Publications for
No one enters into a contract expecting it to go sour, but sometimes they do. While it is not possible at the time of contracting to anticipate and avoid every potential risk, strategies exist to help minimize exposure and avoid costs down the road.
On July 2, 2013, Governor Snyder signed key wetland legislation (S.B. 163) into law (Public Act 98 of 2013).
Immigration reform is a hot-button, important issue. Recently, both the Senate and House have introduced legislation regarding immigration and agriculture.
That 10,000-year-old industry, agriculture, is making a comeback in the State of Michigan, and the new Agricultural Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) reflects its newly-regained star status.
For decades, Michigan law has prohibited construction contract language that made one party indemnify or be responsible for another party’s sole negligence. The legislature recently amended this statute.
The "Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year" application requests background information on the company and its products, the percentage growth of company exports, and the company's export destinations.
Michigan FFA continues to grow and help young people in the agricultural industry. Find out how you can help the future of agriculture.
On December 20, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the publication of a final rule regarding animal disease traceability. This rule requires livestock moved interstate to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation.
Through the Branded Program, qualified companies may obtain reimbursement for a percentage of their international marketing expenses for Michigan agriculture and food exports.
The Michigan Court of Appeals and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued decisions regarding Michigan’s Right to Farm Act.
Attorney Liza Moore sits down with the Oakland County Legal News to discuss the Agricultural Law Section.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that four counties in Michigan were designated as primary natural disaster areas due to this summer’s drought.
On June 25, 2012, Governor Snyder announced the appointment of Jamie Clover Adams as the new Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director.
On June 26, 2012, Governor Snyder signed the Agricultural Disaster Loan Origination Program Act of 2012 into law. The law requires a one-time $15-million appropriation to cover some costs for banks that offer agricultural loans to farmers and processors affected by the severe weather this spring.
On July 2, 2012, the USDA announced the designation of 72 counties in Michigan as primary disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by severe weather in January 1 – May 11, 2012.
On July 15, 2012, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse began a tour of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana—states affected by spring severe frosts and freezes and now increasing drought. According to the USDA’s press release, the purpose of the visits is to "show support to farmers and ranchers affected by a string of extreme weather in 2012."
On June 6, 2012, the Michigan House Standing Committee on Agriculture approved HB 5717. Committee minutes show that representatives of Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and many other producers, processors, and trade organizations spoke in favor of the bill.
On June 21, 2012, the U.S. Senate voted 64-35 to pass the Farm Bill, as amended. Earlier in the week, on June 18, 2012, the U.S. Senate had reached a unanimous-consent-time agreement providing that certain amendments would be considered beginning on June 19, 2012.
On April 11, 2012, the director of the MSU Product Center, Chris Peterson, announced that a MSU study on 2010 data showed that agriculture contributes around $91.4 billion to the Michigan economy.
On April 26, 2012, the proposed Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry by a vote of 16-5. The bill now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.
On May 8, 2012, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White announced a new National Water Quality Initiative.
Back in September 2, 2011 the DOL published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise child labor regulations in agriculture. Now the DOL has decided not to go forward with the hotly contested regulations.
The USDA designated 45 Michigan Counties as natural disaster areas for certain time periods in 2011. This designation makes qualified farm operators eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency.
On February 16, 2012, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that it was improving its Phytosanitary Certificate and Issuance Tracking System.
On March 5, 2012, Governor Rick Snyder announced the appointments to the Michigan Dairy Market Program Committee. This Committee develops and controls the dairy producer marketing program. This program promotes Michigan's $5.9 billion (annually) dairy industry.
On February 1, 2012, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry announced the schedule of several hearings for the Farm Bill.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is accepting applications for the Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award.
On January 9, 2012, the USDA announced a "Blueprint for Stronger Service" aimed at streamlining the USDA. According to the news release, the USDA will close 259 domestic offices, facilities and labs across the country.
On September 14, 2011, USDA APHIS announced that it would amend the boundaries of the bovine tuberculosis risk classification zones for Michigan.
On September 2, 2011, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise child labor regulations in agriculture.
On October 14, 2011, leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (better known as the "Supercommittee") recommending a $23 billion cut to mandatory spending within the committees’ jurisdiction.
On November 10, 2011, the USDA announced that the Calhoun Conservation District was one of the 10 recipients of the USDA’s People’s Garden Grant Program.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson - "Based on my consideration of the scientific record, analysis provided by EPA scientists, and advice from the Clean Air Science Advisory Council, I am prepared to propose the retention--with no revision--of the current PM10 standard and form when it is sent to OMB for interagency review."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service prepared a study showing that farmers using combinations of erosion-control and nutrient-management practices on cultivated cropland are reducing the movement of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus from farm fields to the Great Lakes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the grant recipients for fiscal year 2011 for the Farmers Market Promotion Program.
Green Meadow Farms, Inc. and Scenic View Dairy, LLC in Michigan both received funding for anaerobic digesters from the USDA’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels Program.
On October 11, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service produced a draft Environmental Impact Statement considering alternatives in response to Monsanto/KWS SAAT AG request for a determination of non-regulated status of its event H7-1 sugar beets.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development announced that the Michigan Wheat Program was approved by wheat producers.
To be protected by the Michigan Right to Farm Act, farm operations must conform to GAAMPs.
The Michigan USDA Farm Service Agency recently posted a reminder about the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.
Entering into contracts is an important part of every agribusiness. No one enters into a contract expecting it to go sour but sometimes they do...
More than $8 million in disaster assistance will be issued to livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers that suffered losses in 2010 because of disease, adverse weather, or other conditions.
On April 27, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued draft guidance for the Clean Water Act.
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacates portions of the EPA’s 2008 Rule that required Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations that propose to discharge to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, and the provisions imposing liability for failure to apply for a permit.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that funding is available for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production to implement resource conservation practices.
135 projects in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Western Pacific will be financed through $234 million in USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program loans and grants.
Authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, BCAP provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners for producing biomass corps for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $15 million is available to United States asparagus producers.
General sign-up 41 for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began on March 14, 2011 and will end on April 15, 2011.
On March 3, 2011, the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee voted to approve a final report to submit to Secretary Vilsack.
Governor Rick Snyder’s first bill signings turned the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) into law.
Governor Rick Snyder’s proposed budget for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 includes cuts to Michigan agriculture programs.
On December 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule establishing Clean Water Act technology-based Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category.
As of January 1, 2010, many facilities and suppliers must collect GHG data, and initial emissions reports of 2010 emissions are due March 31, 2011.
As a first step in its quest to control greenhouse gases ("GHG"), the United States Environmental Protection Agency has proposed Rules for the reporting of certain GHG emissions within all sectors of the U.S. economy.