News
Center Staff Connects with Agricultural Producers at Ag Progress Days
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Center for Agricultural and Shale Law Reviews Productive July 2025 Webinars
University Park, PA – The Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law (CASL) hosted three informative webinars in July 2025, continuing its mission to educate agricultural stakeholders and legal professionals.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Staff Attorney Jackie Schweichler presented “Opening the Farm Gates: ADA Accessibility for Agritourism Guests,” hosted by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA). This session covered ADA application to agritourism, general business requirements, and strategies for inclusivity. Key topics included service animals and emotional support animals (definitions, on-farm standards, guest interaction), along with physical barriers, digital accessibility, and funding for ADA updates.
Next, on […]
Center for Agricultural and Shale Law Reflects on Successful June 2025 Webinars
University Park, PA – The Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law concluded a highly active June 2025, successfully hosting three impactful webinars that deepened understanding of vital agricultural legal issues. These events underscored the Center’s commitment to educating agricultural professionals, legal practitioners, and landowners.
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Center Director Ross Pifer presented “An Overview of State Grain Dealer Statutes in the United States” as part of the National Agricultural Law Center’s webinar series. The session highlighted the importance of smooth grain marketing chains to agricultural economies, explaining how business failures can negatively impact producers. Director Pifer […]
Upcoming Presentations with the National Agricultural Law Center
CASL Attorneys to Lead National Webinars in Continued Collaboration with the National Agricultural Law Center
The Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law (CASL) is pleased to announce two upcoming national webinars presented by our attorneys as part of the National Agricultural Law Center’s (NALC) Webinar Series. These programs reflect our Center’s commitment to addressing emerging legal issues in agriculture and highlight our ongoing collaboration with NALC, a partnership we deeply value.
🗓 May 21 — Navigating ADA Compliance for Agritourism Guests
Jackie Schweichler, CASL Staff Attorney, will explore how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies in farm-based tourism settings. Her […]
Center Attends 2024 AALA Educational Symposium
From November 7-9, 2024, four Penn State Law students joined Center staff to attend the American Agricultural Law Association’s 2024 Annual Educational Symposium in Memphis, TN. The AALA Annual Symposium is a national CLE conference attended by hundreds of attorneys from across the United States. At the Symposium, Center staff and students attended a variety of educational presentations on agricultural and environmental law and policy issues. The Symposium offers special networking opportunities for student participants including a lunch where students met with attorneys who work in their field of interest. Our Penn State Law students also participated in the annual […]
Brook Duer Presents with Penn State Extension on Farm Employment Regulations
On Monday, October 28, 2024, from 1:00–2:30pm, Brook Duer joined Penn State Extension in their live webinar, “Navigating Employment Regulations on the Farm.”
From Penn State Extension:
Receive a layperson’s review of the laws and regulations governing farm employment, including those applicable to adults and minors. Led by attorneys from Penn State Law’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, this session will provide practical insights into both federal and state regulations, as well as agriculture-specific exemptions. Equip yourself with the knowledge to ensure your farm remains compliant and protected. Don’t miss this opportunity to refresh your understanding and confidently manage […]
Ross Pifer Presents with the National Agricultural Law Center, “Right to Repair and Agriculture”
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from noon–1:00 p.m. (ET), Center Director Ross Pifer presented “Right to Repair and Agriculture” as part of the National Agricultural Law Center’s webinar series.
From the National Agricultural Law Center:
The nationwide movement to enact Right to Repair statutes seeks to ensure that consumers and end-users have the ability to perform routine maintenance and repairs on various technology-laden products including agricultural equipment and machinery. During the past few years, several states have enacted legislation imposing requirements upon manufacturers to make certain information and tools available to consumers. While each of these statutes is similar in general […]
Ag Law Center Hosts Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law hosted the 2024 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium in-person at Penn State Law, Lewis Katz Building in University Park, PA. Our inaugural in-person symposium offered 6 CLE credits for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys. Lunch and refreshments were provided by Hoag’s Catering, a local catering service.
We were especially grateful to the presenters who joined us and to our student research assistants!
Presenters included:
Marty Siegel – Attorney, Barely Snyder
Mike Traxinger – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Agtegra Cooperative
Rusty Rumley – Staff Attorney, National Agricultural Law Center
Kimberly Clarke – Partner, Varnum Law
Gary Heim – […]
Brook Duer Presents on Business Structures at Starting and Improving Farms Conference
From September 13–14, 2024, Penn State Extension hosted the Starting and Improving Farms Conference in-person at the Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, Pennsylvania. Center Staff Attorney Brook Duer attended the conference and presented on “Legal and Tax Structures for Business and Land Ownership.”
From Penn State Extension:
Do you want to start a farm, diversify your existing farm or begin an agritourism business? If so, this two-day conference will provide opportunities to explore new business and production practices to help you achieve your goals. The goal of the conference is to help you build and expand your network and help you […]
Ag Law Center Attends Penn State’s Ag Progress Days
From August 13–15, 2024 the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated its annual Ag Progress Days, “Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition,” at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Pennsylvania Furnace.
Throughout the event, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law hosted our annual information booth in the Horizon Farm Credit Exhibit Building at W. 6th Street & Main.
For more information on Ag Progress Days, visit the College of Agricultural Science’s website at agsci.psu.edu/apd
