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Note: This website is intended to provide general information about legal issues, crop insurance, farm policy, and other risk management issues and should not be construed as providing legal advice. It should not be cited or relied upon as legal authority. For advice about how the issues discussed here might apply to your individual situation, you should consult an attorney.
Welcome to the Maryland Risk Management Education Blog, provided by the University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. This blog provides readers with information on risk management issues important to Maryland agriculture, upcoming events, and new materials that may interest readers.
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Understanding Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Employers with H-2A Workers
A farmer uses a tablet to monitor crops under a modern irrigation system in a vast green field. See this link here for the site’s reposting policy. Introduction Crop and animal production can be an inherently dangerous field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating, in 2024, over 23,000 nonfatal injuries and approximately 300 fatal injuries associated with the industries. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance coverage purchased by employers that compensates empl
Sam Capaldo
Mar 243 min read
Understanding Agricultural Liability: General Liability Insurance
Image of a farm worker on a research farm driving an ATV is by the University of Missouri. This is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Preventing all legal risks is impossible, but purchasing general liability insurance is one way farmers can manage risk in their operations and minimize costs associated with litigation. Risk is the probability of an action that causes negative consequences. A general liability insurance policy is a co
Serena Newton
May 6, 20258 min read
The University of Maryland to Host Ag Law Program on January 16 in Cockeysville
Image of cattle in a field by Chesapeake Bay Program See here for the site’s reposting policy. College Park, MD – The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) will host the, So You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland workshop on January 16th in Cockeysville from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The program will be held at the Baltimore County Ag Center, 1114 Shawan Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030. The free program will cover those legal issues that Maryland landowners may face.
Paul Goeringer
Dec 12, 20232 min read
Owning Farm Land in Maryland Workshops Honored at NACAA
See here for the site’s reposting policy. Owning Farmland In Maryland program was recently honored by the National Association of County Ag Agents (NACAA) during the 108th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference held in Des Moines, Iowa, from August 13 to 17, 2023. NACAA is the professional association for Extension educators and other professionals who work in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and natural resources, 4-H youth development, community developm
Paul Goeringer
Sep 5, 20231 min read
Landowner-Oriented Agricultural Law Online Modules Available To Address Common Concerns
Aerial image of Farmland by Chesapeake Bay Program See here for the site’s reposting policy. College Park, MD – The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) reminds Marylanders of an online course for rural landowners in Maryland released earlier in the spring. The So You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland course is available through the University of Maryland’s Enterprise Learning Management System – Canvas. The free program will cover those legal issues
Paul Goeringer
Aug 15, 20231 min read
Webinar Recordings Are Now Available Online Focused On Insurance and Working With An Attorney
Image of people at a workshop by Edwin Remsberg The article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. I recently finished a webinar series on the same topics as the recent workshops on Owning Rural Land In Maryland: Answering Basic Questions Landowners Have. Based on feedback from the workshops, we included two additional topics in the webinar series. The webinars included Q&As with an insurance agent and two attorneys who often work
Paul Goeringer
May 16, 20232 min read
Landowner-Oriented Agricultural Law Online Modules Now Available
Aerial image of Farmland by Chesapeake Bay Program See here for the site’s reposting policy. College Park, MD – The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) has released a new online course for rural landowners in Maryland. The So You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland course is now available through the University of Maryland’s Enterprise Learning Management System – Canvas. The free program will cover those legal issues that Maryland landowners may face. A gra
Paul Goeringer
Mar 21, 20232 min read
ALEI Business Structures Webinar Series Continues Thru August
Have you had a chance to tune in for the ALEI 2022 August webinar series?
