Nutrition Programs
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—week ending December 4, 2020
Dean Foods Bankruptcy: Dean Foods Bankruptcy Estate Threatens Dairy Producers with Lawsuits to Recoup Alleged “Preference” Payments
On November 24, 2020, a commercial collections law firm named ASK LLP, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and hired to represent the Southern Foods Group, LLC formerly d/b/a Dean Foods (“Dean”) Chapter 11 bankruptcy estate, mailed demand letters asserting legal claims for the repayment of milk check proceeds against thousands of dairy producers (including cooperatives) throughout the United States. The claims seek the recovery of milk checks received from Dean within ninety days preceding Dean’s filing of bankruptcy (i.e. between August 14, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—week ending October 23, 2020
Animal Welfare: Ninth Circuit Upholds Denial of Injunction Against California’s Proposition 12
On October 15, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a memorandum disposition affirming the U.S. District Court (USDC) for the Central District of California’s November 22, 2019, denial of a preliminary injunction against California’s Proposition 12. North American Meat Institute, et al. v. Becerra, et al., No. 19-56408. The underlying complaint remains pending before the district court. North American Meat Institute et al. v. Becerra, et al., 2:19-cv-08569. Proposition 12 requires that all pigs, veal calves and egg-laying hens housed in […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 23, 2020
COVID-19: USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program:
On April 17, 2020, USDA announced the administrative creation of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, utilizing $19 billion of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) authority and appropriations. The program’s primary initiatives are titled (1) Direct Support to Farmers and Ranchers; and (2) USDA Purchase and Distribution. The Direct Support program will use $16 million for producer compensation for 2020 marketing year actual losses resulting from price, supply chain, demand, and over-supply impacts of COVID-19. The USDA Purchase program will use $3 billion to purchase three categories of food from producers (fresh produce, dairy, […]
