Happy Friday!  We’re almost halfway through October…not sure where the time goes.  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week.

*Deadline coming soon for Pasture, Range, and Forage insurance.  November 15 is the deadline to sign up for Pasture, Range and Forage (“PRF” also commonly called “rainfall”) insurance.  This insurance is essentially a way for farmers and ranchers to insure a certain amount of rainfall and to recover an indemnity payment if actual rainfall in their area fall below that amount.  Land eligible is any perennial acreage intended for grazing or haying.  DeEe Jones and Rachel Meyers recently published a fact sheet offering more information.  [Read fact-sheet here.]

*TAMU researchers study use of brackish water in fracking.  This is not a recent story–I found it while cleaning off my desk–but an article by Kathy Wythe was published in the Spring edition of txH2) magazine.  She outlined research conducted by Texas A&M and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension looking at the availability, usability, and economics of using brackish groundwater in the fracking process.  The results showed that at least in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, there was ample quantity of brackish groundwater and that it generally did not have to be treated before being used in the fracking process.  Additionally, an economic model showed that the cost of using brackish water may actually be less than using freshwater, an obvious incentive for operators.   [Read article here.]

*NCBA hosting free webinar on the Veterinary Feed Directive rules and impact on cattlemen October 27.  Remember that the new Veterinary Feed Directive provisions, which will require producers to obtain a prescription from their vet before purchasing feed containing “medically important antimicrobials,” will be in effect January 1.  [Read prior blog post on that here.]  The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is hosting a free webinar, featuring two veterinarians, to discuss this topic and how it will affect cattle producers.  The webinar will be October 27 at 7:00 pm CST.  [For more info and to register, click here.]

*American Ag Law Association Board of Directors announced.  I am really excited to be serving on the 2016-2017 Board of Directors for the American Agricultural Law Association.  This is a great group of ag law professionals from across the country and I so enjoy being a member.  If you are an agricultural law attorney or law student interested in ag law, there is no better organization to become involved with!  [Read article here.]