Local Agricultural Policy
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—March 31, 2026
Today! Tues. Mar. 31 @ 2pm: AgWorks Webinar—Special Laws for Seasonal or Temporary Workers
Food Labeling: President Issues Executive Order on ‘Made In America’ Labeling 🌾
On March 13, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14392, “Ensuring Truthful Advertising of Products Claiming to Be Made in America,” which directs the Federal Trade Commission to “consider issuing proposed regulations” that would deem an online retailer’s failure to establish procedures to verify country of origin claims “an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.” The order further directs “all agencies with oversight of country-of-origin labeling” […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 3, 2026
NEW Publications from the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law:
- Step-by-Step Guide to Registering a Certification Mark in the United States (Dec. 2025)
- Step-by-Step Guide to Registering a Geographical Indication in the European Union (Dec. 2025)
Local Agricultural Policy: Pennsylvania Agriculture Veteran Grant Program Applications Available 🌾
On January 31, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice (56 Pa.B. 606) outlining the program and application requirements for the Pennsylvania Agriculture Veteran Grant Program, established under the Agricultural Business Development Center Act. According to the notice, PDA may award up to $200,000 […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 27, 2026
Today Jan. 27 at Noon: Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations and Current Issues (Free Attorney CLE)
Local Agricultural Policy: PA Agriculture Innovation Grant Program Requirements Published, Applications Open February 2, 2026 🌾
On January 24, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice (56 Pa.B. 487) detailing the 2025–2026 fiscal year requirements for the Pennsylvania Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, which offers reimbursement grants to farmers and agriculture businesses to implement “new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations.” Eligible applicants include agricultural commodity growers with more than $2,000 in anticipated sales […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—November 18, 2025
This 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!)
Local Agricultural Policy: Pennsylvania Legislature Passes 2025–26 State Budget, Governor Signs into Law 🌾
On November 12, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro approved the 2025–26 State Budget, consisting of two primary pieces of legislation: SB 160, “General Fund Appropriations” (PDF, struck provisions removed) and HB 416, “State Government Finances” (implementing legislation) (PDF). Also announced by the governor, the enacted budget appropriates a total of […]
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—February 18, 2025
NEW: Ag Law Issue Tracker—Trump Administration’s First 100 Days on Agricultural and Food Policy
Avian Influenza: Pennsylvania Passes Bill Amending Poultry Technician Licensure Law 🌾
On February 6, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law H.B. 324 (2025 Act 1) amending the Poultry Technician Licensure Law (1955 Act 466). Also announced by the governor, the new law extends eligibility to authorized workers in the United States for Poultry Technician License Certification, previously only available to U.S. citizens. The law also allows “Certified Poultry Technicians . . . to take samples from birds from the farms […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—February 11, 2025
Webinar Next Week—Feb. 18, 2025, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: HPAI in Dairy Cattle: Regulatory Measures Thus Far
Local Agricultural Policy: Pennsylvania Governor’s Proposed 2025–26 Budget Appropriates $255 Million for Agriculture 🌾
On February 4, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro presented his proposed 2025–26 state budget and enabling legislation, which includes $255 million for agriculture, down 2.3% from $261 million in 2024–25 (full PDF; budget in brief; line-item summary). However, the proposed budget appropriates $25 million for the Agriculture Innovation and Development Grant Program—which also includes “$2,000,000 for a county-based ‘digester’ pilot program”—a total increase […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 29, 2024
Dairy Policy: USDA Publishes Proposed Rule to Amend Federal Milk Marketing Order Pricing 🌾
On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (89 FR 57580) “to amend the pricing provisions in the 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs)” (AMS-DA-23-0031). Also announced by AMS, the agency issued the proposal following a hearing on the FMMO pricing formula, held August 2023–January 2024. The proposed rule recommends changes to five categories of milk pricing:
- “Milk Composition Factors: Update the factors to 3.3 percent true protein, 6 […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 15, 2024
This Week—Register Now!
- Tues. July 16: Overview of U.S. State Milk Pricing Systems, Part 2
- Wed. July 17: “HPAI in Poultry and Cattle: How Can We Miss You if You Won’t Go Away?”
Water Quality: Oklahoma Court Holds State Ag Department Must Consider Environmental Impacts of Animal Operations 🌾
On June 28, 2024, the Oklahoma District Court for Delaware County issued an order granting partial summary judgment against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (OKDAFF) in an action filed by a group of landowners alleging that OKDAFF’s issuance of certain Poultry Feeding Operation registrations violated the […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—June 5, 2023
Farmland Preservation: Appraiser Pleads Guilty to Agricultural Conservation Easement Fraud 🌾
On May 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a North Carolina land appraiser, Walter “Terry” Douglas Roberts II, pleaded guilty to fraudulently inflating the value of at least eighteen agricultural conservation easements “by at least 70%,” allowing landowners to claim fraudulent tax deductions. United States v. Lewis, No. 1:21-cr-00231 (N.D. Ga.). The DOJ stated that the inflated appraisals led to more than $460 million in fraudulent tax deductions that resulted in $129 million in lost tax revenue.
Dairy Policy: FMMO Petitions on Make Allowances Clarified
On […]
