by Elizabeth | Apr 29, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Animal Welfare, Food Labeling
On April 26, the United States District Court Northern District of California granted Whole Foods’ motion to dismiss a class action alleging fraud as the plaintiff’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) complaint failed to allege that Whole Foods “made...
by Elizabeth | Apr 28, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
The latest installment of the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law’s Agricultural Law Weekly Review is now available. Topics covered include: dismissal of contract grower lawsuit, advancement of non-GMO advertisement lawsuit against Chipotle, USDA’s...
by Elizabeth | Apr 25, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
The latest installment of the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law’s Agricultural Law Weekly Review is now available. Topics covered include: medical marijuana, the 2017 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, European...
by Elizabeth | Apr 25, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Continuing Education, Cottage Foods, Local Food Systems, Specialty Crops
With the recent consumer focus on locally-grown foods, many farmers and food entrepreneurs are trying to expand their markets by creating and selling commercially processed food. The National Agricultural Law Center is partnering with the University of Arkansas Food...
by Elizabeth | Apr 20, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
Cargo theft of produce is an ongoing problem in California that investigators believe involves domestic and international organized crime. The state has seen an increase in incidents of cargo theft in recent years, including 158 cargo theft incidents in 2015, costing...
by Elizabeth | Apr 18, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
On Sunday, Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize marijuana for medical use. Per the Washington Times, the state may license up to 25 growers and processors, and as many as 50 dispensaries, which could each operate three locations. Dispensaries and growers...
by Elizabeth | Apr 18, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
Last week, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the Agriculture Students Encourage, Acknowledge, Reward, Nurture (EARN) Act, that will amend the tax code to...
by Elizabeth | Apr 15, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Farm Labor, Food Safety, Labor
Representatives from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters protested outside a Chipotle Mexican Grill in San Jose, CA, earlier this week. However, the protest was not in response to the restaurant’s food safety practices. Their target is salad processing company...
by Elizabeth | Apr 14, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
Earlier this week, members of the Arkansas agribusiness community, including academic and political leaders, launched the Arkansas State Council for Engage Cuba. The council plans to boost the state’s agricultural economy and is similar to others groups formed in...
by Elizabeth | Apr 14, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
The latest installment of the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law’s Agricultural Law Weekly Review is now available. Topics covered include: production requirements for organic livestock and poultry, proposed revisions to pipeline safety rules, amended...
by Elizabeth | Apr 13, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Law, Fish and Wildlife Service
A new lawsuit claims that crops genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate herbicides is responsible for the decline of monarch butterflies. As detailed in a press release last month, the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit...
by Elizabeth | Apr 11, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Bankruptcy, Continuing Education, Environmental Law, Finance and Credit, News Release, Water Law
By Mary Hightower Handling agricultural bankruptcies, federal wetland regulations and a keynote about ag trade with Cuba are all part of the third annual Mid-South Ag and Environmental Law Conference Friday, April 22, at Memphis, Tennessee. The conference will also...
by Elizabeth | Apr 11, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
The latest installment of the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law’s Agricultural Law Weekly Review is available for viewing at www.pennstateaglaw.com. Topics covered include Pennsylvania’s right to farm law, industrial hemp legalization, avian influenza,...
by Elizabeth | Apr 8, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food and Drug Administration, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act
Earlier this week at the Consumer Federation of America’s 39th Annual National Food Policy Conference, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is partnering with the Food and Drug Administration...
by Elizabeth | Apr 7, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Environmental Law, Sustainable Agriculture, Water Law, Western Water
The Western Environmental Law Center released a report today, Agricultural Pollution in Puget Sound: Inspiration to Change Washington’s Reliance on Voluntary Incentive Programs to Save Salmon. As part of their sustainable agriculture work, the Center analyzed...
by Elizabeth | Apr 7, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
In Cuba last month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will allow 22 industry-funded Research and Promotion Programs and 18 Marketing Order organizations to conduct research and information exchange activities with Cuba. The groups will engage...
by Elizabeth | Apr 6, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
American retail giant Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club announced their goal to transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain by 2025. In a company statement, Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer at Walmart, stated, “Our customers and associates count on Walmart...
by Elizabeth | Apr 4, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update
According to Boulder Public Radio, Boulder County authorities may soon prohibit farmers from growing genetically engineered crops on county-owned farmland. Last month, county staff drafted plans for phasing out GMO crops. The decision ends years of debate between...
by Elizabeth | Apr 4, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Biotechnology, United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced an investment of over $5.2 million to support nanotechnology research at 11 universities. The universities will research how nanotechnology might improve food safety, enhance renewable fuels, increase crop...
by Elizabeth | Apr 1, 2016 | Ag & Food Law Update, Food Labeling
A federal court in Florida ruled against a small creamery earlier this week preventing them from labeling their skimmed milk product “skim milk.” Per court documents, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) informed the Ocheesee Creamery in...
