricultural Law Center
- Mar. 27 at Noon ET: Understanding the Basics of Right to Farm Laws (Free Attorney CLE!)
- Mar. 31 at Noon ET: AgWorks—Special Laws for Seasonal or Temporary Workers
IRS Issues 45Z Proposed Regulations, Congressmembers Publish Letter Requesting ‘Clear Conservation Practices’ 🌾
On February 4, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (991 FR 5160) to establish regulations under […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 11, 2026
Webinar Programs This Month:
- Mar. 18 at Noon ET: Homing in on H-2A: An Overview of the Temporary Agricultural Program, Audry Thompson presents with the National Agricultural Law Center
- Mar. 27 at Noon ET: Understanding the Basics of Right to Farm Laws (Free Attorney CLE!)
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Applications open until June 30, 2026.
International Trade: Supreme Court Vacates International Emergency Economic Powers Act Tariffs 🌾
On February 20, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion holding that the tariffs established in Executive Orders Nos. 14193 (Feb. 1, 2025), 14194 (Feb. 1, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 24, 2026
Webinars this week—Register Now!
- Feb. 24 at noon, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Calculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27 at noon, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
International Trade: President Issues Executive Order Increasing Tariff-Rate Quota for Argentinian Beef, Trade Agreement Signed with Argentina 🌾
On February 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order (91 FR 7107) increasing the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for the 2026 calendar year and allocating “all of the increased in-quota […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 13, 2026
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions
Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Food Policy: USDA, HHS Publish Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 🌾
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 directing Americans to “eat real food,” along with an accompanying website, realfood.gov. The new dietary guidelines recommend that people […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—December 2, 2025
This month:
- Dec. 12, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application (Free Attorney CLE!)
- Dec. 16, AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces ‘Office of the Assistant Chiefs’ to Replace ‘Office of Regional Conservationists’ 🌾
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced its creation of the Office of the Assistant Chiefs (OAC), which will replace the Office of the Regional Conservationists (ORC). NRCS states that “each Assistant Chief will oversee regional operations and work […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—November 14, 2025
Next Week:
- Nov. 18, AgWorks: I-9 and ICE Raids—Protecting Your Business
- Nov. 21, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws (free Attorney CLE!)
Agricultural Labor: DHS Publishes Rule Ending Automatic Extension for Certain Employment Authorization Categories 🌾
On October 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published in the Federal Register an interim final rule (90 FR 48799), effective upon publication, that “end[s] the practice of automatically extending the validity of employment authorization documents (Forms I-766 or EADs) for aliens who have timely filed an application to renew their EAD […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 28, 2025
Tues. Oct. 28: AgWorks: Legal Authority to Work in the U.S. and Other Pre-Employment Screening Processes
Fri. Oct. 31: Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids (FREE Attorney CLE!)
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces Plan to ‘Strengthen American Beef Industry’ 🌾
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a three-pronged plan to “strengthen the American beef industry.” Among several actions, USDA states that, “[e]ffective January 1, 2026, [Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)] inspection personnel will begin enforcing compliance on FSIS-regulated products that bear voluntary ‘Product of USA,’ ‘Made in the USA,’ and other U.S.-origin […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 14, 2025
Today 10/14 at Noon 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: H.R.1 (OBBA) Dairy Provisions
Dairy Policy: PA Milk Board to Over-Order Premium, Cost Replacement Hearings on December 3, 2025🌾
On October 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Milk Board (PMB) published Bulletin No. 1661, announcing a public hearing on December 3, 2025 for all six Milk Marketing Areas “to receive testimony and exhibits concerning the level and duration of the Class I over-order premium.” Additionally, on October 3, 2025, PMB published on its website three bulletins announcing public hearings on December 3, 2025, for Milk Marketing Area No. 1 (
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 30, 2025
Today: Sept. 30 @ noon, AgWorks: Foundations of the Employer–Employee Relationship (non-attorney focus)
This month: Oct. 14, 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: H.R.1 (OBBA) Dairy Provisions
Agricultural Labor: Certain H-2A Applicants Eligible for Interview Waiver October 1, 2025 🌾
On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued an update (PDF) stating that selected categories of nonimmigrant visa applicants “may be eligible” for a waiver of the visa’s interview requirement, including certain H-2A visa applicants. According to the update, the interview waiver applies to “applicants renewing an H-2A visa within 12 months of the prior visa’s […]
