Ag Law in the Field

When I wanted to do a podcast about how criminal law and agricultural law intersect, there was only one person to call.  Heath Hemphill is the current District Attorney in Coleman County, Texas, and he is also a fifth generation rancher.  His experiences both in the courtroom and on the ranch gives him a unique perspective and some great stories to share today about situations where agricutlural l...

Michelle Pardo is a Washington, DC based attorney who specializes in animal law.  From circuses to aquariums, agriculture to zoos, Michelle has represented a number of clients around the country in litigation involving animals.  Today, she gives us the rundown on legislation and litigation she is seeing in the animal industry. Contact Info for Michelle Pardo Website Phone: 202-776-7844 Links to Ot...

I'm excited to have long-time food and agricultural law reporter, Helena Bottemiller Evich, join me to chat about the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.  Helena gives us the rundown on what happened at the conference and highlights some of the key food policy issues to watch in 2023. Contact Info for Helena Email:  info@foodfix.co Food Fix newsletter Links to Topics Men...

When Shannon Ferrell called to pitch a podcast episode talking about what we can learn from the Royal Family and farm and ranch succession planning, you know I was excited!  We chat about Shannon's family connection to the Queen and what lessons we can learn about farm and ranch succession planning from the recent royal family succession. Shannon's Contact Info Email)  shannon.l.ferrell@okstate.ed...

Have you heard of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG") practices?  Did you know these practices are leading to lawsuits filed against agribusinesses and ag producers?  Today, Nate Huff joins us to chat about these "greenwashing lawsuits" and what agribusinesses and producers need to know. Contact Info for Nate Huff Website Email:  Nate. Huff@klgates.com Phone: (919) 314-5636 Links to Topic...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  This is a topic that is extremely important to me, and one I feel very strongly about sharing on this podcast.  Today, I am thrilled to be joined by Maddie Caldwell.  Maddie is a farm kid from Illinois who is open with her mental health struggle and suicide attempts in hope that by sharing her story, she will be able to help others who may be strug...

Two of our favorite law professors are back!  Jesse Richardson and Athony Schutz join me to give us a preview of what is coming in the ag law realm this term from the US Supreme Court. Jesse Contact Info (Email)    jesse. Richardson@mail.wvu.edu (Phone) 304-293-9460 (Twitter)  @jessejames8785   Anthony Contact Info (Website)  https://law.unl.edu/anthony-schutz/   (Twitter)  https://twitter.com/ant...

Luke Ellis is back!  In our last episode, we talked through the recent Texas Supreme Court decision in  Hlavinka v. HSC Pipeline.   Today, we turn to the Texas Supreme Court decision in  Miles v. Texas Central Railroad in a case deciding whether Texas Central has the lawful right to condemn for the proposed high speed rail between Dallas and Houston. Contact info for Luke Ellis (Email)  lellis@meh...

It's been a wild couple of months for eminent domain law here in Texas with two important opinions coming out of the Texas Supreme Court.  Our friend and eminent domain lawyer, Luke Ellis, is here to give us the rundown on both of these cases,  Hlavinka v. HSC Pipeline  and  Miles v. Texas Central Railroad. In Part 1 of our discussion, we'll dive deep into the details and impact of the Court's dec...

What types of situations cause damage to rural land?  What should a landowner do in the event they see damage from spray drift or oil and gas operations?  These are the questions I chatted about with  Lubbock-based attorneys Amber Miller and Eliott Nixon. Contact Info for Eliott Website Email: enixon@cdmlaw.com Contact Info for Amber Website Email: Amiller@cdmlaw.com Twitter: @BradyAmber Links to...

One of the biggest employment law issues that can pop up for ag producers and ag businsses is distinguishing between an employee and an independent contractor.  Today, I'm joined by David Barron to walk us through why this distinction matters and how to correctly categorize workers. Contact Info for David Barron  (Website) https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/barron-david (Phone) 713-750-3132 (Email)...

Special use property tax valuation options are an important consideration for all Texas landowners.  Today, Tim Milligan from Plateau Land & Wildlife joins me to chat about wildlife management valuation.  How does it work? What is required?  How does someone get started?  Tim has all the answers! Contact info for Tim Email: tmilligan@plateauwildlife.com Phone: 512-894-3479 Links to topics mentione...

Much of the western half of the United States, including Texas, is facing serious drought conditions.  Today, I'm joined by Dr. Justin Benavidez, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Economist to discuss some of the programs available to help producers manage risk during a drought.  In particular, we're focusing on LFP, PRF, ELAP, NAP, and LIP. Dr. Benavidez' Contact Information Contact info for Dr. Justi...