Megan Todd
Aug 16, 20222 min read
New Online Training Available to Assist Growers Better Understand Risk Management Tools
Image of producer in mask selling produce to a customer. Image by Edwin Remsberg See here for the site’s reposting policy. College Park, MD – This summer, the University of Maryland (UMD) is partnering with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and USDA to create a four-module online training course Maryland Farming Success. This course will allow traditionally underserved and socially disadvantaged audiences to logically develop a plan focused on financial skills, ri
Paul Goeringer
Aug 4, 20222 min read
ALEI August Webinar Series - Legal Considerations for Choosing Your Farm Business Structure
Sign up now! ALEI August webinar series - Legal Considerations for Choosing Your Farm Business Structure
Megan Todd
Jul 6, 20223 min read
Farm Service Agency Programs for Socially Disadvantaged Producers
Image of Kate Tully in Ethiopia by University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources See here for the site’s reposting policy. The USDA provides producers with several effective risk management programs to protect new farmers starting their operations, and allow farmers to manage the risks on their farms. For example, the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will enable farmers to obtain loans for their farms and crops to ensure stability against financial losse
Nerice Millet-Williams
Apr 20, 20223 min read
Cover Crops & Federal Crop Insurance Program
Image of Cover Crops Planted Into Corn Field by University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources See here for the site’s reposting policy. Cover crops have become a more recently focused commodity in Maryland. A cover crop, a plant that covers soil, is specifically used to improve soil health and nutrient cycling, reduce erosion, enhance water availability, increase biodiversity, and control weeds, pests, and diseases. These crops have proven to improve the
Nerice Millet-Williams
Apr 7, 20226 min read
Nursery Commodity Insurance Program
Image of Charles and Matt Bauer growing hydroponics snapdragons in greenhouse by University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources See here for the site’s reposting policy. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) established the Nursery Commodity Insurance Policy Program, providing risk management for all eligible nursery commodities on farm operations. This program is specifically for producers who field- or container-grow nursery plants and sell them through w
Nerice Millet-Williams
Mar 30, 20226 min read
Beginning and Veteran Producer Crop Insurance
Image of Woman from Ankober, Ethiopia by University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources See here for the site’s reposting policy. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides producers with effective risk management tools, such as crop insurance, to protect farmers during agricultural disasters, and allow farmers to manage the risks on their farms. For example, the Federal Crop Insurance Program allows farmers to purchase coverage on their farm and crops
Nerice Millet-Williams
Mar 16, 20224 min read
Negligent Entrustment Liability for Farm Employers
Image by Edwin Remsberg This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. It’s that time of year when we are sharing the road with harvesters. Hopefully everyone is being careful out there. I was recently asked about an employer’s liability if one of their farm workers causes an accident while driving a piece of farm equipment, and that made me think this might be a good time to talk about “negligent entrustment.” Employers can be
Nicole Cook
Oct 26, 20213 min read
Legalities of Direct Marketing Specialty Crops
To help farmers be better prepared to navigate the legalities of direct farm marketing, ALEI created A Legal Guide to Direct Farm Marketing
Sarah Everhart
Mar 16, 20213 min read
Video Now Available of the Hemp Risk Management Session
Hemp being grown at the Wye by Edwin Remsberg See here for the site’s reposting policy. This week I was apart of a virtual session for Del Ag Week/Month focused on risk management issues with hemp. The objective of the session was to dispel the economic and legal mysteries of hemp production. Producers will take away a series of budgets and contract considerations. The recording of the session is now available and included in this post. If you are interested in any other
Paul Goeringer
Jan 14, 20211 min read
Registration for MyFaRM Classes Extended
Image is MyFaRM logo This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. December 8th is the new kickoff date for the new MyFaRM initiative. “MyFaRM” stands for Mastering Farm Risk Management. The MyFaRM program is free, and offers a series of classes covering all aspects of farm risk management, plus so much more! The MyFaRM program is an incredible opportunity for farmers on the Lower Eastern Shore to get comprehensive information a
Nicole Cook
Nov 24, 20202 min read
Dairy Risk Management Presentations Available Online
See here for the site’s reposting policy. The University of Maryland recently partnered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Farm...
Paul Goeringer
Jun 24, 20191 min read
Court of Appeals Agrees USDA Did Not Have the Discretion to Implement New Program Benefiting Farmers
The article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Many are paying attention to the...
Paul Goeringer
Mar 19, 20193 min read
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