Agriculture Law
The government passed many laws related to agricultural businesses in the 1980s. This was to address the economic concerns and hardships farmers faced. Reforms also addressed environmental issues related to farming practices. This article provides insight into the agricultural legal landscape for farmers, producers, and manufacturers of agricultural products.
Agricultural laws vary depending on the type of product you grow, how you grow it, and what you do with it. Ranchers in Texas may have little use for forestry or food safety laws in Maine. To ensure you comply with all relevant laws, contact a local agriculture attorney. They will offer legal advice on your farm, food products, and business practices.
The Purpose of Agricultural Laws
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) controls most agriculture laws. U.S. ag laws serve several purposes. One is ensuring that farmers produce food products in a way that meets the needs of the American people. These regulations ensure that shortages and surpluses of agricultural products are in check. This also relates to the health of Americans, the environment, and the economy.
Protecting the rights of farmworkers is another purpose of agriculture laws. The federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act provides financial assistance for constructing and renovating workers’ housing. This law also provides legal protections for farmworkers themselves.
Agricultural Laws and the Environment
Many agriculture laws were created to protect the environment. In 1969, Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It requires assessing the environmental significance of federal projects. This includes dams and canals for agricultural irrigation.
Under NEPA, projects deemed to have an effect on the environment require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is presented to the public for comment. A final EIS is released before work can begin on the project.
Another critical environmental agriculture law is the Clean Water Act (CWA). The purpose of the CWA is to protect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of U.S. waterways. It requires permits to discharge pollution into navigable waters. The CWA also regulates source pollution from agricultural run-off from fertilizers and pesticides.
Another federal law relating to agriculture is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), passed by Congress in 1947. FIFRA regulates the use, production, and sale of chemicals used to control agricultural pests. FIFRA also regulates the labeling of all pesticides sold in the United States.
Voluntary Agricultural Conservation Programs
Congress has also funded various voluntary programs that support conservation and land management. Some of the most significant programs include:
- Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): This gives farmers technical and financial help to protect and restore wetlands. This program operates through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): This is most concerned with reducing soil erosion caused by agricultural activities. Producers who voluntarily enter this program enroll their land for a 10- to 15-year period. During this time, they receive financial compensation for taking land out of production to reduce soil loss, improve water quality, and enhance habitats for wildlife.
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): The CSP provides technical and financial aid to farmers for conserving their lands’ water, soil, energy, wildlife, and plant life. CSP funds are also available for tribal lands used for agricultural purposes. The NRCS operates the CSP.
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): This program gives cost-share financial grants to agricultural landowners for land management practices. This includes installing wells, irrigation and livestock watering facilities, and manure management.
Get an Agriculture Lawyer’s Help
Farmers have to be adept at so many things and at so many areas of law. You need to know agriculture laws, employment laws, environmental laws, commercial laws, transportation laws, animal laws, land use laws, property laws, and many more. All this while still running your farm business.
An agriculture attorney can take much of the legal concerns off your plate so you can focus on feeding the world. They may even identify some legal issues and legal resources you did not know. Contact an agriculture lawyer to ensure you comply with all applicable laws.