As has become a tradition, we are recognizing Mental Health Awareness month with an important conversation about mental health and agriculture.  My friend, Shannon Ferrell, joins me to offer some great information, practical tips, and encouragement for anyone struggling. Contact Info for Shannon Ferrell (Email)  shannon.l.ferrell@okstate.edu (Twitter)  @shanferrell Website    Links to Topics Menti...

If we want someone who knows the in and outs of ag labor and immigration policy, it's Kristi Boswell.  Throughout her career, she has worked on this issue.  She joined us today to chat about the current issues with ag labor and immigration policy and some of the proposed changes that we have seen over the past several years.   Contact Info for Kristi Boswell  Website Phone:  202.239.3236 Email:  k...

We had a listener request for a podcast episode about prescribed burn laws in Texas, and luckily, I knew just the guest to invite!  Dr. Morgan Treadwell and I walk through the various laws and considerations for prescribed burns in Texas. Contact Info for Dr. Morgan Treadwell Phone: (325)657-7317 E-mail:  Morgan. Treadwell@ag.tamu.edu Twitter ( @eXMorganRussell ) Facebook   West Texas Rangelands b...

I'm thrilled to have Rob and Chris with us to share about Texas forestland and timber contracts.  I learned so much from this podcast episode, and I'm confident you will too! Contact Info for Rob Hughes TFA Website Email:  rhughes@texasforestry.org   Twitter:  @TFARobHughes Contact Info for Chris Adams Vision Forestry Website Email:  cadams@vision-forestry.com   Links to Topics Mentioned on the Sh...

The use of entities like trusts, LLCs, and limited partnerships can be extremely useful in developing a good farm or ranch estate plan.  Today, Leah Davis joins me to help talk us through some of the most commonly used entities, how they can be helpful, and how to choose the right option for you. Contact Info for Leah Davis Website Email: ldavis@bmwb-law.com Other Information Mentioned on the Show...

What questions should I ask when looking at a piece of property?  What should I look out for?  How do I know if this property is right for me? These were the types of questions that made me invite Clint Robinson on the podcast to offer tips to folks purchasing rural property in Texas. Contact Info for Clint Robinson Website Phone:  806-786-3730 Email:  clint@csmandson.com Links to Topics Mentioned...

I am so excited to have Emily Unglesbee join me to talk about some of the hot topics related to pesticides and herbicides in agriculture.  We had lots to discuss...and even in the week since we recorded, there has been more news stories on these issues. Contact Info for Emily Unglesbee Twitter:  @Emily_Unglesbee Links to Topics Mentioned on the Show List of Emily's recent articles Emily's article...

You know if we're talking WOTUS, our guest has to be Jim Bradbury!  Jim has walked us through the various WOTUS updates numerous times over the past five years.  Today, he's here to give us an update on the new "waters of the United States" definition that has been proposed by the Biden administration. Contact Info for Jim Bradbury (Email)  jim@bradburycounsel.com   (Website)  http://bradburycouns...

Our friend, Trace Blair, is back!  Trace joined me to walk us through the three limited liability statutes that exist to protect rural Texas landowners and ag producers.  Specifically, this episode offers an update to the details and rules surrounding the Farm Animal Liability Act that went into effect on September 1, 2021. Contact information for Trace Blair (Email)  tblair@wigrum.com   (Website)...

We're excited to kick off the year joined by a super star in the ag media world, Ag Day anchor and Farm Journal editor, Clinton Griffiths.  Clinton shares his story of becoming involved in ag media and offers us a few issues to watch in 2022. Clinton's Contact Information Twitter:  @ClintonReports   Links to Other Topics Mentioned on the Show Ag Day Farm Journal Story on tornado victims Story on O...

It's that time again!  My friend Paul Goeringer and I team up every December to record our Ag Law Year in Review that is then released on both my Ag Law in the Field Podcast and Paul's Maryland Risk Management Education Podcast . This year, our list included lots of interesting topics...see if you agree with our top legal issues. Contact Info for Paul Goeringer (Email)  lgoering@umd.edu (Twitter)...

Recently, I heard Joe Miller and Nowell Berreth speak about the recent OSHA vaccine mandate and agriculture.  I knew I had to have them on the podcast to have this same conversation.  Learn about the current status of the OSHA mandate, what the mandate contains, and the legal precedent is for challenges to these types of mandates. Contact Info for Joe Miller (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/...