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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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Register Today for the 2025 Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference
Registration is open for the Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference. The Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI) will hold the 2025 Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference (AELC) on Monday, Nov. 10, 7:30 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. at the Graduate Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland. This unique annual event brings together stakeholders from Maryland’s agriculture, conservation, and legal fields to focus on the network of environmental laws affecting the state’s agricultural b
snewton51
Sep 22, 20252 min read
Landowner Oriented Agricultural Law Workshops Will Be Held Across Maryland
Image of CMREC by Edwin Remsberg See here for the site’s reposting policy. The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host two one-day workshops on Jan. 22nd in Ellicott City and Jan. 29th at Wor-Wic Community College. The So You Want to Own Farmland in Maryland workshops will be from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. The free program will cover those legal issues that Maryland landowners may face. A grant funds the program through
Paul Goeringer
Dec 3, 20242 min read
Labor Webinars Planned for Agricultural Employers
Image of flyer for webinars. Image created by Christin Redding with photo credit in flyer of tractor pulling seeder in field by Edwin Remsberg. See here for the site’s reposting policy. The University of Maryland and the University of Delaware will host the Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees – What you Need to Know and Do four webinars every Friday in April at noon, starting on April 5th and ending on April 26. The free webinars will cover developing an employee handbook f
Paul Goeringer
Mar 5, 20241 min read
USDA 2022 Agricultural Census Begins in November
This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Did you know that the 2022 Census of Agriculture mails this fall? This once-every-five-year data collection impacts decisions about the Farm Bill, disaster assistance, grants, programs, rural and urban investment, and more. For the University of Maryland Agriculture Law Education Initiative and groups like us across the nation, the ag census data helps tell our neighbors, the nation,
Megan Todd
Nov 1, 20222 min read
MDE Invites Public Comments on Proposed Food Residuals Regulations
Screen capture from Maryland Department of Environment Online Map of Organics Recycling Facilities This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. On September 23, 2022, the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) published a regulatory proposal to establish new regulations under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.04.13 Food Residuals - Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion. The proposed regulations implement the new fo
Megan Todd
Sep 27, 20222 min read
Update On USDA’s Debt Relief Plan For Black And Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
Image by Edwin Remsberg This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. For the past year or so we’ve been keeping you informed about the historic debt relief for black farmers that was in Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the subsequent lawsuits that halted distribution of the relief payments. Now, just two weeks ago, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (I
Nicole Cook
Aug 30, 20224 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
OSHA Inspections Of Farms To Include Heat Preparedness
Image from istockphoto We all know it’s hot outside. But, if you have workers on your farm, including yourself, then you should know that heat poses a particular health risk to farm workers. Heat-related safety issues are an important issue for farms of all sizes. But, if your farm is one that is large enough to be subject to federal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) inspection, you should know that, on days where there is a heat advisory, even if OSHA
Nicole Cook
Jul 19, 20223 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
Minimum Wage Rates for Youth Workers
Photo Credit - Edwin Remsberg The article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. As schools let out for the summer, farm employers may be hiring more youth workers. Employers should be aware of the minimum wage rules that apply to minors in their state, and understand certain worker classifications when making hiring decisions. Worker Classification Independent Contractors Employee misclassification is a common employer mistake. One p
Megan Todd
Jun 14, 20225 min read
USDA Seeks Comments On Rule To Make Poultry Growing Contracts And Tournaments More Transparent
Photo by Edwin Remsberg This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. The USDA is seeking comments on a proposed rule entitled “Transparency in Poultry Growing Contracts and Tournaments.” On May 26, 2022, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced the proposed rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act. This is the first of three rulemakings that the USDA intends to issue under the Packers and Stockyards Act pursuant t
Nicole Cook
Jun 7, 20223 min read
Grant for Ag Lease Builder Website From The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment
Image of Corn Harvest. Photo Credit Edwin Remsberg The article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. In February, the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment awarded the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc. a $40,000 grant to help farmers and farm landowners form farm leases that support on-farm conservation practices, through a newly created website. The Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI) at The Universit
Sarah Everhart
May 24, 20222 min read
Meat Labeling Laws: What's in a Name?
This post focuses on two recent federal cases filed by plant-based food manufacturer The Tofurky Company challenging LA and MO laws.
Sarah Everhart
May 3, 20224 min read
New Online Water Assessment Tool Guides Growers Through Proposed Rule Requirements
This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Anyone who attended a Produce Safety Rule grower training this past winter might remember hearing about the proposed rule that will change the agricultural water regulations that apply to covered farms. For anyone who has not heard yet, a recent blog post goes into detail about what the Proposed Rule changes will entail. In a nutshell, if finalized, the proposed rule will require far
Sarah Everhart
Apr 12, 20223 min read
Prepare for Spring Planting, Attend Upcoming Soil Amendments Workshop
The Maryland Food Safety Network is hosting a single-day Soil Amendments Workshop for best practices for using BSAAOs.
Sarah Everhart
Mar 1, 20222 min read
Get A Handle On Farm Taxes At UMES Extension and ALEI’s Ag Tax Workshop
Photo by Edwin Remsberg This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Want to better understand agricultural tax issues associated with managing a farm operation? Consider attending UMES Extension’s upcoming Agribusiness and Tax Considerations Workshop. UMES Extension and ALEI are presenting this in-person workshop March 3-4 to help farmers better understand agricultural tax issues associated with managing a farming operation wh
Nicole Cook
Feb 22, 20221 min read
Tell Us What You Think About Worker Training and Food Safety
Photo Credit Edwin Remsberg This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. This time of year the ALEI legal specialists and our colleagues from the University of Maryland Extension are busy both providing education and seeking input from our farmer stakeholders about future educational resources. This post will feature two surveys currently being circulated to the farm community to garner information and feedback on farmworker tr
Sarah Everhart
Feb 8, 20222 min read
Sign Up for Farmers Market Manager & Vendor Workshops
Separate sessions will be offered for market managers and for farmer vendors, to provide best practices in food safety and in marketing.
Sarah Everhart
Jan 18, 20222 min read
Interested in H-2A Farmworkers? Time to Get Started
Photo Credit Edwin Remsberg This is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. As it becomes increasingly difficult to find domestic farm labor, many farm employers are considering whether foreign workers, able to temporarily work in the United States via an H-2A visa, are the solution. Although popular, the H-2A visa program can be difficult for employers to navigate. Given the need for foreign farm labor and the problems with the H-2A vis
Sarah Everhart
Dec 14, 20213 min read
Sign Up Now For MDA Certified Local Farm Enterprise Program
How can my farm become a certified local farm enterprise?
Register. Complete the short online application . . .
Sarah Everhart
Nov 23, 20212 min read
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