Animal Welfare
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – September 26, 2019
On September 20, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the publication of a final rule lifting a requirement that employers seeking H-2A worker certification advertise available job openings in print newspapers (20 CFR 655). In accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), employers seeking to hire foreign workers on H-2A nonimmigrant provisions must demonstrate the lack of “able, willing, and qualified” candidates within the United States. This “labor market test” required employers to place at least two separate print advertisements in an area newspaper with one appearing on a Sunday […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—August 22, 2019
Right to Farm Laws: Missouri CAFO Closes Following Nuisance Lawsuits
On August 19, 2019, Valley Oaks Steak Co. announced that the Missouri-based company was closing operations due to numerous lawsuits following a proposed expansion of a concentrated feeding operation (CAFO). Previously, on July 30, 2019, the law firm of Humphrey, Farrington & McClain (HFM) announced that 141 property owners had filed suit in the Jackson County Circuit Court regarding a proposed CAFO expansion located in Lone Jack, Missouri. According to HFM, the CAFO—which is owned by Valley Oaks Steak Co.—has been in operation since 2016. HMF stated that Valley Oaks Steak Co. was seeking […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—August 15, 2019
Pesticides: EPA Will Not Approve Labels Asserting that Glyphosate Causes Cancer
On August 8, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a press release stating that the agency “will no longer approve product labels claiming glyphosate is known to cause cancer.” According to EPA, such claims are false and as such do “not meet the labeling requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.” EPA’s statement is a direct reaction to California’s Proposition 65 which requires an established list of chemicals determined by the state to “cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” If a chemical is on the list, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 4, 2019
Agricultural Policy: Seven Pennsylvania Agricultural Bills Become Law
On July 1, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf approved seven different agricultural bills into law.
First, HB 1514 revised and re-established the existing Healthy Farms Healthy Schools program into the PA Farm-to-School Program. Now known as Act 34, the legislation seeks to educate students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade about agriculture and “the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods.”
Second, HB 1516 created the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account. Now known as Act 35, the legislation seeks to provide emergency funds to enable the PA Department of Agriculture to quickly respond […]
