Overview For more than fifty years, farmers and ranchers operated under the shadow of a changing administrative sword. The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972, while noble in its intent to maintain the integrity of the nation’s waters, became an instrument of severe regulatory overreach. By expanding the statutory phrase […]Read more »
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Overview Farmland has long been viewed as one of the most stable forms of wealth in America. For many families, it represents generations of work, retirement security, mineral income, and a lasting connection to rural life. But an increasingly sophisticated form of fraud is exposing a dangerous vulnerability in modern […]Read more »
Overview For agricultural families, a farm is rarely just a business or an investment portfolio; it is an irreplaceable legacy. It represents generations of sweat equity, deep ties to the local community, and a unique way of life. However, passing a farming operation to the next generation introduces an incredibly […]Read more »
Overview In agricultural transactions, timing is often far more than a matter of convenience. Planting seasons, harvest schedules, financing deadlines, tax-year considerations, crop insurance requirements, government program eligibility, and succession-planning objectives can all turn a delayed closing or missed payment into a major financial problem. That reality helps explain why […]Read more »
Overview The Kansas Court of Appeals recently issued a significant property-law decision in Clark v. McKee[1] involving a 40-acre Jefferson County farm and the severance of a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. The court reached a result that may strike some as equitable under the facts. But in doing […]Read more »
Overview For many agricultural businesses, the “USDA Organic” seal is far more than a label; it is a vital market differentiator that signals quality, integrity, and consumer trust. However, entering the organic marketplace requires navigating a rigorous federal regulatory framework overseen by the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP).[1] In recent […]Read more »
Overview In Ragsdale v. Timmer,[1] the United States District Court for the District of Kansas addressed a common friction point in agricultural litigation – the attempt to exclude highly experienced but “non-scientific” expert witnesses. The defendants sought to exclude the testimony of a long-time Land Grant University extension specialist, challenging […]Read more »
Overview Is it really necessary to have a Farm Bill rather than the way it was done via reconciliation under the OBBBA and with ad hoc disaster payments added after-the-fact when deemed necessary? What are the pros and cons? The question of whether a traditional, multi-year Farm Bill is a […]Read more »
Overview For the Kansas producer, environmental stewardship is often synonymous with long-term business success. However, operating within the framework of state and federal environmental regulations can feel like a complex task. Staying informed ensures that your farm not only remains compliant but also stays eligible for vital conservation programs and […]Read more »
Overview My colleague, Paul Neiffer, and I are seeing letters from local FSA offices for the 2026 crop year indicating that an LLC or an S corporation is limited to a single payment limit. This is contrary to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provision that fundamentally changed the […]Read more »