Environmental Policy
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – Week Ending May 21, 2021
Organic Agriculture: USDA AMS Reopens Comment Period on Origin of Livestock Rule Under National Organic Program 🌾
On May 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) posted in the Federal Register a proposed rule titled, “National Organic Program; Origin of Livestock; Reopening of Comment Period” (86 FR 25961). The posting re-opens the comment period for the April 2015 proposed rule requiring that organic milk products be derived from animals under “continuous organic management from the last third of gestation onward.” However, newly certified organic dairy producers may transition livestock into […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – Week Ending April 9, 2021
Antitrust: Court Approves $58 Settlement in Peanut Class Action Suit 🌾
On April 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia approved a $58 million settlement agreement between the plaintiff peanut farmer Settlement Class and defendant peanut shellers Birdsong Corporation and Olam Peanut Shelling Company, Inc. in a civil antitrust class action suit alleging that the defendant companies over- and under-reported peanut inventories to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to manipulate prices. In re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation, No. 2:19-cv-00463. The approval follows the court’s March 2021 back-to-back orders, absent accompanying explanatory opinions, approving […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review – Week Ending April 2, 2021
Agricultural Labor: Federal Court Vacates Swine Slaughter Rule Line Speed Elimination 🌾
On March 31, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota issued an order vacating the elimination of pork slaughter plant line speed controls which was included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) October 2019 Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection rule (84 FR 52300). United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local No. 663 v. United States Department of Agriculture, No. 0:19-cv-02660. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) challenged the rule on behalf of pork processing plant workers as an Administrative Procedure […]
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 […]
