Local Agricultural Policy
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 […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 16, 2023
Organic Agriculture: DOJ Indicts Multiple Companies and Individuals for Organic Fraud 🌾
On January 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of two Dubai-based agricultural companies and three Turkish residents for conspiring to export non-organic grain labeled as “organic” into the United States. The defendants are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, and wire fraud. According to the announcement, in 2016, the defendants “shipped 16,250 [metric tons] of non-organic soybeans falsely labeled as ‘organic’ from Turkey to the United States where they were sold for over $10 million.” The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 9, 2023
Water Quality: D.C. Circuit Court Vacates and Remands Conowingo Dam License 🌾
On December 20, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion vacating and remanding the license for Constellation Energy Generation, LLC’s Conowingo Dam. Waterkeepers Chesapeake v. FERC, No. 21-1139. The court concluded that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exceeded its statutory authority under section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)) by granting the March 2021 license under a circumstance not enumerated in the CWA. The court stated the CWA only allows FERC […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending September 2, 2022
Agricultural Data: USDA Announces 2022 Census of Agriculture Details 🌾
On August 29, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced that the agency will soon be mailing and accepting questionnaires for the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture includes all sizes of urban and rural farm operations that produced and sold at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products. The census will survey producers on multiple issues, including land use and ownership, producer characteristics, farming practices, and income and expenses. The 2022 survey contains new questions on hemp production, hair sheep, […]
