National Agricultural Policy
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâMay 6, 2026
Dairy Policy: HPAI Testing Not Required for Dairy Cattle from Unaffected States đŸ
On April 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that the agency had issued an updated guidance document (PDF) on an April 2024 Federal Order, which required testing of lactating dairy cattle before interstate movement. According to the announcement, âeffective immediately, lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from States with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) are no longer required to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 prior to [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâMarch 17, 2026
Webinar Programs This Month:
- Mar. 18 at Noon ET: Homing in on H-2A: An Overview of the Temporary Agricultural Program, Audry Thompson presents with the National Agricultural Law Center
- Mar. 27 at Noon ET: Understanding the Basics of Right to Farm Laws (Free Attorney CLE!)
- Mar. 31 at Noon ET: AgWorksâSpecial Laws for Seasonal or Temporary Workers
IRS Issues 45Z Proposed Regulations, Congressmembers Publish Letter Requesting âClear Conservation Practicesâ đŸ
On February 4, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule (991 FR 5160) to establish regulations under [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâFebruary 24, 2026
Webinars this weekâRegister Now!
- Feb. 24 at noon, AgWorks: Wage and Hour LawsâCalculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27 at noon, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
International Trade: President Issues Executive Order Increasing Tariff-Rate Quota for Argentinian Beef, Trade Agreement Signed with Argentina đŸ
On February 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order (91 FR 7107) increasing the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for the 2026 calendar year and allocating âall of the increased in-quota [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâFebruary 18, 2026
 Webinars this monthâRegister Now!
- Feb. 24 at noon, AgWorks: Wage and Hour LawsâCalculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27 at noon, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
 Pesticides/Herbicides: EPA Announces Dicamba Approval for 2026, 2027 Growing Seasons đŸ
On February 6, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced (PDF) that the agency has temporarily approved dicamba for over-the-top use on cotton and soybeans for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons despite âecological risks associated with dicamba drift and volatility.â In approving dicamba, EPA cited [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâFebruary 12, 2026
Webinars this month:
- Feb. 24, AgWorks: Wage and Hour LawsâCalculation and Enforcement
- Feb. 27, Understanding the Basics of the USDA National Appeals Division with Devin Winklosky, former USDA Administrative Judge (Attorney CLE available)
Technology: EPA Publishes Clean Air Act âRight to Repairâ Guidance Document đŸ
On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its publication of a guidance document explaining that, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), âtemporary overrides of emission control systems are allowed when [performed] for the âpurpose of repairâ to that equipment to obtain proper functionality.â EPA stated that [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâJanuary 27, 2026
Today Jan. 27 at Noon: Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of IdentityâRegulations and Current Issues (Free Attorney CLE)
Local Agricultural Policy: PA Agriculture Innovation Grant Program Requirements Published, Applications Open February 2, 2026 đŸ
On January 24, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice (56 Pa.B. 487) detailing the 2025â2026 fiscal year requirements for the Pennsylvania Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, which offers reimbursement grants to farmers and agriculture businesses to implement ânew agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations.â Eligible applicants include agricultural commodity growers with more than $2,000 in anticipated sales [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâJanuary 13, 2026
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour LawsâRequirements and Exemptions
Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvaniaâs Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of IdentityâRegulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Food Policy: USDA, HHS Publish Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025â2030 đŸ
On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025â2030 directing Americans to âeat real food,â along with an accompanying website, realfood.gov. The new dietary guidelines recommend that people [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâDecember 18, 2025
Next Week: Tues. Dec. 23 at NoonâAgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: USDA Announces $12 Billion in âBridge PaymentsâđŸ
On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the agency will distribute $12 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for âone time bridge paymentsâ to U.S. farmers âin response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.â According to the announcement, $11 billion is allocated for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which will provide payments to row crop farmers who produce barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâDecember 2, 2025
This month:
- Dec. 12, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application (Free Attorney CLE!)
- Dec. 16, AgWorks: Staying Compliant with Anti-Discrimination Laws
National Agricultural Policy: Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces âOffice of the Assistant Chiefsâ to Replace âOffice of Regional Conservationistsâ đŸ
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced its creation of the Office of the Assistant Chiefs (OAC), which will replace the Office of the Regional Conservationists (ORC). NRCS states that âeach Assistant Chief will oversee regional operations and work [âŠ]
Agricultural Law Weekly ReviewâNovember 18, 2025
This Week:
- Nov. 18, AgWorks: I-9 and ICE RaidsâProtecting Your Business
- Nov. 21, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws (free Attorney CLE!)
Local Agricultural Policy: Pennsylvania Legislature Passes 2025â26 State Budget, Governor Signs into Law đŸ
On November 12, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro approved the 2025â26 State Budget, consisting of two primary pieces of legislation: SB 160, âGeneral Fund Appropriationsâ (PDF, struck provisions removed) and HB 416, âState Government Financesâ (implementing legislation) (PDF). Also announced by the governor, the enacted budget appropriates a total of [âŠ]
