agriculture definition

Last week, the New York Times published an article that was highly critical of USDA efforts to settle longstanding discrimination claims and to compensate African-American, Native American, Hispanic, and Women farmers who showed evidence of discrimination under the farm loan programs.   U.S. Opens Spigot After Farmers Claim Discrimination , by Sharon LaFraniere. The article alleged widespread fraud in the Pigford  case settlement with African American farmers. I have submitted an editorial to the New York Times that corrects some of the errors and misleading inferences contained in the article.  If the Times declines my editorial, I will be posting it here. In the meantime, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives produced a point-by-point analysis that refutes some of the specific allegations about Pigford contained in the article.  As the Times article is getting widespread coverage, I reprint the Q&A portion of the Federation's response below.  The origi...

With a huge hat tip to The Food Dialogues , the BIO International Convention , and BIOtechNOW , Agricultural Law is pleased to rebroadcast the April 22, 2013, Food Dialogues, presented at the 2013 BIO convention in Chicago, by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance�. Colleen Lerro's article for BIOtechNOW presents the key details: The Food Dialogues: Chicago panel on April 22 at the BIO Convention is called, �The Straight Story on Biotech In Agriculture: The Media and its Impact on Consumers.� Experts from multiple disciplines, including farmers, media, industry and acedmia will make up the dynamic panel to answer some of the toughest questions surrounding GMOs. They�ll discuss what more can be done by all sides � including those who are not in favor of the technology � to give consumers access to information that matters. Ron Insana, senior analyst, CNBC and financial industry expert, will lend his expertise as the panel moderator. Panelists include: Emily Anthes , journa...

The  North Dakota Law Review  has jut published an article called " Rural Inheritance:  Gender Disparities in Farm Transmission ."  This is a thoughtful gendered critique of why sons rather than daughters tend to inherit family farms.  It concludes that families and rural society groom boys to farm, but do not cultivate this interest in nor pass the know-how on to girls in the same way.  Gender stereotyping and its consequences remain the culprit, even in the face of changes to the Uniform Probate Code that made it gender-neutral. The author of "Rural Inheritance" is Hannah Alsgaard, a 2012 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall), who is currently clerking for Judge Roberto Lange of the District of South Dakota, in Pierre.  Ms. Alsgaard grew up in  Yankton, South Dakota , so she knows well the milieu of which she writes.  The abstract for the article follows, and you can download the full text  here...

Yesterday, I posted on the Strawberry Sustainability project underway at the University of Arkansas, Regrowing a Regional Food System .  My post included a particularly well done video that tells the story.  I wanted to emphasize the importance of agricultural research directed toward sustainable production and local farming efforts. Today, I offer a follow-up post. Additional information about the project reveals that the Walmart Foundation donated $3 million to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture for the project. The goal of the donation is "fresher strawberries for consumers and an economic boost for local farmers throughout the country."  A related goal could be more local strawberries sold at Walmart.  That seems like a win-win to me. The donation went to the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, (CARS ). The center will create and manage a national competitive grants program, awarding money to other public universities with agricultur...

Strawberries don't have to come from California in plastic boxes. We can grow this delightful fruit in many different areas. In fact, a number of other regions, including Northwest Arkansas, used to be known for fruit production. Researchers are now trying to help recreate that regional food supply while also expanding the growing season to meet consumer demand.  This excellent short-takes video from the University of Arkansas talks about the current research to restore and expand regional strawberry production.  To me, these folks are heros -  and their work reminds me of how important agricultural research can be as we try to chart our way forward to build a more sustainable food system.

In late March, Congress was finally able to agree on budget legislation that would avoid a government shut down and provide funding for 6 months. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 was passed by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President. Section 735 of the bill - now known as the "Monsanto Protection Act" was one of several unrelated "riders" that were tacked on to the appropriations bill in the Senate. It's inclusion prompted a firestorm of criticism about the ability of powerful industries to influence the government and provoked numerous write-in campaigns. The text of the now infamous provision is as follows: In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant t...

The University of Nebraska College of Law will be offering a course in May that was formerly taught at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, under the direction of Drew Kershen .  This course is designed to help students understand the existing legal structure and theory involved in modern animal production.  The types of animal production we will examine include those which serve anthropocentric ends, including medical research and meat consumption. This is a valuable preparation course and learning experience for students interested in agriculture and the ongoing debate about agriculture as a production system. Students will learn how to analyze legal arguments, statutes, regulations, and judicial opinions related to animals and agricultural production. Students will learn how to respond in a professional and accurate fashion to the legal, public policy, and scientific issues involved in the use of animals in agricultural production.  Such issues are often at the ...

There is a disturbing trend in state legislation -  laws that attempt to criminalize efforts to expose animal abuse in the raising and slaughtering of livestock.   See, e.g., the recent New York Times article,   The Taping of Farm Cruelty is Becoming a Crime. I understand that a business may feel betrayed when a worker takes a position with ulterior motives.  But, the agricultural industry is making a huge mistake if they believe that this issue is about vegan activists, as some mistakenly claim.  The livestock industry needs to step back, engage in some soul-searching self reflection, and listen to their customers. Do producers and processors really want their message to be -  "yes, all these illegal activities are going on, but the problem is that no one should be taking pictures?"  Is that really the problem? The video exposes that have involved workers have provided evidence of illegal activity. State legislatures that "go after" those who took th...