Biotechnology
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 16, 2025
This Week! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available!
Next Week: Webinar—Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes
Agricultural Labor: Federal Court Permanently Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule, DOL to Publish New Rule 🌾
On August 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a final judgement permanently vacating the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2023 final rule, which amended the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) calculation for H-2A workers to draw upon data from […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 29, 2025
2025 Agricultural Law Symposium, Thurs. Sept. 18, in-person at University Park.
6 CLE credits for PA Attorneys, $150 Early Bird Registration available until Aug. 29!
Industrial Hemp: Eighth Circuit Holds Arkansas Hemp Law Not Preempted by 2018 Farm Bill, Vacates Preliminary Injunction 🌾
On June 24, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion vacating the district court’s preliminary injunction and holding that the 2018 Farm Bill does not preempt Arkansas Act 629, which “criminaliz[ed] many . . . hemp products,” but specifically “does not prohibit the continuous transportation through Arkansas of [hemp].” Bio Gen […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 22, 2025
This Friday July 25 at Noon: Understanding the Basics of ADA Compliance for Agritourism Operations—Free Attorney PACLE!
International Trade: Commerce Department Withdraws from 2019 Mexican Fresh Tomato Agreement, Issues Antidumping Duties 🌾
On July 17, 2025, the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) Department of Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice (90 FR 33363) that the agency is “withdrawing from and terminating” its 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Duty Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico and issuing an antidumping order on fresh tomatoes from Mexico. Also announced by ITA, the agency states that “[a]ntidumping duties are […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—June 24, 2025
This Week—Fri. June 27 at Noon: Pennsylvania’s Clean & Green Program: County-Level Administration
Register Now—2025 PA Agricultural Law Symposium, Sept. 18, 2025, at Univ. Park, PA.
Antitrust: Federal Court Approves $398 Million Settlement in Chicken Processor Wage-Fixing Class Action 🌾
On June 5, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued orders granting approval of a $398 million settlement fund and award of $132 million in attorney’s fees in a 2019 class action suit claiming that multiple national chicken processers conspired to fix and suppress employee wages. Jien v. Perdue Farms, Inc., No. 1:19-cv-02521. The […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—June 17, 2025
This week: An Overview of State Grain Dealer Statutes in the United States, Wed. June 18 at noon. Center Director Ross Pifer presents with the National Agricultural Law Center.
Next week: Understanding Pennsylvania’s Clean & Green Program: County-Level Administration, Fri. June 27 at noon. Attorney CLE available.
Technology: Federal Court Allows Deere Antitrust Case to Proceed 🌾
On June 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued an opinion and order denying Deere & Company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and allowing the advancement of a case alleging that the company’s repair restrictions violate […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—June 3, 2025
National Agricultural Policy: House Ag Committee Publishes Draft Budget Resolution Plan 🌾
On May 12, 2025, the House Committee on Agriculture announced the publication of its draft text to accommodate the federal budget resolution’s reconciliation directives (H. Con. Res. 14). Additionally, the committee published a section-by-section overview of the draft. For more detail on the bill’s provisions, see Peggy Kirk Hall, House Farm Bill Reconciliation Summary Overview, Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog (May 27, 2025) and Kristine A. Tidgren, What Tax Provisions are in the House’s Big Beautiful Bill?, Iowa St. Univ. Ctr. […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—May 20, 2025
This Week! Wed. May 21: NALC Webinar Will Explore Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements for Farm Operators
Next Week: Fri. May 30: Understanding the Basics of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (free attorney CLE available)
Agribusiness: Pennsylvania Opens Farm Vitality Planning Grant Program, $500,000 Available 🌾
On May 17, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice (55 Pa.B. 3427) of the standards and requirements for the Agricultural Business Development Center’s (ABDC) Farm Vitality Planning Grant Program. According to the notice, the program will provide grants up to $15,000, limited […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—May 13, 2025
Next Week! Wed. May 21, 2025, Navigating ADA Compliance for Agritourism Guests, Jackie Schweichler presents with the National Agricultural Law Center
Registration Open! 2025 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium—Thurs. Sept. 18, 2025
Pesticides/Herbicides: Pennsylvania Superior Court Upholds $175 Million Roundup Verdict Against Monsanto, Finds No FIFRA Preemption 🌾
On May 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Superior Court issued an opinion affirming a $175 million jury verdict awarded in October 2023 in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in favor of a plaintiff claiming that Monsanto/Bayer’s glyphosate-based Roundup herbicide caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Caranci v. Monsanto, No. 993 EDA 2024 (Pa. […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 26, 2025
This Week: Fri. Mar. 28, 2025, Understanding the Basics of the Clean Water Act & Ag: Impaired Waters & TMDL Process
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces $10 Billion for Direct ECAP Payments 🌾
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced (PDF) that the agency “is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year” to “help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs . . . falling commodity prices . . . and ‘market uncertainty.’” According to the announcement, the […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 18, 2025
Regulatory Policy: Ninth Circuit Upholds Preliminary Injunction Ordering Reinstatement of USDA, Federal Employees 🌾
On March 17, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an order denying an administrative stay and upholding the district court’s preliminary injunction, which ordered the reinstatement of probationary employees at several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Am. Federation Gov. Empl., AFL-CIO v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, No. 25-1677 (N.D. Ca. 3:25-cv-01780). The Ninth Circuit stated, “Given that the district court found that the employees were wrongfully terminated and ordered an immediate return to […]
