Regulatory Policy
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—January 13, 2026
Register Now! Educational programming for January:
Jan. 21, AgWorks: Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions
Jan. 23, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law (Atty CLE)
Jan. 27, Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: Standards of Identity—Regulations & Current Issues (Atty CLE)
Food Policy: USDA, HHS Publish Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 🌾
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, 2025–2030 directing Americans to “eat real food,” along with an accompanying website, realfood.gov. The new dietary guidelines recommend that people […]
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—November 14, 2025
Next 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!)
Agricultural Labor: DHS Publishes Rule Ending Automatic Extension for Certain Employment Authorization Categories 🌾
On October 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published in the Federal Register an interim final rule (90 FR 48799), effective upon publication, that “end[s] the practice of automatically extending the validity of employment authorization documents (Forms I-766 or EADs) for aliens who have timely filed an application to renew their EAD […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 21, 2025
Next Week:
Tues. Oct. 28: AgWorks: Legal Authority to Work in the U.S. and Other Pre-Employment Screening Processes
Fri. Oct. 31: Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids (FREE Attorney CLE!)
Water Quality: Maryland Announces Conowingo Dam Settlement Agreement 🌾
On October 2, 2025, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, and Constellation Energy announced a settlement agreement with Constellation Energy to “fund and implement operational improvements and environmental projects at the Conowingo Dam.” The settlement agreement is part of a revised Water Quality Certification, also issued by MDE. […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—October 14, 2025
Today 10/14 at Noon 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: H.R.1 (OBBA) Dairy Provisions
Dairy Policy: PA Milk Board to Over-Order Premium, Cost Replacement Hearings on December 3, 2025🌾
On October 8, 2025, the Pennsylvania Milk Board (PMB) published Bulletin No. 1661, announcing a public hearing on December 3, 2025 for all six Milk Marketing Areas “to receive testimony and exhibits concerning the level and duration of the Class I over-order premium.” Additionally, on October 3, 2025, PMB published on its website three bulletins announcing public hearings on December 3, 2025, for Milk Marketing Area No. 1 (
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 25, 2025
Tomorrow: Sept. 26, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes
Next Week: Sept. 30, AgWorks: Foundations of the Employer–Employee Relationship (No Atty CLE available)
Regulatory Policy: Federal Court Issues Summary Judgment in Favor of Terminated Federal Employees 🌾
On September 12, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order granting in part summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff federal employees in a case challenging the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) action in “early 2025 . . . direct[ing] agencies across the federal government to terminate their probationary employees en masse.” Am. Federation […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 16, 2025
This Week! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available!
Next Week: Webinar—Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes
Agricultural Labor: Federal Court Permanently Enjoins 2023 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Calculation Rule, DOL to Publish New Rule 🌾
On August 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a final judgement permanently vacating the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2023 final rule, which amended the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) calculation for H-2A workers to draw upon data from […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—September 4, 2025
Register Now, Pay Later! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available! Early Bird Pricing until Sept. 8!
Attorneys w/ CLE—$150, Non-CLE—$100 REGISTER NOW
Read the latest Agricultural Law in the Spotlight: The Status of Cell-Cultured Meat Regulations
Regulatory Policy: Pennsylvania Meat Processing Industry Hearing September 25, 2025 🌾
On September 25, 2025, from 2:00–4:00pm, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Offices of Rural Affairs and National Ombudsman will hold a Meat Processing Industry Listening Session at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Persons interested in attending may register […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—August 26, 2025
Register Now, Pay Later! 2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, University Park, Pa., 6 CLE credits available! Early Bird Pricing until Aug. 29!
Attorneys w/ CLE—$150, Non-CLE—$100 REGISTER NOW
Regulatory Policy: Federal Court Orders USDA to Restore Five Sustainable Agriculture Grants🌾
On August 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a memorandum opinion granting in part the plaintiff organization’s motion for preliminary injunction in a case challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “unexpected[] terminat[ion]” of five grants for sustainable agricultural practice programs. Urban Sustainability Directors Network v. […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—July 15, 2025
Today—Tues. July 15 @ Noon: Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar: 2025 Federal Milk Marketing Order Reforms
New: Why Aren’t PFAS Compounds in Land Applied Biosolids Regulated By EPA?, Brook Duer
International Trade: Canada Passes Law Prohibiting Import Quota Increases, Tariff Reductions on Dairy, Poultry, Eggs 🌾
On June 26, 2025, King Charles III assented to Canadian Bill C-202 (PDF), which prohibits Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from increasing import quotas or reducing tariffs on dairy products, poultry and eggs. According to a speech from the bill’s sponsor, in passing the law, Canada “seeks to protect . . . [its] […]
