Monthly Archives: January 2018

9th Circuit Ruling on Idaho “Ag Gag” Statute

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The United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued a ruling on the constitutionality of Idaho’s Interference with Agricultural Production (commonly referred to as an “ag gag”) statute.  The Court affirmed in part the lower court decision holding a portion of the statute unconstitutional but upheld two specific statutory provisions.  [Read full Opinion here.] Background After an undercover video showed abuse at an Idaho dairy, the Idaho Legislature passed the “Interference with Agricultural Production” law in 2014. The statute was drafted by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association with a… Read More →

January 5, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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Hello and Happy New Year!  I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday.  We’re back in the saddle and here are some of the top ag law stories in the news this first week of 2018. *US Supreme Court gears up for oral argument in Texas v. New Mexico.  On Monday, Justices will hear oral arguments at the US Supreme Court in the water law case Texas v. New Mexico.  This case involves a 1938 Rio Grande Compact that requires New Mexico to deliver water at the Elephant Butte Reservoir… Read More →

2018 Estate Tax Changes

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With the start of a new year and the passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” there are important changes to the federal estate tax.  Everyone should take time to understand the current and any new estate tax law and to evaluate his or her estate to determine if estate tax liability may be an issue. Federal Estate Tax Basics The federal estate tax is essentially a tax on a person’s right to transfer property at death.  If a person’s taxable estate is valued over the exemption… Read More →