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Agricultural Law Weekly Review—week ending May 22, 2020

COVID-19: USDA Announces Details of Direct Payments Portion of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
On May 19, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the direct payments portion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (RIN 0503-AA65), which will provide $16 billion in direct payments to producers of wool, livestock, dairy, and specialty and non-specialty crops who have experienced a “five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19.”  Payments are limited to $250,000 “per person or entity” with exceptions for corporate entities of up to three shareholders who “contribute[] substantial labor or management” to operations.  USDA will accept applications […]

Agricultural Law Weekly Review —January 16, 2020

International Trade:  United States and China Sign Agreement Impacting Agricultural Exports To China
On January 15, 2020, The United States and the People’s Republic of China executed an agreement titled, “Economic and Trade Agreement Between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China,” which serves as a settlement agreement of certain enforcement actions initiated by the White House under authority of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.  According to the February 27, 2019 testimony of United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer before the House and Ways Committee, such an agreement does not require […]

Agricultural Law Weekly Review—August 1, 2019

Food Labeling: Plant-Based Food Company Brings Suit Challenging Arkansas Meat Labeling Law
On July 22, 2019, Tofurky Co., a producer of plant-based food products, brought suit in the Eastern District of Arkansas alleging that the Arkansas law prohibiting the labeling of plant or cell-based products as “meat” violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (Tofurky v. Soman, No. 4:19-cv-514-KGB).  Under Arkansas Act 501, the term ‘meat’ is defined as “a portion of a livestock, poultry, or cervid carcass that is edible by humans.”  The law further states that the term “‘meat’ does […]

Agricultural Law in the Spotlight: Understanding Legal Protections and Potential Liabilities Associated with Seed Use in Pennsylvania

With the calendar marking the start of spring, much of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry has turned its attention to the upcoming planting season. As they do each year, farmers are making decisions about the varieties of seed that they will be purchasing as well as where they will be purchasing this seed. In making these important decisions, farmers should be aware that there are several laws – at both the state and federal level – addressing their purchase and use of seed.

This article will discuss the Pennsylvania Seed Act, federal patent law, and the federal Plant Variety Protection Act. These laws […]

March 28th, 2017|Tags: , , , |