By Sarah Fielder
USDA Withdraws GIPSA Rule This week USDA announced they would not finalize the proposed rules regarding the scope of the Farmer Fair Practices Rules of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The proposed rules had been controversial and would have expanded the scope of the Packers and Stockyards Act. To read more about this withdrawal, click here http://bit.ly/2gtrIri.
EPA Moves To Restrict Dicamba On October 13, the EPA agreed to adopt restrictions proposed by Monsanto, BASF, and Dupont on the use of dicamba. The restrictions would include making dicamba a restricted pesticide that could only be applied by certain applicators, provide additional recordkeeping requirements, limit maximum wind speeds to 10mph when dicamba can be applied, reduce times it can be applied, include tank-clean out language, and other steps to increase the risks associated with spraying near sensitive crops.
New Publication Focused on Risk Management Tools Available Mason Grahame and Paul Goeringer have recently finalized a publication covering risk management tools including bankruptcy that might help producers during times of financial distress. The publication although not covering a topic you may think about every day will be valuable for those dealing with tough financial situations. To view the publication, click here https://go.umd.edu/AgBankruptcy.
Deere & Co. Wins Trademark Lawsuit to Protect Green and Yellow Color Combination This week, a federal district court judge ruled that FIMCO was permanently barred from using John Deere’s trademark green and yellow color combination on their agricultural sprayers. John Deere in a statement pointed to a history of protecting their trademarks and intellectual properties. To read more about the court ruling, click here http://dmreg.co/2yzB633.
State Proposes Rules for Buying and Selling Pollution Credits Maryland is settling rules for property owners and other to buy and sell credits for environmental cleanup, an emerging strategy for improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. To read the full story click here: http://bsun.md/2gdSWlL.
Come Hear from State and Federal Experts at the Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference Register today for the third annual Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference. Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Environment will be presenting on Maryland’s climate change programs and Paul Wolfe, Senior Policy Specialist, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition will be discussing the 2018 Farm Bill and the future of conservation programs and. For more information and registration: https://go.umd.edu/ALEIconf